Sr Manager, Global Trade Compliance

Sr Manager, Global Trade Compliance

Role Overview: Sector Empowered Official (EO)

Salt Lake City, UT

140-180K + Signing Bonus + Paid Relocation + Full Benefits

Work Schedule: 9/80 (80 hours worked over 9 out of 14 days, resulting in every other Friday off).

This is a critical, high-impact leadership position assuming ultimate responsibility for all Global Trade Compliance policies, processes, and risk mitigation across the Broadband Communications Systems Sector. The Senior Manager, Global Trade Compliance will serve as the sector’s designated Empowered Official (EO), leading a dedicated team to ensure continuous compliance with all U.S. and international trade regulations to enable seamless, ethical, and secure international business operations within a major defense/aerospace organization.

This role requires a proactive, strategic leader who can simultaneously manage a compliance team, serve as the technical expert for USG regulations, and advise senior executive leadership on risk and strategy.

• Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Fully On-Site)
• Direct Reports: Approximately 8 Compliance Professionals
• Security Clearance: Ability to obtain a US Secret Security Clearance is required.
• Travel: Approximately 20% domestic travel.

Key Responsibilities & Strategic Accountabilities

I. Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of approximately 8 Trade Compliance professionals, fostering a culture of regulatory excellence, accountability, and continuous professional development.
• Serve as the officially designated Empowered Official (EO), legally authorized to sign export license applications and approvals, while maintaining the independent authority to inquire, verify, and ultimately refuse any transaction deemed non-compliant.
• Drive the proactive assessment of the Sector's trade compliance posture, ensuring the Internal Compliance Program (ICP) is robust, current, and aligned with corporate risk tolerance.
• Communicate trade requirements, regulatory changes, and compliance status updates effectively to division leadership and cross-functional executive stakeholders (Legal, Finance, Business Development).

II. Compliance Strategy, Risk, & Implementation

• Develop, implement, and enforce the overarching Trade Compliance strategy, policies, and procedures (ITAR, EAR, OFAC) to enable global business objectives while maintaining zero-tolerance compliance standards.
• Serve as the Sector’s expert authority on the interpretation of US Government trade laws and regulations, providing timely, actionable advice to Business Development, Program Management, Operations, and Engineering teams on export controls, technology transfers, and the physical movement of defense articles.
• Coordinate closely with Licensing, Operations & Training, and Customs & Traffic Directorates to ensure the implementation of compliant and business-enabling solutions across the global supply chain.
• Advise on international sales and capture opportunities, embedding compliance requirements into the earliest stages of contract pursuit and program execution.

III. Licensing, Authorization, and Auditing

• Oversee the preparation, review, submission, and management of all required export authorizations and records, including licenses, Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), and Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) determinations.
• Streamline and optimize critical licensing procedures (including ITAR, EAR, and CJ determinations) to directly support and accelerate program revenue and financial objectives.
• Lead and oversee all internal compliance investigations and ensure the timely, accurate, and compliant reporting of any potential violations of USG trade laws/regulations to senior management and regulatory agencies.
• Manage and lead all internal and external trade compliance audits, including government Compliance Assistance Visits (CAVs), providing expert guidance on compliance assessment and remediation plans.
• Ensure rigorous recordkeeping standards are met for all trade compliance documentation as required by the ITAR and EAR.

Requirements:
Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 12 years of related experience, or a Graduate Degree with a minimum of 10 years of related experience. (In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 16 years of related experience is accepted).
• Regulatory Expertise: Minimum 5 years of extensive, hands-on expertise with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
• Sanctions Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience with the U.S. trade sanctions program, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
• Leadership: Minimum 3 years of experience leading and developing a high-performing team (people management).

Preferred Additional Skills

• Proven experience in a Defense contractor or aerospace company environment.
• Expertise with Category 11 classifications and advanced export control issues.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and translate complex USG laws/regulations into practical, company-wide risk management strategies.
• Proficiency with industry-standard compliance software (e.g., OCR EASE or similar GTC management systems).
• Familiarity with the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and related regulations.
• Exceptional people leadership skills, a proactive and organized mindset, and the ability to manage competing, shifting priorities in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.