Global Trade Counsel & Compliance Director

The Director, Global Trade Counsel and Compliance, is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the company’s global trade compliance program and serving as the company’s primary legal advisor on international trade compliance matters.

This role advises executive leadership, business partners, and the Trade Compliance Operations organization on complex regulatory requirements, emerging legal risks, enforcement developments, and strategic business initiative related to export controls, sanctions, restricted party screening, technology transfers, cross-border business activities, supply chain transactions, and other international trade requirements affecting the global operations. The role is responsible for developing legal positions on trade-related matters, supporting regulatory engagement, and ensuring that trade compliance programs and business activities are aligned with applicable legal requirements.

As the second-line owner of the trade compliance program, the Director also is responsible for trade compliance governance, risk assessment, policy oversight, monitoring, investigations, training, and program effectiveness. The role works closely with the Global Trade Compliance & Export Operations organization, which is responsible for effective implementation and operation of the company’s trade compliance requirements and controls.

The Director partners with Trade Compliance Operations, Legal, Product Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, Tax, Finance, Information Technology, and Commercial to identify and address trade compliance risks while supporting business growth and strategic objectives.

Legal Counsel & Regulatory Advice:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for global trade matters on export controls, sanctions, customs, restricted party screening, technology transfers, anti-boycott requirements, and other international trade regulations.
• Provide legal counsel regarding commercial transactions, strategic business initiatives, supply chain activities, acquisitions, market expansion efforts, distribution models, and other cross-border business activities.
• Advise business leaders on trade compliance risks associated with customers, suppliers, products, technologies, and market access strategies.
• Monitor US regulatory developments and provide practical, risk-based guidance regarding emerging legal and compliance risks.
• Lead legal engagement with US government agencies and responses to government inquiries, voluntary disclosures, audits, and enforcement matters.
• Manage relationships with external trade counsel and regulatory advisors as needed.

Compliance Program Governance:

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the global trade compliance program.
• Ensure maintenance of trade compliance policies, procedures, standards, governance processes, and escalation protocols.
• Conduct periodic trade compliance risk assessments and program effectiveness reviews.
• Provide independent oversight of trade compliance risks, controls, and program effectiveness.
• Partner with Global Trade Compliance & Export Operations to help ensure compliance controls remain appropriately designed and effective.
• Monitor and report on key metrics to assess program performance and identify opportunities for enhancement.

Monitoring, Investigations & Remediation:

• Oversee monitoring, testing, and corrective action activities designed to identify and address trade compliance risks.
• Lead significant trade compliance investigations involving potential regulatory violates or significant legal exposure and lead responses to regulatory inquiries and audits.
• Conduct legal assessments related to potential violations and associated compliance risks.
• Advise executive leadership regarding disclosure obligations, remediation strategies and enforcement risk.
• Oversee remediation efforts and implementation of program enhancements based on identified risks, investigations, audits, and monitoring activities.
• Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into policies, training, controls, and compliance processes.

Training, Awareness & Reporting:

• Oversee trade compliance training and awareness initiatives.
• Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and compliance throughout the organization.
• Prepare periodic updates for senior leadership regarding trade compliance risks, investigations, regulatory developments, and program performance.
• Support reporting to the Audit Committee regarding significant trade compliance matters and program effectiveness.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) required.
• Active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience focused primarily on international trade law, trade compliance, export controls, sanctions, or related international regulatory matters.
• Demonstrated experience counseling business leaders on complex commercial transactions and cross-border business activities.
• Significant experience advising multinational organizations on trade compliance risks and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working collaboratively with operational trade compliance organizations.
• Experience designing, implementing, assessing, or overseeing corporate compliance programs.
• Experience conducting or overseeing investigations, risk assessments, monitoring activities, audits, or remediation efforts.
• Experience managing regulatory inquiries, voluntary disclosures, enforcement matters, or government interactions.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong business acumen and ability to translate regulatory requirements into operational solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire, with a track record of making impactful decisions and driving change.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence across global, cross-functional teams.
• Proven leadership in matrixed environments and complex global structures.
• Ability to drive cultural alignment and collaboration between Legal and Operations functions.
• Experience in the technology, cybersecurity, or high-tech manufacturing sector is strongly preferred.