Trade Compliance Manager – Defence

Overview

As Trade Compliance Manager, you will lead and embed UK, EU and US export controls across multiple UK sites in a high‑risk, high‑volume export environment. You will govern trade compliance activities, engage senior stakeholders, and drive audit readiness within a regulated defence and dual‑use context. The role sits at a senior level, aligning compliance with business growth and continuity. You will shape a scalable programme and deliver practical guidance to operations, engineering, sales and supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of trade compliance programme elements, policies, procedures and automated tools across multiple UK sites
• Embed trade compliance controls into local business processes across operations, engineering, sales and supply chain
• Act as senior trade compliance authority for UK operations, providing governance and accountability
• Manage export authorisations for UK and US and oversee denied party screening and jurisdiction determinations
• Support transaction due diligence, technology transfers, facility controls and export records management
• Provide regulatory updates and awareness to senior stakeholders across the business
• Lead internal assessments, investigations and corrective action programmes
• Identify training needs and deliver trade compliance training; maintain ongoing professional development
• Drive continuous improvement of trade compliance processes while upholding regulatory integrity
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure compliance supports growth, revenue delivery and operational continuity

Key requirements

• In‑depth knowledge of UK and US export control laws and regulations (ITAR, EAR) and global sanctions frameworks
• Proven experience leading trade compliance programmes in defence, aerospace or high‑tech environments
• Strong leadership with team management and stakeholder influence experience
• Experience handling UK military and dual‑use products and US controlled regimes
• Expertise in end‑use/end‑user assurance across UK, EU and US
• Strong analytical skills for data collection, analysis and reporting to senior audiences
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical guidance
• Experience in high‑volume, licence‑intensive export environments
• Resilient, calm under pressure and capable of sound commercial decision‑making in high‑risk, time‑critical situations
• Eligibility to live and work in the UK

• leadership
• influencing senior stakeholders
• communication
• UK and US export controls knowledge (ITAR, EAR)
• export authorisations management
• denied party screening

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