Director, Global Trade Compliance
About The Position
At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come. As the Director, Global Trade Compliance at Gilead you are responsible for designing and leading a global trade compliance program that ensures adherence to international import/export laws while enabling efficient, compliant, and cost-effective product flow across the global pharmaceutical supply chain. This role serves as a critical connector across Legal, Tax, and Finance, ensuring regulatory compliance, financial integrity, and optimized trade execution while balancing risk and business performance.
Requirements
- BA and 12+ years of relevant experience (global trade compliance experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated industries) required OR MA/MS and 10+ years of relevant experience ((global trade compliance experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated industries) required OR PhD and 8+ years of relevant experience (global trade compliance experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated industries) required
- Deep expertise in import/export regulations, customs compliance, and trade risk management
- Strong understanding of supply chain, financial flows, and regulatory implications
- Demonstrated experience partnering with Legal, Tax, and Finance functions
- Experience building and scaling global compliance programs
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree (Masters) strongly preferred
Responsibilities
- Define and execute the global trade compliance strategy aligned to corporate, supply chain, and financial objectives
- Establish global policies, procedures, and governance frameworks for import/export compliance
- Maintain oversight of global regulatory requirements (export controls, sanctions, customs regulations)
- Partner with Legal on regulatory interpretation and alignment to enterprise compliance frameworks
- Oversee compliant execution of import/export activities (classification, valuation, country of origin, licensing)
- Ensure robust controls for Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification and customs declarations
- Provide guidance on trade implications for product launches, clinical supply, and market expansion
- Collaborate with Tax and Finance to ensure alignment of customs valuation, intercompany pricing, and financial reporting
- Lead global trade compliance risk assessments and mitigation strategies
- Establish internal control frameworks to ensure compliance and audit readiness
- Own internal audits and support regulatory audits
- Partner with Legal on investigation, escalation, and resolution of compliance issues
- Serve as primary interface with customs authorities and regulatory agencies
- Manage export licenses, permits, and certifications
- Monitor global regulatory changes and assess business impact
- Align with Legal on enforcement actions, disclosures, and regulatory interactions
- Identify and implement trade optimization opportunities (FTAs, duty drawback, inward processing, etc.)
- Partner with Tax to align trade strategies with transfer pricing and tax-efficient supply chain structures
- Partner with Finance to ensure accurate duty forecasting, cost visibility, accruals, and financial planning
- Ensure trade programs are compliant while supporting cost optimization and margin improvement
- Drive global standardization of trade compliance processes and documentation
- Implement and optimize trade compliance systems (e.g., SAP GTS or equivalent)
- Enhance automation, data integrity, and reporting capabilities
- Partner across Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, Commercial, Legal, Tax, and Finance
- Support sourcing, contract structuring, and market access strategies through a compliance and financial lens
- Advise senior leadership on trade-related risks, costs, and opportunities
- Develop and deploy enterprise-wide trade compliance training programs
- Build organizational awareness of compliance obligations and financial implications
- Lead and develop a high-performing global team
Benefits
- company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
