Director of Trade Compliance - North America (United States, Canada & Mexico)
About The Position
Senior plc is seeking a Director of Trade Compliance – North America to provide strategic and operational compliance leadership across U.S., Canadian, and Mexican operations. This is a hands-on leadership role with principal responsibility for export, import, customs, and trade compliance programs, supporting both commercial and defense-related activities. This role also serves as the company’s Empowered Official (EO) under U.S. export control law (ITAR), holding legal authority for export authorizations and certifications related to defense and aerospace programs. The position partners closely with executive leadership and operating businesses to enable compliant, sustainable growth.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Law, Supply Chain, or International Trade
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive trade compliance leadership across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
- Deep expertise in ITAR, EAR, OFAC, CBSA, SAT, and CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC
- Experience with ACE (U.S.), CARM (Canada), and VUCEM (Mexico)
- Recognized Empowered Official (EO) under ITAR with defense/aerospace experience
- Proven experience auditing trade compliance programs and leading corrective actions
- Multi-industry background (e.g., aerospace, defense, land vehicles, oil & gas, medical devices)
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
- Highly analytical and detail-oriented
- Decisive, ethical leader with strong regulatory judgment
- Collaborative and hands-on leadership style
- Adaptable and resilient in complex regulatory environments
- Strategic and credible executive communicator
Responsibilities
- Lead the North American Trade Compliance program aligned with global governance and risk frameworks
- Serve as the regional subject matter expert on international trade and regulatory compliance
- Advise executive leadership and brief the Board as required on compliance performance, risks, and remediation
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including: U.S. : ITAR, EAR, OFAC, CBP, ACE, CTPAT/OEA. Canada : CGP, CBSA, Export Control List Mexico : SAT, VUCEM, IMMEX Maquiladora program management
- Oversee licensing, classification, valuation, documentation, and recordkeeping
- Deliver training and compliance awareness across all levels of the organization
- Lead compliance and optimization under CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC
- Direct HTS classification, valuation, including the Reconciliation program, broker oversight, and duty recovery initiatives such as Chapter 98, FTZ and Bonded Whse opportunities.
- Advise supply chain and procurement on landed cost, MFN tariff engineering, Section 301, 232, 122 and IEEPA tariffs and trade strategy
- Act as the designated Empowered Official under 22 CFR §120.25
- Hold signing and certification authority for U.S. export licenses, TAAs, MLAs, and related authorizations
- Exercise independent legal judgment to approve or deny export and re-export transactions
- Serve as primary liaison with DDTC, BIS, OFAC, and other U.S. government agencies
- Lead and mentor trade compliance professionals across the region
- Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls
- Implement automation and digital tools for licensing, audits, and analytics
- Monitor regulatory changes and ensure timely implementation
- Conduct compliance audits across all North American sites
- Develop standardized audit tools, metrics, and corrective action tracking
- Support internal audit alignment, voluntary disclosures, and regulatory remediation
- Lead trade compliance due diligence for M&A and business integrations
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
