Head of Compliance (Shipping, Dangerous Goods)

Easyship•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Easyship is hiring a Head of Compliance to lead its dangerous goods, prohibited-item, and dual-use goods compliance programmes. The role owns the policies, controls, inspections, and incident-response processes that help ensure shipments are safe, compliant, and accepted by carrier partners. The Head of Compliance will build and lead inspection teams and work across Operations, Product, Engineering, Legal, and courier partners to strengthen screening while balancing regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and business growth. The position is based in Chicago and reports to the Director of Operations. It involves maintaining regulatory and carrier-aligned policies, overseeing shipment screening and escalations, managing inspection operations across global warehouse and fulfilment facilities, responding to incidents, and reporting programme performance and risks to leadership.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in dangerous goods, shipping, or logistics compliance, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.
Experience building and managing dangerous goods compliance programmes, with knowledge of IATA DGR, IMDG, and/or ADR regulations.
Understanding of prohibited goods, restricted items, dual-use goods, and export controls.
Experience managing carrier audits, compliance reviews, incident investigations, and corrective actions (CAPA).
Familiarity with automated screening and detection tools, including AI and LLM technologies.
Ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical operational processes, screening rules, and product improvements.
Experience leading inspection or operational teams, ideally in logistics, warehousing, fulfilment, or freight.
Relevant dangerous goods certification (IATA DGR, IMDG, ADR, or DGSA) and experience delivering compliance training.
Strong communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills, with the ability to work across global teams.
Proactive, detail-oriented approach and comfort balancing compliance, operational efficiency, and business growth in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading inspection or operational teams in logistics, warehousing, fulfilment, or freight.

Responsibilities

Lead Easyship's end-to-end dangerous goods compliance programme and ensure prohibited and restricted items are identified and prevented from entering the network.
Develop and maintain dangerous goods policies and screening rules aligned with IATA DGR, IMDG, ADR, and carrier requirements.
Ensure relevant teams meet dangerous goods training, certification, and recertification requirements.
Define and maintain prohibited- and restricted-item policies aligned with carrier requirements and applicable international regulations.
Manage controls for dual-use and export-controlled goods, partnering with the Head of Trade, Duty & Tax Compliance on sanctions and export controls.
Work with Product and Engineering to improve automated screening and detection capabilities, including AI and LLM technologies.
Make decisions on escalated shipments and establish criteria for holding, rejecting, or reporting non-compliant items.
Build and manage pre-inspection and on-site inspection teams, including performance targets, training plans, and career development pathways.
Establish inspection protocols, escalation procedures, and incident-response processes across global warehouse and fulfilment facilities.
Manage inspection quality, staffing, coverage, and throughput while balancing compliance and operational efficiency.
Partner with courier and carrier partners on dangerous goods policies, restricted-item lists, audits, incidents, and compliance reviews.
Manage carrier claims and penalties and work with merchants to address repeat non-compliance.
Collaborate with Customer Success and Marketing to educate merchants on restricted and prohibited goods.
Monitor dangerous goods incidents, near-misses, and compliance trends, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Maintain compliance risk registers and report KPIs, inspection performance, and programme updates to leadership.
Deliver shipment safety and restricted-item training and manage relationships with external consultants, auditors, and regulatory bodies.