Senior Manager, Export & Sanctions Compliance
About The Position
W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value-added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose-driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion. For more information, visit www.grainger.com. As the Senior Manager of Export and Sanctions Compliance, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing robust export and sanctions-related policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations across our global operations. You will lead a program focused on preventing, detecting, and mitigating export and sanctions related risks, and fostering a culture of integrity and ethical conduct throughout the organization. This position will also function as the ITAR Empowered Official. This role requires a highly operational compliance leader who can balance strong governance with practical, timely support for the business. The successful candidate must be comfortable working directly in transaction review workflows, resolving escalations quickly, and enabling compliant business execution without unnecessary delay. You will report to the Senior Director, Global Trade Compliance. This position is based in Lake Forest or Chicago and is onsite 3 days a week.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in law, business administration, finance, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in compliance, legal, or related roles, with a focus on trade compliance in multinational corporations.
- In-depth knowledge of export and sanctions laws and regulations, such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions, and other relevant international regulations.
- Proven experience developing and implementing export and sanctions policies and procedures in a complex, global organization.
- Strong leadership, team management, and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Nice To Haves
- Fluency in multiple languages and experience working in diverse cultural environments is a plus.
- Professional certifications such as Certified Export Compliance Officer (CECO) or similar are highly desirable.
Responsibilities
- Develop, enhance, implement, and maintain a comprehensive export and sanctions compliance program to include policies, procedures, and controls tailored to the company's risk profile and regulatory requirements.
- Function as a hands-on operational leader for export and sanctions compliance, providing timely review and resolution of business escalations, transaction holds, restricted party screening matches, licensing questions, classification issues, and end-use/end-user concerns to support compliant and efficient global operations.
- Monitor and analyze changes in global trade regulations and assess their impact on company operations through regular compliance risk assessments. Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks, working closely with cross-functional and global business partners to implement effective controls.
- Manage and improve operational workflows for export and sanctions reviews, including intake, triage, documentation, escalation paths, approval protocols, and service-level expectations.
- Design and deliver comprehensive training programs on export and sanctions related policies, procedures, and relevant laws for team members at all levels of the organization.
- Establish monitoring mechanisms to detect potential instances of non-compliance in the export and sanctions space, including the use of data analytics and regular audits.
- Stay informed of changes in global export and sanctions related laws, including but not limited to including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions and assess their impact on the company's operations to update the export and sanctions compliance program accordingly.
- Support investigations into potential export or sanctions compliance concerns, including fact gathering, transaction review, root cause analysis, remediation, and corrective action tracking.
- Provide strategic guidance to senior management on export and sanctions compliance matters.
- Lead and mentor the export compliance team, fostering a culture of compliance and continuous improvement.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment
- 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
- 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date)
- 6 company holidays per year.
- 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
- Employee discounts
- Tuition reimbursement
- Student loan refinancing
- Free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
- Maternity support programs
- Nursing benefits
- Up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents
- Up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
