Director of Trade Compliance

The Opportunity

Senior plc is seeking a Director of Trade Compliance – North America to provide strategic, operational, and legal leadership across all U.S., Canadian, and Mexican operations. This is a senior leadership role with enterprise-wide responsibility for export, import, customs, and trade compliance programs, supporting both commercial and defense-related activities.

Critically, this role 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, operating businesses, and global stakeholders to enable compliant, sustainable growth.

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Lead the North American Trade Compliance program aligned with global governance and risk frameworks
• Advise executive leadership and brief the Board as required on compliance performance, risks, and remediation
• Serve as the regional subject matter expert on international trade and regulatory compliance

Empowered Official (ITAR)

• 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

Export, Import & Customs Compliance

• Ensure compliance with:
  • U.S.: ITAR, EAR, OFAC, CBP
  • Canada: CGP, CBSA, Export Control List
  • Mexico: SAT, VUCEM
• Oversee licensing, classification, valuation, documentation, and recordkeeping
• Deliver training and compliance awareness across all levels of the organization

Trade Agreements & Optimization

• Lead compliance and optimization under CUSMA / USMCA / T-MEC
• Direct HS classification, valuation, broker oversight, and duty recovery initiatives
• Advise supply chain and procurement on landed cost, tariff engineering, and trade strategy

Auditing, Risk & Governance

• 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

Team Leadership & Program Development

• 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