The Trade Compliance Import/Export Manager will oversee all trade compliance operations across the Middle East region, ensuring full compliance with import/export regulations while supporting business growth and supply chain continuity. This role requires a highly motivated leader with strong analytical, regulatory, and problem-solving skills, capable of building robust compliance frameworks and managing cross-functional and external stakeholder relationships. The Manager will lead the Trade Compliance team, act as the subject matter expert on customs and trade regulations, drive process improvements, and ensure operational excellence in compliance across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Leadership
- Lead and develop the Trade Compliance team, ensuring knowledge transfer, training, and performance excellence.
- Serve as the regional subject matter expert (SME) for international trade compliance, advising senior leadership on risks, opportunities, and regulatory changes.
- Develop, implement, and maintain trade compliance policies, procedures, and standards in alignment with corporate and regulatory requirements.
- Establish a governance model for monitoring and reporting compliance risks, breaches, and corrective actions.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration with Supp
Operational Oversight
- Oversee and approve complex import/export requests, ensuring timely resolution and minimal disruption to supply chain operations.
- Ensure accurate classification of goods, valuation, origin determination, and compliance with applicable international trade regulations.
- Oversee restricted party screening processes, license management, and permits with government authorities.
- Manage and strengthen relationships with local customs authorities, brokers, and service providers.
- Supervise centralized compliance recordkeeping and reporting systems.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for trade compliance activities, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
- Lead internal audits and prepare for external regulatory inspections.
- Risk & Continuous Improvement
- Anticipate regulatory changes and assess their impact on operations, recommending strategies to mitigate risk.
- Lead investigations into suspected or actual violations, report findings, and develop corrective/preventive action plans.
- Identify and close process gaps, implementing continuous improvement initiatives across trade compliance operations.
- Develop and deliver compliance training programs to employees, business units, and suppliers.
Skills
- Expert knowledge of international trade regulations, customs laws, and export controls in the Middle East and globally.
- Strong understanding of global logistics processes (air, road, and ocean). –
- Advanced knowledge of Incoterms, customs valuation, tariff classification, and free trade agreements.
- Proven leadership and team management skills with ability to mentor and develop staff. Excellent communication and negotiation skills with both internal stakeholders and government authorities.
- Strong analytical and risk management capabilities.
- Proficiency in MS Office, ERP systems (SAP/Oracle preferred), and trade compliance software/tools
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, International Business, Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering or Law.
- 10-15 years in program/project leadership roles.
- Experience managing ERP transformation projects and continuous improvement programs. Professional certifications in trade compliance or project management (PMP, Six Sigma, Lean) are highly desirable.