Leonid Group has been retained by a global life sciences and industrial technology company to hire a Sr. Trade Compliance Manager - Americas
This is a unique opportunity to lead and scale The Company's trade compliance efforts across North and Latin America. This role will be critical in embedding trade compliance into operational workflows while identifying areas for process improvement, risk mitigation, and regulatory alignment.
The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with the ability to balance regulatory accountability and business enablement. You’ll work cross-functionally with key internal stakeholders in Supply Chain, R&D, Finance, and Commercial teams while also driving external coordination with brokers, vendors, and authorities.
This is a high-impact, highly visible role with scope for both strategic contribution and hands-on leadership across multiple jurisdictions.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Leadership
- Serve as the regional Empowered Official for U.S. export control programs (EAR, ITAR, OFAC)
- Ensure compliance with LATAM trade regimes (e.g., Brazil SISCOMEX, Mexico IMMEX)
- Lead audit readiness, agency responses, and implementation of CAPAs
- Monitor and assess regulatory changes, including forced labour, tariffs, and sanctions regimes
Program Implementation
- Drive implementation of SOPs aligned with the global trade compliance framework
- Oversee internal controls, risk assessments, and escalation protocols
- Maintain rigorous reporting, documentation, and issue-resolution workflows
Training & Culture Building
- Oversee trade compliance training across functional and regional teams
- Champion a culture of ownership and awareness beyond core compliance staff
- Engage and coach a regional advocate network across NAM and LATAM
Operational Execution
- Support day-to-day operational continuity across the region, especially non-automated/manual flows
- Oversee customs brokerage, documentation, and third-party compliance
- Drive enforcement consistency across high-risk geographies and non-standard processes
Value Creation & Optimization
- Lead duty optimization initiatives (FTAs, drawback programs, special customs regimes)
- Own broker performance management and cost-efficiency strategies
- Provide compliance input on supply chain changes, new product introductions, and sourcing strategies
Qualifications
Must-Have:
- 10+ years in international trade compliance, ideally within regulated or manufacturing sectors
- Strong knowledge of U.S. export laws (EAR, ITAR, OFAC) and Empowered Official responsibilities
- Experience translating legal requirements into operational controls
- Exposure to Latin American trade compliance frameworks and regional processes
- Bachelor's or Master’s in international trade, law, supply chain, or related field
Preferred:
- Spanish and/or Portuguese language skills
- Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration capabilities
- Experience working in a matrixed or multinational environment
- Familiarity with trade compliance transformation programs or scaling initiatives
Why Join?
This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a high-priority function and shape trade compliance maturity across an entire region. You’ll join a growing team with strong executive support and the mandate to embed compliance deeper into business operations—while contributing to a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability.
Leonid Group Corporate Governance is a talent acquisition consultancy that specializes in the placement of Legal, Compliance, Trade Compliance, & Ethics professionals on an international scale across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Legal and compliance are global disciplines with teams worldwide, and our network reflects this. We work with multinational corporations to help structure their departments with the best people, from the Global Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel to the Compliance Analyst and Trade Compliance Specialist.