Head of Trade Compliance, EMEA – Life Sciences Sector
We are retained by a global leader in the life sciences and biotechnology industry, renowned for its mission-driven culture and impactful work in healthcare and scientific advancement. With over 6,000 employees across more than 35 countries, this organization combines entrepreneurial spirit with global scale, offering a dynamic and diverse work environment.
They are now looking for a Head of Trade Compliance for the EMEA region to lead their international trade compliance function and drive strategic alignment across key markets.
The Role
As Head of Trade Compliance, EMEA, you will lead the regional strategy and execution of all import/export regulatory activities. This includes ownership of SAP GTS trade compliance processes, cross-border risk management, regulatory engagement, and leadership of a geographically dispersed team.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and evolve the regional trade compliance program across EMEA, aligning with EU and U.S. customs, export control, and sanctions regulations.
- Own the SAP GTS environment, particularly around legal control and screening, and oversee all classification processes.
- Develop and maintain robust policies, training programs, and internal controls to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.
- Act as a strategic advisor to business stakeholders across supply chain, legal, tax, finance, and commercial teams.
- Serve as the primary interface with customs authorities and regulatory bodies during audits and inquiries.
- Drive a culture of compliance and continuous improvement across the function.
- Lead and mentor an experienced team of trade compliance professionals across the region.
- Significant experience (10+ years) in trade compliance within a multinational corporate environment.
- Strong technical knowledge of EU and U.S. import/export regulations, export controls, and sanctions.
- Deep experience with SAP GTS, particularly in legal control, SPL screening, and classification workflows.
- Proven leadership experience in building, mentoring, and managing high-performing international teams.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to operate cross-functionally and represent the business to external regulators.
- Degree in Law, Business, International Relations, or related field. Relevant certifications in global trade compliance are a plus.
Why This Opportunity?
- Join an established, purpose-driven global company with a strong ethical and scientific foundation.
- Lead a strategic function with high visibility and global impact.
- Work in a flexible, hybrid setup with a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
- Enjoy a role that balances operational oversight with leadership and cross-functional influence.
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.
Qualifications