Head of Trade Compliance
Location: Templecombe, Somerset
We're looking for an experienced Head of Trade Compliance to join our Under Water Systems business, leading a specialist Trade Compliance team and ensuring the organisation operates in full compliance with UK, US and international trade regulations.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a strategic and commercially minded compliance professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment. You'll play a key role in supporting major defence programmes, advising senior stakeholders on complex compliance matters and helping enable business growth while maintaining the highest standards of governance and regulatory compliance.
About the role
Reporting to the Trade Compliance Director, you'll provide leadership across all aspects of Trade Compliance, overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Trade Compliance team while supporting the wider business on complex export control, customs and sanctions matters.
You'll work closely with senior leaders, project teams and corporate colleagues to ensure compliance is embedded throughout the project lifecycle-from bid and proposal stage through to contract delivery.
Key responsibilities
As Head of Trade Compliance, you will:
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Trade Compliance Officers, providing guidance, mentoring and technical expertise.
- Act as the primary point of escalation for complex trade compliance issues, supporting both operational teams and senior management.
- Advise on UK and international export control legislation, military and dual-use regulations, customs requirements, sanctions and embargoes.
- Conduct trade compliance risk assessments for large, complex programmes and provide practical recommendations to mitigate identified risks.
- Support the development and continuous improvement of Trade Compliance policies, procedures, systems and the Internal Compliance Programme.
- Review and approve a wide range of trade compliance documentation, including export licence applications, End User Statements, contracts, purchase orders and technology transfer agreements.
- Oversee UK export licence applications and support US EAR licence submissions using SNAP-R.
- Ensure customs activities are compliant, working alongside customs brokers and internal stakeholders to maintain accurate import and export processes.
- Support investigations, internal audits and regulatory inspections, including the preparation of voluntary disclosures where required.
- Monitor licence usage, compliance performance and team KPIs, reporting regularly to the Trade Compliance Director.
- Deliver guidance and training to colleagues across the business, helping to build a strong culture of compliance.
- Develop trusted working relationships with stakeholders across multiple business functions, balancing commercial objectives with regulatory requirements.
About you
We're looking for someone who brings:
- Extensive knowledge and practical experience of UK and US export controls, customs and international trade compliance legislation.
- Significant experience managing complex compliance issues within a highly regulated environment.
- Strong leadership skills with experience coaching, mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
- Excellent analytical and risk assessment capabilities, with the ability to make informed decisions on complex compliance matters.
- Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence working across all levels of an organisation.
- A proactive, pragmatic and commercially aware approach, with the ability to balance business objectives alongside regulatory obligations.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and integrity.
Experience within the defence or dual-use sector would be highly advantageous, as would previous experience supporting large-scale programmes or engineering-based organisations.
Why join us?
This is an exciting opportunity to influence Trade Compliance strategy while remaining close to operational delivery. You'll be joining a collaborative team where your expertise will directly support business success, shape best practice and contribute to the delivery of nationally important programmes.
If you're looking for your next leadership opportunity in Trade Compliance and want to make a real impact within a global organisation, we'd love to hear from you.
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