Trade Compliance Manager Arabic Speaker (F/M)

EssilorLuxottica; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

EssilorLuxottica in Dubai seeks a Trade Operations Lead to shape the GCC region's Trade Compliance program. You will act as the sole Trade Compliance representative in Dubai, partnering with regional and global teams to design scalable operations and controls.

The role requires hands-on experience in import/export, customs recordkeeping, and cross-functional collaboration with brokers, freight forwarders, and authorities. Fluency in English and Arabic is essential, with French/Italian a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience in GCC region and Dubai-based roles.
• Proven import/export operations experience.
• Strong customs recordkeeping, reporting, and post-entry management.
• Experience working with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
• Understanding of Free Trade Zones and airport operations.
• Strong cross-regional communication and stakeholder management.
• Data/BI proficiency; ability to translate data into actionable Trade Compliance messages.
• English and Arabic proficiency; French/Italian a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of scalable Trade Operations and Trade Compliance for the GCC region.
• Act as the primary Trade Compliance contact in Dubai for GCC markets.
• Collaborate with Customs and Trade Compliance teams in France, Italy, and Poland to align regional ops with global standards.
• Assess operating models, identify gaps, and define practical solutions to strengthen processes and controls.
• Design and implement standard operating procedures supporting compliance and efficiency.
• Develop a stakeholder training program and deliver on-site training.
• Coordinate with internal teams, external partners, brokers, and freight forwarders.
• Support customs recordkeeping, reporting, post-entry review, and corrective actions.
• Drive disciplined oversight of import/export activities for compliant execution.
• Identify cost-effective methods, digital tools, and practical solutions to enhance visibility and control.
• Use data/BI to deliver Trade Compliance insights for informed decisions.

Skills

GCC regional experience

Import/export operations

Customs recordkeeping

Stakeholder management

Data analysis/BI

MS Excel

Communication skills

Arabic & English proficiency

Tools

MS Excel

BI tools

Customs portals

CRM/ERP systems

Job description

If you’ve worn a pair of glasses, we’ve already met.
We are a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. We offer our industry stakeholders in over 150 countries access to a global platform of high-quality vision care products (such as the Essilor brand, with Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Stellest and Transitions), iconic brands that consumers love (such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear and Costa), as well as a network that offers consumers high-quality vision care and best-in‑class shopping experiences (such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Salmoiraghi & Viganò and the GrandVision network), and leading e-commerce platforms).
Join our global community of over 190,000 dedicated employees around the world in driving the transformation of the eyewear and eyecare industry.
Discover more by following us on LinkedIn!
Your #FutureInSight with EssilorLuxottica
Are you willing to pioneer new frontiers, foster inclusivity and collaboration, embrace agility, ignite passion, and make a positive impact on the world? Join us in redefining the boundaries of what’s possible!
Your role
Essilor Luxottica’s EMEA Trade Team is seeking a Trade Operations Lead to shape and build our Trade Operations capability across the GCC region, based in Dubai. This role will serve as the sole Trade Compliance representative in Dubai, supporting the broader GCC business and acting as a key partner to regional and global stakeholders.
The successful candidate will play a foundational role in the design and implementation of a robust Trade Compliance operations program from the ground up, working closely with Customs and Trade Compliance teams in France, Italy, and Poland. This is a hands‑on role that requires strong operational trade expertise and confidence in driving stakeholder influence, process design, training support, and a practical, data‑driven mindset.
The ideal candidate will bring prior GCC regional experience and a background working in Dubai as a Trade Analyst, Trade Consultant, Customs Broker, and/or Trade Specialist, with direct exposure to import/export operations and customs processes across the region.
Main Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of a scalable Trade Operations and Trade Compliance program for the GCC region.
• Act as the primary Trade Compliance point of contact in Dubai, supporting the business across GCC markets.
• Partner closely with Customs and Trade Compliance teams in France, Italy, and Poland to align regional operations with global standards and business objectives.
• Assess current operating models, identify Trade Compliance gaps, and define practical solutions to strengthen processes, controls, and execution.
• Design and implement standard operating procedures that support compliance, operational efficiency, and business scale.
• Support the creation of a stakeholder training program, including development of materials and on‑site delivery of training where needed.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with internal business teams, external partners, customs authorities, brokers, and freight forwarders.
• Support customs recordkeeping, reporting, post‑entry review, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities.
• Drive disciplined operational oversight across import and export activities, ensuring compliant and efficient execution.
• Bring a modern, forward‑looking perspective to Trade Operations by identifying cost‑effective methods, digital tools, and practical solutions that improve visibility, control, and scalability.
• Use data, reporting, and business intelligence to deliver clear Trade Compliance insights and support informed decision‑making, especially in environments where systems and tools may still be maturing.

Your profile

• Prior experience in the GCC region, with direct experience working from and within Dubai in a role such as Trade Analyst, Customs Broker, and/or Trade Specialist.
• Proven experience in import and export operations.
• Strong command of customs recordkeeping, reporting, post‑entry management, review, reconciliation, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working with customs brokers and freight forwarders, including providers with integrated customs brokerage capabilities.
• Understanding of Free Trade Zones and special airport operations.
• Familiarity with regional customs portals and practical customs filing and operational workflows across GCC markets.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across regions, functions, customers, service providers, and customs authorities.
• Comfortable working with data and digitization, with strong Microsoft Office, Excel, and Business Intelligence capabilities.
• Able to translate data into clear, actionable Trade Compliance messages in the absence of robust tools or systems.
• English and Arabic are required.
• French and/or Italian language skills are a strong plus.
• Additional languages are highly welcome.
• Experience helping build or transform Trade Compliance operations in a scaling or evolving business.
• Ability to identify and implement 21st‑century, cost‑effective approaches to Trade Compliance through better processes, automation, data use, and pragmatic tooling.
• Comfortable working across time zones.
• Experience working in a matrixed, international environment with cross‑border stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is a builder practical, credible, and comfortable operating independently in-region while staying tightly connected to global teams. They know how to balance compliance rigor with business reality, can spot gaps quickly, and are able to convert ambiguity into structure, process, and scalable execution. They are equally comfortable engaging with customs authorities, brokers, business stakeholders, and senior regional partners.