Senior Principal Compliance Officer

Northrop Grumman Australia; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Salary packaging

Flexible working options

Parental leave (18 weeks)

Health & Wellbeing program

Employee Discounts

Employee Recognition

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Australia is seeking a Senior Principal Compliance Officer to lead global trade governance across export controls, including customs and freight, with autonomy and strategic influence.

The role involves advising on complex, multi‑jurisdictional matters, managing permits and licences end‑to‑end, and partnering with senior stakeholders to enable programs while maintaining compliance under NV1 security requirements.

Qualifications

• You’re an experienced compliance, Global Trade or legal professional who translates regulatory requirements into governance frameworks.
• Bachelor’s degree in Law or another relevant field.
• Experience interpreting legislation across multi‑jurisdictional export-control matters.
• Experience managing permits and licences end‑to‑end.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with the ability to simplify complex information.

Responsibilities

• Investigate complex compliance matters and drive corrective actions.
• Strengthen Global Trade policies, procedures, training and assurance frameworks.
• Manage risk assessments, audits and compliance improvement initiatives.
• Navigate complex export/import authorisations, permits and licences.
• Support supplier export-control compliance and denied-party screening.
• Monitor regulatory changes and translate requirements into practical guidance.
• Partner with senior, technical and cross-functional stakeholders to solve complex challenges.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Influencing skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Autonomy / independence

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law or relevant field

Job description

At Northrop Grumman Australia (NGA), we’re committed to solving complex challenges that support our customers, our people and the Defence capabilities they rely on. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Global Trade or export controls professional to bring their expertise to NGA and work across complex compliance matters supporting our Defence operations.

Based at our Fortitude Valley office, you’ll work with senior leaders, programs and suppliers, helping the business navigate complex export and import requirements in a highly regulated environment.

Your role:

As our Senior Principal Compliance Officer, you’ll be a trusted advisor to the Senior Manager Global Trade, providing practical governance frameworks across export controls, including customs and freight. With a high level of autonomy, you’ll influence how NGA manages compliance risk while helping enable our programs and broader business operations.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Investigate complex compliance matters and drive corrective actions.
• Strengthen Global Trade policies, procedures, training and assurance frameworks.
• Manage risk assessments, audits and compliance improvement initiatives.
• Navigate complex export/import authorisations, permits and licences.
• Support supplier export-control compliance and denied-party screening.
• Monitor regulatory changes and translate requirements into practical guidance.
• Partner with senior, technical and cross-functional stakeholders to solve complex challenges.

About you:

You’re an experienced compliance, Global Trade or legal professional who enjoys solving complex problems and translating regulatory requirements into practical business governance frameworks. You’re comfortable working independently, influencing senior stakeholders and partnering across technical and non-technical teams.

You’ll bring:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Law or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying legislation across complex, multi-jurisdictional export-control matters.
• Experience managing permits and licences end-to-end, including complex or sensitive applications.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to simplify complex information for different audiences.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively with minimal supervision.
• Experience across Global Trade, Customs and Freight regulatory frameworks, knowledge of DSGL, USML and CCL classifications, and 6+ years of directly related experience will be highly regarded.

You’ll also need the ability to obtain and maintain an NV1 Australian Government security clearance.

At Northrop Grumman, we do the right thing, do what we promise, commit to shared success and pioneer. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your expertise to complex challenges while helping enable the programs, suppliers and operations that support our mission.

What we offer:

Whatever your role, life stage or background, you can shape your career here in your way with highly challenging work, great colleagues and career development, plus a range of flexible benefits and working patterns.

• Professional development – further education, leadership development, professional industry memberships and unlimited access to a range of online training.
• Salary packaging including novated car leases and the option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Flexible working options, including hybrid working, 9 day fortnights, volunteer leave and varying start and finish times to suit your family needs.
• 18 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid reservist leave.
• We offer all employees access to our Health & Wellbeing program and Employee Assistance program.
• Employee Discount Program.
• Employee Recognition Program.

For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact [e-mail]

As a Defence security clearance is required for this role, you must be an Australian Citizen. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are applicable, as such your nationality may be a factor in determining your suitability for this role. You will also need to satisfy police checks and employment screening verification