Trade Compliance Manager

Thales Avionics, Inc. (AGS); Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales Avionics, Inc. (AGS) in Ottawa/ Montreal seeks a Trade Compliance Manager to oversee day-to-day compliance across Canadian programs, ensuring import/export, sanctions, and regulatory requirements are identified and addressed throughout project lifecycles.

You will work with cross-functional teams, provide risk assessments, and escalate complex issues to TCO while supporting audits and training. Hybrid work arrangement available in Canada.

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in business or related field.
• 3–5 years in international trade compliance including export control, sanctions, and/or customs management.
• Knowledge of Canadian trade programs (NEXCOL, CARM) and US ITAR/EAR regulations.
• Excellent English verbal and written communication; ability to train others.

Responsibilities

• Provide trade compliance expertise and implement import/export regulations for assigned projects and business lines.
• Support import compliance, outbound shipments, in-country transfers, and controlled shipments.
• Draft technology control plans with project teams to ensure proactive compliance.
• Prepare and deliver trainings and briefings to project stakeholders.
• Maintain trade compliance records and audit trails; manage export authorizations.
• Escalate high-risk matters to senior leadership as appropriate.
• Assist in implementing and maintaining the local trade compliance program (LCP).

Skills

Effective communication

Training abilities

MS Office proficiency

English proficiency

Education

Diploma/Degree in business or related field

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Windchill

Restricted party screening tools

Job description

Location: Ottawa, Canada

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Trade Compliance Manager

Ottawa, ON or Montreal, QC- Hybrid

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

• Requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the Canadian Export Control List, the ITAR or the EAR.
• Requires a positive Controlled Goods assessment as you will have direct access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program.
• Required to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance at the NATO Secret Level.

Position Summary

We have a current vacancy for a Trade Compliance Manager who is responsible for the day-to-day administration and execution of trade compliance activities across multiple programs, projects, and business lines for the Thales Canada, Defence and Security (TCDS) operations across Canada. Working closely with the other members of the trade compliance team as well as project teams, supply chain, engineering, procurement, and business stakeholders, this role ensures that import, export, sanctions, customs, and regulatory requirements are identified, assessed, and addressed throughout a project's lifecycle. This position serves as a key trade compliance resource, supporting trade compliance assessments, identifying potential regulatory risks, escalating complex issues when required, and helping ensure projects remain compliant with applicable national and international trade regulations. While strategic leadership is provided by senior trade compliance personnel, the Trade Compliance Manager is expected to independently manage assigned compliance activities, perform risk evaluations, and exercise sound judgment in recognizing and addressing trade compliance concerns.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Provide Trade Compliance expertise, assess risks, and implement all applicable national and international import and export control regulations for assigned projects, programs or business lines;
• Ensure timely and responsive day-to-day support of import compliance, outbound shipments, in-country transfers, and controlled shipments of goods or technology.
• Provide guidance on trade compliance risks, requirements, and mitigation actions.
• Draft a technology control plan or similar documentation with the project/program management team to ensure proactive compliance.
• Prepare and deliver trainings and briefings to project stakeholders.
• Manage access to controlled information on the project/program.
• Manage the transfer process of controlled information.
• Maintain trade compliance records, documentation, approvals, and audit trails
• Determine, draft, submit and manage the required export authorizations.
• Perform restricted party screenings, validate the results, manage false positives and the hits in the screening tool, and escalat[e] to the TCO as necessary.
• Support the export-control jurisdiction and classification program with Engineering and other relevant functions.
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to senior trade compliance leadership as appropriate.
• Report any potential or actual trade compliance violations, unauthorized activities, and other compliance concerns to the TCO; support investigations with the relevant functions; and support the development, implementation, and closure of corrective and preventive actions.

Provide support to the local Trade Compliance Officer on activities such as:

• Internal audits, assessments and compliance reviews of TCDS operations in Canada
• Assist in implementing and maintaining the local trade compliance program (LCP) aligned with Thales Group, GBU, BL, and Country trade compliance policies, procedures, and guidance

Minimum Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in business, or related field of study, or equivalent experience in a business environment
• 3-5 years of experience in international trade compliance including export control management, compliance (sanctions) and/or customs management
• Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian trade application programs (NEXCOL, CARM).
• Demonstrated knowledge of US ITAR and EAR regulations.
• Demonstrated communication skills, including proven ability to provide effective trade compliance training and presentations.
• Competency with restricted party screening tools.
• Must be highly proficient with MS Office tools.
• Aptitude for or experience with the use of information systems (ex: SAP, Windchill, etc..).
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the defence industry
• Working knowledge of the Controlled Goods Program (CGP)
• Working knowledge of French an asset