EU Trade Compliance Leader

Leonid Group; Düsseldorf; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Leonid Group is seeking a European Trade Compliance Leader to own and modernise the regional framework across Europe, including EU customs, export controls and sanctions. You will drive strategy, governance and improvements in collaboration with senior stakeholders across manufacturing, finance and legal.

The role offers hybrid working with three days onsite weekly, and opportunities to shape a strategic, value-adding compliance function within a global industrial group.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years in Trade Compliance across multinational settings.
• Deep knowledge of EU customs, export controls and sanctions.
• Experience across multiple European jurisdictions.
• Ability to translate regulatory complexity into practical business solutions.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the European trade compliance strategy, aligned with global standards and regional business requirements.
• Develop and strengthen a consistent compliance framework across European entities, including governance, policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Oversee customs compliance, including tariff classification, valuation, origin, customs authorisations, broker management and duty optimisation.
• Lead regional export controls and sanctions compliance, including product classification, licensing, restricted-party screening and regulatory risk assessments.
• Drive process harmonisation, digitalisation and continuous improvement across trade compliance activities.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across manufacturing, engineering, procurement, supply chain, finance and legal to support business growth while managing regulatory exposure.
• Lead compliance risk assessments, audits, investigations, remediation and training initiatives.

Skills

Trade Compliance

Customs

Export Controls

Sanctions

Stakeholder management

Strategic leadership

Tools

SAP

Global Trade Management Systems

Job description

We are partnering with a leading global industrial manufacturing organisation to appoint a European Trade Compliance Leader, taking ownership of the regional trade compliance strategy across multiple European jurisdictions.

• France: Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse and the wider Alsace region.
• Poland: Sosnowiec, Katowice and the wider Upper Silesia metropolitan area.

This is not a typical operational trade compliance position.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape, modernise and lead the European trade compliance framework, combining strategic leadership with hands‑on technical expertise across customs, export controls and economic sanctions.

Working closely with global leadership and senior European stakeholders, this individual will play a central role in transforming Trade Compliance into a more strategic, commercially integrated and value‑generating business function.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the European trade compliance strategy, aligned with global standards and regional business requirements.
• Develop and strengthen a consistent compliance framework across European entities, including governance, policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Oversee customs compliance, including tariff classification, valuation, origin, customs authorisations, broker management and duty optimisation.
• Lead regional export controls and sanctions compliance, including product classification, licensing, restricted-party screening and regulatory risk assessments.
• Drive process harmonisation, digitalisation and continuous improvement across trade compliance activities.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across manufacturing, engineering, procurement, supply chain, finance and legal to support business growth while managing regulatory exposure.
• Lead compliance risk assessments, audits, investigations, remediation and training initiatives.

About You

• Approximately 8-10+ years of experience in Trade Compliance, Customs, Export Controls or International Trade within a multinational environment.
• Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation and a solid understanding of European export controls and sanctions requirements.
• Experience operating across multiple European jurisdictions, ideally within a complex manufacturing or industrial environment.
• A proven ability to develop, implement or improve trade compliance programmes, processes and internal controls.
• Strategic and commercially minded, with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and translate regulatory complexity into practical business solutions.
• Experience working with SAP and/or global trade management systems would be advantageous.
• Fluent English is essential; an additional European language would be beneficial.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a rare opportunity to take genuine ownership of a European trade compliance function within an established international industrial group.

The position offers significant autonomy, visibility with senior leadership and the opportunity to shape the future direction of Trade Compliance across Europe.

Rather than simply maintaining an existing programme, you will be instrumental in building a more integrated, efficient and strategically valuable function.

Working model: Hybrid, with an expectation of three days onsite per week.