Compliance Officer

Sapien Engineering; Stone Cross; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Sapien Engineering is seeking a Compliance and Export Control Officer to join our team around Sandwich. The role focuses on ensuring compliance with UK and international export controls, sanctions and customs for regulated products and programmes.

You will work with cross-functional teams to implement policies, conduct screening, and maintain records. Applicants should have demonstrable experience in trade compliance, licensing, and document management, with eligibility for UK SC clearance.

Qualifications

• Experience in Export Control, Trade Compliance or International Trade.
• Understanding of export licensing requirements and controlled goods.
• Experience conducting sanctions and denied-party screening.
• Familiarity with freight forwarders, licensing authorities or brokers.
• Background in Defence, Aerospace, Engineering, Manufacturing, Electronics or related regulated sectors advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply UK and international export control regulations, including UK Export Controls, ITAR and EAR requirements.
• Determine export licence requirements and manage licence applications and usage, including OGELs, OIELs and SIELs.
• Prepare and review import/export documentation including commercial invoices, certificates of origin and shipping documentation.
• Classify products against UK Export Control Lists, Military Lists, Dual-Use regulations and ECCN classifications.
• Conduct denied party screening, sanctions checks and end-user/end-use assessments.
• Support the development and maintenance of trade compliance policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Work closely with commercial, operations, logistics and supply chain teams to support international trade activities.
• Liaise with freight forwarders, customs brokers and government authorities regarding import and export requirements.
• Maintain compliance records and support internal and external audits.
• Deliver guidance and training to internal stakeholders on export control and customs requirements.

Skills

Export controls

Trade compliance

Licensing

Sanctions screening

Import/export documentation

ITAR/EAR knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Cross-department communication

Job description

Sapien are looking for a Compliance and Export control officer based around Sandwich for an established organisation operating within the Defence, Security and Advanced Technology sectors.

Candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

This role will be responsible for ensuring compliance with UK and international export control regulations, customs requirements, sanctions legislation and import/export processes across a range of highly regulated products and programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply UK and international export control regulations, including UK Export Controls, ITAR and EAR requirements.
• Determine export licence requirements and manage licence applications and usage, including OGELs, OIELs and SIELs.
• Prepare and review import/export documentation including commercial invoices, certificates of origin and shipping documentation.
• Classify products against UK Export Control Lists, Military Lists, Dual-Use regulations and ECCN classifications.
• Conduct denied party screening, sanctions checks and end-user/end-use assessments.
• Support the development and maintenance of trade compliance policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Work closely with commercial, operations, logistics and supply chain teams to support international trade activities.
• Liaise with freight forwarders, customs brokers and government authorities regarding import and export requirements.
• Maintain compliance records and support internal and external audits.
• Deliver guidance and training to internal stakeholders on export control and customs requirements.

Experience Required

• Previous experience within Export Control, Trade Compliance, Customs Compliance or International Trade.
• Experience reviewing export/import documentation and supporting international shipments.
• Understanding of export licensing requirements and controlled goods.
• Experience carrying out sanctions and denied-party screening activities.
• Experience working with freight forwarders, customs brokers or licensing authorities.
• Background within Defence, Aerospace, Engineering, Manufacturing, Electronics, Technology or other highly regulated industries would be advantageous.

Knowledge & Skills

• UK Export Controls and ECJU licensing processes.
• HMRC customs requirements.
• Sanctions compliance and restricted-party screening.
• Commodity codes, customs valuation, rules of origin and Incoterms.
• Import/export documentation and audit requirements.
• ITAR and EAR knowledge would be beneficial.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to interpret complex regulations.
• Confident communicator with the ability to work across multiple departments.