Head of Trade Compliance

Draken Europe; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% matching pension

Bonus incentives

Discounted PMI

Electric car scheme

Tech vouchers

Wellbeing programmes

Job summary

Draken Europe is seeking a Head of Trade Compliance to establish and lead a global trade compliance program. You will shape risk-based policies, oversee licensing, and advise senior leadership on regulatory change across UK, EU and US markets.

You will build and mentor a UK-based team, embed compliance into business processes, and partner with audits and regulatory authorities to ensure robust, scalable governance.

Qualifications

• Significant experience (10+ years) in trade compliance with leadership responsibility.
• Experience managing trade compliance in a multinational or highly regulated environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK, EU, and US trade regulations; global experience highly advantageous.
• Proven ability to design and implement enterprise-level compliance frameworks.
• Experience dealing with regulatory authorities and managing audits or disclosures.
• Strategic leadership with strong commercial awareness.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making capability.
• Pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into clear operational guidance.
• High integrity and sound professional judgement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own Draken’s global trade compliance strategy, aligned to business objectives and regulatory requirements
• Establish and maintain trade compliance policies, standards and governance frameworks across all regions
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex or high-risk trade compliance matters
• Provide insight, reporting and assurance to senior leadership, Audit Committee and Board as required
• Lead licensing strategies and ensure effective control and utilisation
• Identify, assess and mitigate trade compliance risks across the business
• Lead internal audits, reviews and gap analyses
• Oversee investigations into potential breaches and lead corrective actions
• Act as the primary interface with regulatory authorities during audits or disclosures
• Embed trade compliance into key business processes, including: Business development and sales, Supply chain and logistics, Engineering, product classification and development
• Provide practical, risk-based advice to support commercial decision-making
• Lead, develop and mentor the UK trade compliance team
• Define team structure, resourcing and capability needs
• Design and deliver impactful trade compliance training across the organisation
• Champion a strong culture of compliance, accountability and ethical conduct

Skills

Trade compliance leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Audits & investigations

Strategic thinking

Interpreting regulations

Commercial awareness

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Law / International Trade / Supply Chain

Professional certifications (ACSS, CIPS, ICC)

Job description

Draken believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.

Role Overview

The Head of Trade Compliance is responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the organisation’s global trade compliance framework. This role ensures full compliance with applicable import, export, customs, sanctions, embargoes, and trade control regulations, while enabling the business to operate efficiently and competitively across international markets.

The role acts as the key subject matter expert and strategic advisor to senior leadership on trade compliance risk, regulatory change, and operational integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own Draken’s global trade compliance strategy, aligned to business objectives and regulatory requirements
• Establish and maintain trade compliance policies, standards and governance frameworks across all regions
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex or high-risk trade compliance matters
• Provide insight, reporting and assurance to senior leadership, Audit Committee and Board as required

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with UK, EU, US and international regulations, including export controls, customs, sanctions and embargo regimes (e.g. UK Export Control Order, EU Dual-Use, EAR, ITAR, OFSI, OFAC)
• Monitor regulatory changes, assess business impact and implement required actions
• Lead licensing strategies and ensure effective control and utilisation

Risk, Assurance & External Engagement

• Identify, assess and mitigate trade compliance risks across the business
• Lead internal audits, reviews and gap analyses
• Oversee investigations into potential breaches and lead corrective actions
• Act as the primary interface with regulatory authorities during audits or disclosures

Business Integration

• Embed trade compliance into key business processes, including:
• Business development and sales
• Supply chain and logistics
• Engineering, product classification and development
• M&A activity and new market entry
• Provide practical, risk-based advice to support commercial decision-making

Leadership & Capability

• Lead, develop and mentor the UK trade compliance team
• Define team structure, resourcing and capability needs
• Design and deliver impactful trade compliance training across the organisation
• Champion a strong culture of compliance, accountability and ethical conduct

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in trade compliance, export controls, customs, or international trade, with leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing trade compliance in a multinational or highly regulated environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK, EU, and US trade regulations; global experience highly advantageous.
• Proven ability to design and implement enterprise-level compliance frameworks.
• Experience dealing with regulatory authorities and managing audits or disclosures.
• Strategic leadership with strong commercial awareness.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Strong analytical and risk-based decision-making capability.
• Pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into clear operational guidance.
• High integrity and sound professional judgement.

Education & Professional Certifications (Preferred)

• Degree in Law, International Trade, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
• Professional certifications such as:
• Customs or trade compliance certifications (e.g. ACSS, CIPS, ICC)
• Ongoing professional development in international trade regulation.

Key Measures of Success

• Effective management and reduction of trade compliance risk.
• Positive outcomes from audits and regulatory engagements.
• Integration of compliance into business processes without unnecessary disruption.
• Capability, engagement, and performance of the trade compliance team.
• Strong compliance culture across the organisation.

Why Join Draken Europe?

At Draken, you’ll be part of a team making a real impact on mission critical operations. You’ll have opportunities to develop your technical skills, support meaningful projects, and contribute to the digital transformation of a unique and exciting organisation.

Our employee values

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.

At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.

We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.

In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.

About Us

Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary-wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off.

Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.