Internal Trade Control Lead

Leonardo UK Ltd; Basildon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd is seeking an Internal Trade Control Lead to manage UK Export Control and Compliance within the Trade Compliance Function. This role provides guidance to divisions to ensure compliance with UK/US export laws and other regulations, with flexibility for home working and UK/international travel.

The role reports to the Head of Trade Compliance – Electronics Division UK and will drive control processes, assist audits, and standardise practices across sites while leveraging tools like

Qualifications

• An experienced practitioner with in‑depth knowledge of UK & US strategic controls and regulations.
• Experience in regulatory audits and liaising with authorities.
• Strong interpersonal/influencing skills to support decision making.
• Driving licence for UK assignments.

Responsibilities

• Implement a process for overseeing ITAR/EAR controls as required.
• Lay groundwork for external and internal audits with support.
• Standardise processes across sites and improve efficiency.
• Work with SAP and ProMaster to monitor compliance controls.
• Engage with authorities and respond to government audits as needed.
• Identify compliance gaps and support corrective action implementation.

Skills

UK & US trade controls knowledge

Regulatory audits experience

Interpersonal/influencing skills

Meeting management

Driving licence (UK)

Tools

SAP

ProMaster

Job description

Job Description: Your Impact Leonardo UK Ltd is seeking an Internal Trade Control Lead to work within its Trade Compliance Function to support the management and control of all aspects of UK Export Control and Compliance. As an Internal Trade Control Lead, you will provide business support services including advice and guidance to Leonardo UK's Divisions and Functions to ensure the company remains compliant with UK Export Control laws, US Export Control laws and other relevant laws and regulations.

Leonardo fully supports flexible/home working. With a home base from one of Leonardo UK's facilities, the role will involve UK travel and possibly international travel. Reporting to the Head of Trade Compliance – Electronics Division UK, this role is responsible for the following:

• Implement a process for overseeing ITAR/EAR related controls as required.
• Lay the groundwork for all external and internal audits as required (with support).
• Make recommendations for standardisation across all sites.
• With reference to efficiencies utilising tools such as SAP and ProMaster etc.
• Working with the Senior Leadership Team in respect of communications with the authorities, including responding to government audits (ECJU/Blue lantern) and other enquiries.
• Identify compliance gaps, propose and support implementation of required corrective actions where appropriate.
• Implement a process for overseeing and monitoring Trade Compliance policies, procedures and work instructions, ensuring updates and reviews are managed, and adherence to the policies is monitored via internal health checks and audits.

What you’ll bring

An experienced practitioner with an in‑depth and detailed knowledge of UK & US Strategic Controls and regulations. Previous involvement in regulatory audits. Strong interpersonal/influencing skills to support decision‑making based on credible knowledge of Licensing and International Trade. Meeting management skills (organise, chair, record, action) Driving licence for UK assignments This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role. For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo UK operates a grade‑based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity. Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB – Basildon Additional Locations: GB – Bristol Building, GB – Edinburgh, GB – London, GB – Luton – Cap. Green 300, GB – Newcastle, GB – Southampton Contract Type: Permanent Hybrid Working: Hybrid International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo. The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know‑how across the generations. Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!