Senior Manager, Trade Operations & Compliance, EMEA

BioSpace; Oxford; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Well-being resources

Family-friendly benefits

Generous paid time off

Savings and investments

Location-specific perks

Job summary

Moderna in the United Kingdom (Harwell-based) seeks a seasoned Global Trade & Operations leader to shape regional strategy and drive compliant, scalable trade processes across EMEA. You will partner with cross-functional teams to enable rapid delivery of medicines, and lead digital initiatives including SAP GTS, MIC and Descartes for enhanced compliance and automation.

You will guide regional strategy, oversee regulatory changes, and mentor a regional network of trade professionals, ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience with at least 6 years in compliance or regulatory roles in life sciences.
• Strong knowledge of EU Union Customs Code and local customs laws across EMEA.
• Experience managing brokers, freight forwarders, and regulatory interactions.
• Experience implementing digital trade compliance tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional trade compliance strategies across the EMEA region.
• Partner with Legal, Supply Chain, Finance, Tax, and Logistics to embed compliance into processes.
• Oversee import/export operations, classification, valuation, origin, and licenses.
• Design and improve trade compliance programs and governance metrics.
• Champion digital transformation and automation in trade operations (SAP GTS, MIC, Descartes).
• Manage interactions with customs authorities and regulatory bodies.
• Drive cost-saving initiatives like duty relief opportunities.
• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure readiness across teams.
• Lead training and knowledge-sharing within the regional compliance network.

Skills

Global trade compliance

EU customs code

Project management

Leadership

English communication

Regulatory analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Economics/Supply Chain/International Business

Tools

SAP GTS

MIC

Descartes

Job description

The Role

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.

As a key member of our Global Trade & Operations organization, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring Moderna’s medicines and technologies move seamlessly across borders throughout the EMEA region. Working at the intersection of global strategy, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance, you’ll help shape the future of our international trade program while enabling the rapid delivery of innovative medicines to patients.

Based in Harwell, you’ll partner closely with Global and Regional Trade leadership to strengthen Moderna’s Global Trade & Operations Program across EMEA. This is an opportunity to influence regional trade strategy, drive digital transformation, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to build scalable, compliant, and agile trade operations. You’ll also have the opportunity to leverage emerging digital technologies and Generative AI‑enabled solutions to enhance compliance processes, automate workflows, and improve decision‑making across the trade function.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Partner closely with Global and Regional Trade leadership to enhance Moderna’s Global Trade & Operations Program across the EMEA region.
• Shape and lead regional trade compliance strategies, ensuring alignment with global objectives while supporting evolving business priorities.
• Serve as the regional subject matter expert on customs and international trade regulations across EMEA, providing strategic guidance to internal stakeholders and ensuring local execution aligns with global trade strategy.
• Support day‑to‑day operational trade activities across EMEA, ensuring import and export transactions, product classifications, documentation, and customs processes are executed efficiently, compliantly, and within business timelines.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive trade compliance programs covering tariff classification, customs valuation, licensing requirements, country of origin determination, and recordkeeping obligations.
• Champion digital transformation by driving the adoption, optimization, and enhancement of trade compliance technologies and automation platforms, including SAP GTS, MIC, and Descartes, while identifying opportunities to further streamline operations through advanced digital and AI‑enabled capabilities.
• Monitor changes to customs and international trade regulations across the EMEA region, proactively assessing business impacts and ensuring organizational readiness for new regulatory requirements.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Legal, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Tax, Logistics, and other key stakeholders to embed trade compliance into business processes and operational decision‑making.
• Identify, develop, and lead strategic trade optimization initiatives, including the implementation of special customs procedures, duty relief opportunities, bonded warehouse programs, and other cost‑saving initiatives.
• Lead interactions with customs authorities across the EMEA region, managing external audits, customs investigations, and regulatory inquiries while maintaining strong relationships with government agencies.
• Support the development of trade compliance capabilities by delivering guidance, training, and knowledge‑sharing initiatives across the regional trade compliance network.
• Define, monitor, and continuously improve trade compliance metrics, key performance indicators, and customs broker performance to drive operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Foster standardization, process optimization, and operational consistency across regional trade activities while balancing regulatory integrity with business agility.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role

• We obsess over learning. We don’t have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest.
• We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Business, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, International Business) or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience, including at least 6 years in a compliance, legal, auditing, or investigation role in life sciences, preferably in biotechnology, medical device, and/or pharmaceutical industries.
• Strong expertise in both operational trade execution and project management within complex international environments.
• Solid knowledge of EU Union Customs Code and local customs laws across EMEA, including experience in import/export operations, dual‑use regulations, classification, valuation, origin, and free trade agreements.
• Proven experience managing customs brokers, freight forwarders, and 3PLs, as well as interactions with regulatory bodies across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated leadership in implementing digital trade compliance tools (e.g. SAP GTS, MIC, Descartes, or similar systems).
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, and analytical skills with the ability to influence across levels and geographies.
• Experience working in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Strong critical thinking, sound judgment, and decision‑making skills.
• Passion for your work and a curious mindset that challenges the status quo.
• Self‑directed, proactive, motivated, and a fast learner.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Communicate effectively in English, spoken and written.
• As part of Moderna’s commitment to workplace safety, this role may require an enhanced pre‑employment check.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our benefits and well‑being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well‑being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year‑end shutdown
• Savingsandinvestments to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world‑class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

As we build our company, we have always believed an in‑person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in‑office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in‑office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

Moderna is a smoke‑free, alcohol‑free, and drug‑free work environment.

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow.

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non‑discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at [e-mail].