Trade Compliance Officer

The Manufacturing Technology Centre; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research and development organization in the UK seeks an experienced Trade Compliance Officer to oversee regulatory compliance and minimize risks in global trade activities. The successful candidate will manage sanctions, export control classifications, and customs processes while contributing to policy development and internal audits. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in law or business, exemplary teamwork, and strong attention to detail. This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, internationally recognized environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in national and international customs and export control.
• Knowledge of UK export licensing and control regulations.
• Experience in delivering training sessions.

Responsibilities

• Research and monitor sanctions and conduct party screening.
• Classify hardware and software under UK and US regulations.
• Support customs clearance and documentation accuracy.

Skills

National and international customs expertise

Export control knowledge

Sanctions regulations

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in law or business

Job description

The Vacancy

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Trade Compliance Officer to join the team. This position offers a significant opportunity for the successful person to come in and grow their role.

Reporting to the Trade Compliance Manager, the Trade Compliance Officer will play a crucial role in safeguarding our global trade activities, gain exposure to international compliance frameworks, and contribute to process improvements that make a real impact.

This role will suit a self‑starter who can use their initiative to identify and deliver improvements and should be confident in their ability to deliver accurate data in a meaningful way. The position sits within a busy and varied team; we're looking for someone who is comfortable with some level of ambiguity in their work, with an appropriate level of resilience in order to increase clarity to the business and will be instrumental in minimising regulatory risk and impact to the MTC.

Your main responsibilities will include.

• Sanctions: Research and monitor UK, US, UN, and OSCE sanctions; conduct party screening; keep policies and training up to date.
• Export Control:
  • Classify hardware, software, and technology under UK and US regulations (EAR, ITAR).
  • Assist with export licence applications, end‑user undertakings, and reporting.
  • Stay current with changes to UK Export Control Act and US EAR/ITAR rules.
• Customs:
  • Determine tariff/commodity codes and valuation methods.
  • Support customs clearance, documentation accuracy, and recordkeeping.
  • Review import/export entries and liaise with brokers for corrections.
• Compliance Support:
  • Help develop policies, processes, and training programs.
  • Assist with internal audits and respond to inquiries from HMRC and US agencies.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for an experienced Trade Compliance Officer with expertise in national and international customs, export control, and sanctions regulations. You'll have detailed knowledge of UK export licensing, hardware, software and technology ratings, US ITAR and US EAR.

You’ll be a collaborative team player, with excellent inter‑personal skills and effective stakeholder management. You’ll also have strong attention to detail and be proficient in working with MS Office.

Desirable Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in law or business and/or equivalent experience.
• Experience in delivering training.
• Experience in developing policies, processes, and procedures.
• Providing risk management recommendations.

Interview Process

Once you submit your application, this will be passed on to our Talent Acquisition team for review. If you are successfully shortlisted, the next steps will be a 2‑stage interview process.

Reference and Security Checks

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC's engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world‑class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.