Trade Compliance Operations Manager

NXP Semiconductors; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning opportunities

Job summary

NXP Semiconductors in Kuala Lumpur seeks a hands-on Trade Compliance Operations Lead to drive execution and review of HS/ECCN classification within playbooks. You will lead and develop the Kuala Lumpur team while personally handling key classification tasks and escalation if needed.

Ideal candidates have 5–8 years in trade compliance, a Bachelor’s degree, and the ability to balance leadership with hands-on work. Mandarin is a strong advantage; English fluency is required.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of relevant experience in trade compliance operations, export controls or comparable regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of product classification processes including HS classification; ECCN experience preferred.
• Proven people leadership including coaching, allocating work and owning team delivery.
• Experience managing queues, backlogs, KPIs and cycle times.
• Ability to work within documented playbooks, controls and escalation frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on execution and review of classification and trade compliance activities.
• Execute HS and ECCN classification work using approved playbooks and decision frameworks.
• Prepare escalation packages for matters outside guidance with clear documentation.
• Lead and develop Kuala Lumpur team members, allocating work and monitoring performance.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardize processes, increase automation where appropriate.
• Collaborate with Operations Control Tower, Export Controls, Customs, and Supply Chain teams.

Skills

People leadership

Process optimization

Trade compliance knowledge

Documentation discipline

Root-cause analysis

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, law, engineering or related field

Job description

Role Purpose Lead and develop the Kuala Lumpur execution capability as part of NXP's global Trade Compliance Operations team. This is a hands‑on player‑manager role: the manager leads the Trade Compliance Operations Coordinators while also personally executing and reviewing operational work. The initial focus is product classification, including HS and ECCN classification. Over time, further Trade Compliance activities may be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur team. The role ensures accurate, timely and playbook‑based execution, with disciplined escalation of new, sensitive or precedent‑setting matters through established global channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands‑on execution Personally perform and review classification and other trade compliance activities, particularly during ramp‑up, peak periods and operational backlogs.
• Execute HS and ECCN classification work within approved playbooks and decision frameworks.
• Manage classification requests and prepare clear, authority‑ready escalation packages when matters fall outside established guidance.
• Ensure complete documentation, decision traceability and audit‑ready evidence.
• Team leadership and delivery ownership Build, lead, coach and develop the Kuala Lumpur Trade Compliance Operations Coordinators.
• Allocate work, manage queues and backlogs, balance workload, and monitor quality, productivity and cycle times.
• Act as the first point of contact for daily execution issues and run regular delivery and performance routines.
• Remain actively involved in operational work; this is not a management‑only or strategy‑only role.
• Execution governance and quality Ensure consistent use of approved playbooks, controls and escalation rules.
• Perform first‑line quality assurance through sampling, error tracking and root‑cause analysis.
• Drive corrective actions, coaching, retraining and continuous improvement.
• Scaling and cross‑functional coordination Help build and scale the Kuala Lumpur Trade Compliance Operations capability and support the controlled transfer of additional activities.
• Identify recurring execution patterns that can be standardized, simplified or added to playbooks.
• Work closely with the Operations Control Tower, Trade Compliance Infrastructure, Export Control and Sanctions, Customs, Supply Chain Security, Process and Risk teams.
• Own continuous improvement of the operation by simplifying and standardizing processes, increasing automation, improving data and workflows, and applying AI‑enabled solutions where appropriate to improve quality, speed and scalability.

Qualifications / Experience

• Typically 5-8 years of relevant experience in trade compliance operations, export controls, customs, product classification or a comparable regulated operational environment, including experience leading or supervising an operational team.
• Strong practical knowledge of product classification processes, including HS classification; experience with ECCN or export control classification is strongly preferred.
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching and developing employees, allocating work, managing performance and taking ownership of team delivery.
• Experience allocating work and managing operational queues, quality, KPIs, backlogs and cycle times.
• Comfortable combining people leadership with personal execution and review of operational work.
• Ability to work consistently within documented playbooks, controls and escalation frameworks.
• Strong attention to detail, documentation discipline and a practical, collaborative mindset.
• Note: The successful candidate must have sufficient trade compliance knowledge to execute and review classification work, recognize compliance risks, apply established requirements correctly and elevate matters requiring specialist or authority‑level interpretation.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, engineering, international trade, law or a related field, or equivalent relevant practical experience.

Language

• Fluent English, written and spoken, is required.
• The ability to speak, read and write Mandarin Chinese is a strong advantage.
• Other relevant language skills are welcome.

Benefits

• We offer online and offline learning opportunities to help you develop some of your core and professional skills.

More information about NXP in Malaysia... #LI-6650 NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) enables a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through innovation.

As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is pushing boundaries in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets.

For more information, visit www.nxp.com

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Commitment At NXP. We recognize NXP is a powerful change agent as we continue to deliver innovative solutions that advance a more sustainable future.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and making measurable year-on-year progress.

Also, we aim to create an inclusive work environment and we will not tolerate racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind.

We have programs in place focused on diversity, inclusion and equality.

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