Global Trade Compliance Manager

Signify; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Signify in Eindhoven is seeking a seasoned Global Trade Compliance Manager to lead our export controls, sanctions, customs and dangerous goods compliance across international operations. You will build global standards, govern compliance programs and drive transformation with SAP S/4HANA, analytics, automation and AI while partnering with Supply Chain, Legal, Tax and Finance.

Strong leadership and cross-functional influence are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in global trade compliance
• Experience with ERP and trade tech incl SAP
• Bachelor's or Master's in relevant field and fluent English

Responsibilities

• Own global trade compliance strategy and standards across export controls, sanctions, customs and dangerous goods transportation.
• Lead, develop and inspire a team of specialists while aligning regional teams.
• Drive transformation using analytics, automation and SAP S/4HANA to simplify processes and improve compliance.
• Stay ahead of regulatory developments and translate them into practical business solutions and training.
• Act as trusted advisor to senior leadership with risk-based recommendations across functions.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory know-how

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

SAP

S/4HANA

SAP GTS

Job description

About Signify

Through bold discovery and cutting-edge innovation, we lead an industry that is vital for the future of our planet: lighting. Through our leadership in connected lighting and the Internet of Things, we're breaking new ground in data analytics, AI, and smart solutions for homes, offices, cities, and beyond.

At Signify, you can shape tomorrow by building on our incredible 125+ year legacy while working toward even bolder sustainability goals. Our culture of continuous learning, creativity, and commitment to diversity and inclusion empowers you to grow your skills and career.

Join us, and together, we’ll transform our industry, making a lasting difference for brighter lives and a better world.

More About The Role

This is an opportunity to make a real impact on how a global business manages international trade complexity, by setting direction, challenging the status quo, shaping global standards and leading meaningful transformation, while working with experienced professionals across functions and regions.

We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Global Trade Compliance Manager to lead our global trade compliance strategy, strengthen governance and drive transformation across our international operations.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity where you will operate at the intersection of Supply Chain, Legal, Tax, Finance, Logistics, IT and the business, helping Signify navigate an increasingly complex global trade environment.

You will set the strategic direction for export controls, sanctions, customs and dangerous goods compliance, establishing global standards, policies, processes and controls while regional teams manage day-to-day execution.

Beyond ensuring compliance, your mission is to turn trade compliance into a strategic business enabler.

You will lead a small team of specialists, influence senior stakeholders across our global matrix and shape the future of our compliance capabilities through process improvements, digitalization and emerging technologies, including SAP S/4HANA, automation and AI.

If you combine deep trade compliance expertise with strategic vision, strong leadership and a passion for making complex processes simpler and more effective, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Own the global trade compliance agenda, defining the strategy, governance framework, roadmap and standards across export controls, sanctions, customs and dangerous goods transportation.
• Build a consistent global compliance framework, strengthening policies, processes, systems, controls and risk management across businesses and regions.
• Lead, develop and inspire a team of specialists, including Global Program Managers and the Global Dangerous Goods Manager, while driving alignment with regional teams.
• Drive transformation and continuous improvement, leveraging technology, analytics, automation and SAP S/4HANA to simplify processes and improve compliance effectiveness.
• Stay ahead of regulatory developments, proactively translating changing international trade requirements into practical business solutions, training and awareness programs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing clear, risk-based recommendations and influencing strategic decisions across functions and geographies.

Critical Experiences

• 10+ years of relevant experience in global trade compliance, customs, export controls, sanctions, dangerous goods, international logistics or supply chain compliance within a multinational organization.
• Experience in complex international industries, ideally manufacturing, electronics, lighting, industrial or health technology, high-tech, logistics or other regulated product environments.
• Strong trade compliance expertise, including export controls, sanctions, customs classification, origin, valuation, licensing, trade agreements and dangerous goods regulations. Exposure to EU, US and major Asian trade regimes is highly valued.
• A proven track record of designing, implementing or transforming compliance frameworks, policies, internal controls, audit processes and training programs across multiple countries or regions.
• Strong people leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to develop and energize a specialist team, engage senior stakeholders and drive change in a global matrix without direct operational authority.
• Commercial and pragmatic judgment, translating complex regulations into clear recommendations, risk-based decisions and practical improvements that enable the business.
• Experience with ERP and trade compliance technology, ideally SAP, SAP GTS or S/4HANA. Exposure to analytics, dashboards, automation or AI-enabled compliance solutions is a strong advantage.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to partner across Supply Chain, Legal, Tax, Finance, Procurement, Logistics, IT and Sales, as well as with external brokers, advisors and authorities.
• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain, International Trade, Business Administration, Law, Engineering, Logistics or a related discipline, and fluency in English.

Everything we’ll do for you

You can grow a lasting career here. We’ll encourage you, support you, and challenge you. We’ll help you learn and progress in a way that’s right for you, with coaching and mentoring along the way. We’ll listen to you too, because we see and value every one of our 27,000+ people. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace fosters creativity, innovation, and a full spectrum of bright ideas. With a global workforce present in 70+ countries, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued, helping us all achieve more together.

Come join us, and together we can light up the future.