Trade Compliance Manager

Destinus; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus, a pioneering defense tech company, is hiring a Trade Compliance Manager to own export licensing across the organization, ensuring compliance with Dutch, EU and international regimes.

You'll work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Legal, Operations and external counsel, coordinating licensing applications and maintaining oversight with authorities.

Security screening is part of the process and a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) may be required during the application process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Law, International Trade, or related).
• Experience managing export licenses or export controls in aerospace/defense or highly regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch, EU and US export control regulations (dual-use and military).
• Experience coordinating with government authorities and external legal advisors.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end trade compliance and export licensing processes for Destinus operations globally.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all export control and licensing matters across the business.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to collect required technical and commercial information for licensing.
• Prepare and submit licensing applications with external legal counsel.
• Maintain regular communication with authorities throughout the licensing process.
• Track the status of every export license application and drive progress to avoid delays.
• Advise project teams on export control requirements during planning and execution of international programs.
• Assess products, technologies and destinations to determine applicable export control requirements.
• Maintain records of authorizations and compliance documentation; improve internal processes.

Skills

English language proficiency

Dutch language proficiency

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Attention to detail

Licensing/process knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law or related field

Job description

About the Role

Imagine this. Every international shipment, technology transfer, and defense program depends on obtaining the right export authorizations at the right time. As Trade Compliance Manager, you will become the central point of ownership for export licensing across Destinus, ensuring critical programs keep moving while remaining fully compliant with Dutch, European, and international export control regulations.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting‑edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission‑critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

Working closely with Engineering, Program Management, Legal, Operations, external legal advisors, and the Dutch authorities, you will coordinate the complete export licensing lifecycle. You will provide visibility on every application, anticipate risks before they become delays, and ensure our teams have the approvals they need to execute complex international defense projects.

What You'll Do

• Own the end‑to‑end trade compliance and export licensing processes for Destinus operations globally
• Act as the primary point of contact for all export control and licensing matters across the business
• Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders including Engineering, Program Management, Procurement, Operations and Legal to collect all required technical and commercial information
• Work directly with external legal counsel specializing in Dutch export controls to prepare and submit licensing applications
• Maintain regular communication with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other competent authorities throughout the application process
• Track the status of every export license application and proactively drive progress to avoid unnecessary delays
• Negotiate, clarify and respond to requests for additional information from government authorities
• Advise project teams on export control requirements during the planning and execution of international programs
• Assess products, technologies and destinations to determine applicable export control requirements
• Maintain accurate records of export authorizations, compliance documentation and licensing obligations
• Develop and continuously improve internal trade compliance processes, documentation and governance
• Support business expansion into new international markets by identifying export compliance requirements early in the project lifecycle
• Promote awareness of export control regulations across the organization and support internal compliance initiatives

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in law, International Trade, Business Administration, Engineering or a related field
• Experience managing export licenses, export controls or international trade compliance within aerospace, defense or another highly regulated industry
• Strong understanding of Dutch, EU and US export control regulations (dual‑use and military)
• Experience coordinating with government authorities and external legal advisors
• Excellent project management and stakeholder coordination skills
• Ability to gather technical and legal information from multiple departments and consolidate it into complete licensing applications
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple licensing activities simultaneously
• Excellent communication skills in English and Dutch
• Knowledge of military technologies and aerospace industry is a strong advantage

Who You Are

You enjoy bringing structure to complex processes involving multiple stakeholders. You know how to navigate regulated environments where attention to detail and persistence make the difference between delays and successful program execution. You build trusted relationships across technical, legal and governmental organizations, keeping everyone aligned while driving applications forward. You are proactive, highly organized and comfortable taking ownership of business‑critical compliance activities that directly enable international operations.

Security screening is an integral component of the selection process, ensuring that candidates meet the organization's security standards and safeguarding against potential risks.

Providing a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is a standard part of the application process at Destinus.