Strategic Export Compliance & Research Security Lead

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology); Jeddah; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

KAUST seeks an experienced Export Compliance and Research Security Officer to design, implement, and maintain the university's export compliance program. The role focuses on US EAR compliance, license conditions, and safeguarding controlled technologies, with collaboration across IT, security, and academic divisions.

You will develop training, perform risk assessments, and advise leadership on compliance exposure. The position supports scalable research access while ensuring regulatory adherence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in International Relations, Public Policy, Business, Law, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Export compliance certification (e.g., ECoP) preferred.
• 10+ years of regulatory compliance experience, including 4+ years of export compliance and research security experience (preferably in an academic or research setting).
• Strong understanding of export controls related to HPC and export-controlled equipment or items in research environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain KAUST’s export compliance program, including US export controls and license conditions.
• Develop and execute export compliance processes for Shaheen III access, use and operations.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, workflows and desk guides related to export control compliance.
• Advise on complex export control and research security issues related to AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors.
• Conduct export classifications and maintain records of research activities and international shipments.

Skills

Export controls knowledge

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Training development

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Compliance databases

Office suite

Job description

In consultation with the Office of General Counsel, the Export Compliance and Research Security Officer (ECRSO) oversees the design, implementation, and maintenance of the University’s export compliance program, with a special focus on U.S. export compliance, including but not limited to, High-Performance Computing (HPC), including Shaheen III supercomputer, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced semiconductors. As part of the Export Control Compliance (ECC) Team in the Office of General Counsel and working closely with the Head of Legal and other Export Compliance and Research Security Officer team member, this position proactively advises on and works to adhere to U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), license conditions, and other applicable export control requirements governing KAUST's operation of controlled technologies or items.

Working at the intersection of compliance, technology, and research administration, this role requires detailed knowledge of export control regulations, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities. The ECRSO will partner with the Office of General Counsel to evaluate research activities or university engagements, conduct screening and diligence reviews, review contracts/agreements, maintain compliance documentation for audit recordkeeping, develop and implement general awareness and role-based or targeted trainings, and draft and support policy implementation, as required.

The position plays a critical role in enabling compliant access to KAUST's supercomputing resources while ensuring adherence to export control requirements. The ECRSO will work closely with the KAUST Supercomputing Core Lab, Information Technology, Information Security, Research Funding Services, Academic Divisions and Centers, National Transformation Institution, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Admissions, Educational Partnerships, and other stakeholders to proactively advise and implement processes that enable and scale research, development and innovation, while maintaining strict regulatory compliance.

Major Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain KAUST’s export compliance program, including compliance with applicable U.S. export controls and license conditions, working closely with the Head of Legal and in collaboration with other Export Compliance and Research Security Officer and ECC team members.
• Develop and execute export compliance processes for Shaheen III supercomputer access, use and operations.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, workflows and desk guides related to export control compliance and license conditions.
• In consultation with Office of General Counsel, collaborate closely with and academic and research divisions and other partners to conduct export compliance and research security reviews.
• Advise on complex export control and research security issues related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, and other areas as required.
• Conduct export classification and maintain records of research activities and technologies, including international shipments.
• Determine the availability of export license exceptions for controlled items and information supplied by vendors, contractors, collaborators, and other third parties.
• Provide technical review and analysis of technologies and items for export compliance and research security, as applicable, to ensure compliance with regulatory and safeguarding requirements.
• Partner with KAUST Digital Services division, including Information Security and Information Technology departments, to ensure compliance with export controls and export license conditions.
• Conducts restricted party screening and due diligence reviews for Shaheen III administrative access and users against relevant government lists and license conditions.
• Review research proposals and user access requests for export compliance considerations.
• In collaboration with Office of General Counsel, provide export compliance risk assessments for large-scale research collaborations, including multi-million-dollar research programs and sensitive strategic partnerships.
• Develop, implement, and deliver comprehensive export compliance and research security training.
• In collaboration with Office of General Counsel, provide advice and guidance to leadership on compliance risk exposure and mitigation strategies.
• Support preparation of export license applications (e.g., export and re-export license applications for international shipments of controlled goods) in coordination with KAUST’s suppliers and research partners.
• Implement and audit Technology Control Plans, Research Control Plans, or End User Certifications for mitigation of potential risk measures, as required.
• In collaboration with Office of General Counsel, prepare for and provide support during assessments, audits, investigations, or regulatory inquiries.
• Conduct export compliance and research security outreach to faculty and staff, including time sensitive briefings for departments and teams across the university.
• Develop export compliance and research security training, including in-person and web-based instruction.
• Maintain KAUST’s Export Control web-based resources.
• Monitor export control regulatory developments impacting KAUST.
• Mentor and coach team members on export compliance and research security matters.
• Participate in export compliance and research security organizations, conferences and training for university export control and research security officers.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on export compliance and research security.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by the Head of Legal or General Counsel.

Personal Requirements

• Demonstrates strong knowledge of export control laws, regulations, standards and their application.
• Knowledge of general management principles and practices, skill in dealing with others in work relationships involving mentoring, teamwork, conflict resolutions, and the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships to facilitate research activities and deliver results.
• Ability to interact with faculty, staff, and students in a diverse, multicultural environment.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to organize and prioritize projects while effectively managing competing priorities and exercising sound and ethical judgment in assessing compliance requirements and risks.
• Interest in learning, analyzing, and applying relevant laws and regulations in a university environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under deadline pressures.
• Effectively explains compliance requirements to diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrates discretion with confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to manage challenging situations.
• Shows adaptability in responding to evolving compliance requirements.
• Strong client service orientation while enforcing compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in International Relations, Public Policy, Business, Law, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Export compliance certification (e.g., ECoP) preferred.
• 10+ years of regulatory compliance experience, including 4+ years of export compliance and research security experience (preferably in an academic or research setting), including experience with U.S. export control laws and regulations (EAR, OFAC, ITAR).
• Recognized subject matter expert in export/import classifications and restricted party screening, with a strong track record of advising on trade compliance, sanctions risks and regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of export controls related to HPC and export-controlled equipment or items in research environments.

Experience

• Experience with restricted party screening, due diligence review processes and compliance verification/assessments for validation of controls.
• Experience with export and research compliance documentation, procedures and recordkeeping to satisfy license conditions and audit requirements.
• Experience with export compliance in academic or research settings preferred.
• Familiarity with NIST standards for security and access controls and risk assessment frameworks and related compliance matters.
• Experience with end-user verification processes.
• Familiarity with research administration processes preferred.
• Experience with compliance databases and tracking systems.
• Proven ability to implement and improve compliance procedures in regulated environments with complex requirements.