Director of Trade Compliance

RS Americas; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Trade Compliance to lead efforts in ensuring adherence to import/export regulations and compliance standards. This role involves collaborating with various stakeholders to monitor vendor assessments and security audits while managing compliance protocols related to privacy and data security. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of ITAR and EAR regulations, along with strong leadership skills to drive strategic initiatives. Join a forward-thinking team that values collaboration and excellence, where your contributions will significantly impact operational efficiency and risk management.

Qualifications

• Strong familiarity with ITAR, EAR, and CBP regulations.
• Must possess excellent communication and team leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage compliance questionnaires and audits to address control gaps.
• Conduct internal audits and perform data mapping for compliance readiness.

Skills

ITAR regulations

EAR regulations

CBP regulations

Foreign Trades Statistics Regulations (FTSR)

Licensing and classification

Custom entry process

Verbal/written communication

Team leadership

Job description

About RS Group

Across the industrial design, manufacturing and maintenance worlds, we’re the digital destination for product and service solutions to help our customers with the maintenance, repair and operation of their businesses. We provide global access to an unrivalled range of over 750,000 stocked industrial products. Each day our team of experts deliver solutions to resolve our customer’s challenges across design, procurement, inventory and maintenance. We consistently strive to deliver the best possible service to all of our customers and challenge ourselves to provide a seamless procurement experience.

We are one team. We deliver brilliantly. We do the right thing. We make every day better. These are our values. They unite our c.9,000 global colleagues and differentiate us from our competition. They are a mix of how we work today and how we must step up for the future. Most importantly, it is one set of values shaped by our people, for our people.

Together, we can make great things happen. Aim for amazing and beyond.

This role is part of RS Americas corporate team, in support of a location that receives, stores and maintains 275,000 stocked products, and processes and dispatches all customer orders that originate in North America.

About the Role

Role Purpose

This individual will work with the various stakeholders across the business to monitor and respond to Vendor Assessments, Security Audits and Questionnaires, drive and manage SOC/ISO certification and ensure we are adhering to industry best practices related to security principles. This position will also help to track requests relating to Compliance, ensuring we are following standard Compliance protocols, including Privacy, GDPR, HIPAA/HiTrust, etc. The person in this role will be responsible for updating the Executive Leadership team on progress, areas of risk, and defining a plan to address risks. Reporting to the Senior Director, Operations, the Director of Trade Compliance will manage import/export compliance as dictated by the US Department of Commerce, the Department of State (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls), Customs and Border Protection, Office of Foreign Assets Control, and other relevant international trade regulations for RS Americas. The Director of Compliance will provide support and resources to facility-level compliance owners and manage strategy initiatives affecting the movement of goods and information. He or she will also conduct an audit of each operation’s import/export compliance programs to ensure that all operations have the tools in place to effectively and efficiently comply with export and import controls and regulations. The Director of Trade Compliance will also assist the operation with obtaining necessary import and export licenses from the relevant US government agencies. He or she will also consult with Customs Brokers and interface with Government officials as needed.

This individual will possess excellent business partnering skills, with the ability to influence and support other leaders, focusing on data driven enhancements, controlled by effective inputs, outputs and actions, to deliver our strategic growth plans.

Responsibilities

• Manage compliance questionnaires/audits and work with teams to creatively address control gaps.
• Oversee general compliance program, including policies and processes.
• Conduct internal audits and perform data mapping and gap assessments to track security and compliance readiness.
• Evaluation of company controls and documentation to SOC standards.
• Manage vendor security evaluations and perform enterprise risk assessments.
• Develop training, procedures and documentation for internal and external audiences
• Understands the various compliance/privacy initiatives in the US (CPRA etc) as well as globally (GDPR) and how they affect the policies and procedures of the company. MAY NOT APPLY TO OUR INDUSTRY
• Create and oversee the implementation of new security and compliance policies and procedures
• Evaluate and document disaster recovery programs to ensure better response in cases of security incidents and breaches
• Keep up to date with external security and compliance regulations and data privacy and security best practices to lead the improvement of internal security and compliance policies and procedures as required

How I make a difference in this role

Sustaining a culture of compliance and security, to ensure operational efficiency and reducing risk, through effective partnerships and team building, to exceed our customer, supplier and stakeholder’s expectations.

Org Structure

Reporting to the Senior Director, Operations, and matrixed to Group leadership within Product & Global Supply Chain with direct reports.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong familiarity in workable analysis and understanding of ITAR, EAR, CBP regulations, Treasury sanction programs and Bureau of Census, Foreign Trades Statistics Regulations (FTSR)
• Strong working knowledge of licensing and classification (such as USML, CCL, Schedule B, and HTS)
• Experience in interactions with Governmental trade compliance authorities, including the Department of State (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls), the Department of Commerce (Bureau of Industry and Security), Customs and Border Protection and Office of Foreign Assets Control
• Strong working knowledge of custom entry process and customs regulations
• Must be a results-oriented professional with excellent verbal/written communication skills using diplomacy and discretion to lead and communicate with different functional leaders
• Previous experience leading and developing high performing teams

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experienced compliance leadership in a relevant industry such as technology, manufacturing or aerospace
• Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence

Core Values:

• One Team: Collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments and regions to achieve common goals.
• Deliver Brilliantly: Strive for excellence in all aspects of product management, from strategy to execution.
• Do the Right Thing: Act with integrity and transparency in all interactions and decisions.
• Make Everyday Better: Continuously seek opportunities to improve products, processes, and customer experiences.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RS Americas is an equal opportunity employer and maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent and prohibit unlawful discrimination against any qualified employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other unlawful classification to the extent protected by law. This policy of non-discrimination applies to all employment practices, including hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, training and termination. Employees who engage in unlawful discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

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