Export Controls Compliance Director

eBay; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 195,000 - 261,000; Full time

Job summary

eBay is seeking a Director of Export Controls & Trade Compliance to lead the global program, shaping policies, governance, and risk management across jurisdictions. This role partners with product, engineering, and legal teams to embed automated controls, assess regulatory obligations, and oversee training, investigations, and disclosures.

Ideal candidates have 12+ years in export controls, deep knowledge of EAR/ITAR, and a track record of leading cross‑functional teams at a global scale.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in export controls, import compliance, customs, international trade law, or related field.
• Experience designing, implementing, operating, or evaluating an enterprise trade compliance program.
• Deep knowledge of EAR/ITAR, AECA/ITAR, and related export controls requirements.
• Strong ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical business processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead enhancement and operation of export controls and import/export compliance program for a global marketplace.
• Assess regulatory obligations across different transaction and shipping models.
• Develop and govern policies, standards, and escalation protocols for compliance.

Skills

Regulatory risk management

Policy development

Cross‑functional collaboration

Leadership

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Juris Doctor / advanced law degree

Job description

At eBay, we're more than a global ecommerce leader — we’re changing the way the world shops and sells. Our platform empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. We’re committed to pushing boundaries and leaving our mark as we reinvent the future of ecommerce for enthusiasts.

Our customers are our compass, authenticity thrives, bold ideas are welcome, and everyone can bring their unique selves to work — every day. We're in this together, sustaining the future of our customers, our company, and our planet.

Join a team of passionate thinkers, innovators, and dreamers — and help us connect people and build communities to create economic opportunity for all.

Director - Export Controls & Trade Compliance

About The Team

eBay’s Global Compliance organization helps the company drive regulatory risk while enabling safe, trusted, and sustainable commerce around the world. We partner closely with Legal, Product, Engineering, Shipping, Payments, Risk, Government Relations, and business leaders to develop practical and scalable compliance programs.

What You Will Accomplish

• Lead the enhancement and operation of eBay’s export controls and import/export compliance program, tailored to eBay’s role as a global marketplace connecting third‑party buyers and sellers.
• Assess and manage eBay’s regulatory obligations across different transaction and shipping models, including circumstances in which eBay engages in shipping, classification, filing, inspection, routing, or customs‑related activities.
• Enhance and/or establish policies, standards, governance, escalation protocols, and clear accountability for compliance with ECRA/EAR, AECA/ITAR, and related import/export requirements.
• Conduct risk assessments covering listings, products, sellers, buyers, end users, destinations, transaction patterns, shipping models, and logistics partners.
• Oversee processes for export jurisdiction and classification, licensing and authorization analysis, export eligibility, required filings, and escalation of potentially controlled or prohibited items.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Shipping, Operations, Legal, Risk, and Sanctions Compliance to implement scalable controls for restricted items, parties, destinations, end uses, and suspicious transaction activity.
• Enhance controls addressing freight forwarders, unusual routing, transshipment, mismatched transaction information, and other indicators of export‑control and sanctions evasion.
• Advise on new products, shipping services, partnerships, geographic expansion, acquisitions, and other initiatives that may change eBay’s regulatory obligations or trade compliance risk.
• Lead regulatory‑change management, monitoring, testing, reporting, investigations, remediation, and voluntary self‑disclosures.
• Oversee training, recordkeeping, third‑party oversight, marketplace communications, and continuous program improvement.
• Build and lead a high‑performing trade compliance team.

What You Will Bring

• Twelve or more years of responsible experience in export controls, import compliance, customs, international trade law, or a closely related compliance discipline.
• Significant experience designing, implementing, operating, or evaluating an enterprise trade compliance program.
• Deep knowledge of the Export Control Reform Act, Export Administration Regulations, Arms Export Control Act, and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
• Strong working knowledge of export jurisdiction and classification, the Commerce Control List, Export Control Classification Numbers, EAR99, the U.S. Munitions List, export licensing, license exceptions, restricted‑party screening, end‑use and end‑user controls, brokering, freight forwarding, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Experience applying trade regulations to technology platforms, online marketplaces, e-commerce, logistics, payments, or other complex global business models.
• Demonstrated experience developing policies, procedures, risk assessments, controls, training, monitoring, testing, governance, and management reporting.
• Experience and success in partnering with Product, Engineering, Operations, Shipping, or other business teams to design and implement automated or technology‑enabled compliance controls.
• Ability to distinguish between the obligations of marketplace users and eBay’s own obligations based on the role eBay performs in a particular transaction or shipping program.
• Ability to translate complex and evolving legal requirements into clear, practical, and scalable business processes.
• Experience managing potential violations, internal investigations, corrective actions, voluntary self‑disclosures, regulatory inquiries, or enforcement matters.
• Strong understanding of liability risks under U.S. export‑control regimes and the importance of documented, risk‑based compliance controls.
• Sound judgment and the ability to balance regulatory risk, customer experience, operational feasibility, and business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive outcomes across a global, highly matrixed organization.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and executive‑communication skills.
• Strong leadership, team‑development, project‑management, and organizational skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor, master’s degree, or other advanced degree in law, international trade, public policy, business, or a related field.
• Experience working directly with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or other relevant authorities.
• Experience with international trade requirements outside the United States, including EU dual‑use export controls, customs requirements, or comparable regulatory regimes.
• Experience developing compliance programs for global online marketplaces, digital platforms, shipping providers, financial institutions, or similarly complex technology companies.
• Experience with export classification tools, screening technologies, transaction‑monitoring systems, case‑management platforms, or other trade compliance technology.
• Relevant trade compliance certification or professional qualification.

Leadership Expectations

This Director will operate as both a strategic leader and a hands‑on subject‑matter expert. The role requires the ability to identify emerging risks, establish a clear compliance strategy, implement durable governance, and work directly with cross‑functional teams to embed controls into eBay’s products and operations.

The successful candidate will demonstrate integrity, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to challenge constructively. They will be comfortable operating in areas where regulatory expectations are evolving and where traditional trade compliance models must be thoughtfully adapted to a global marketplace environment.

The Director will also establish clear and effective partnerships with adjacent compliance functions. Sanctions Compliance is led separately, and this role will work closely with that team on restricted‑party screening, transaction controls, investigations, regulatory developments, and escalations where export‑control and sanctions requirements intersect.

Additional Details

The base pay range for this position is expected in the range below:

$195,200 - $260,600

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including location, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a target bonus and restricted stock units (as applicable) in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as PTO and parental leave). Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

If hired, employees will be in an “at‑will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Remote roles are not eligible for U.S. visa sponsorship.

eBay is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and disability, or other legally protected status. If you have a need that requires accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail]. We will make every effort to respond to your request for accommodation as soon as possible. View our accessibility statement to learn more about eBay’s commitment to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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