Global Export Compliance Counsel

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 174,000 - 296,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok is seeking an experienced export controls counsel to join its Global Legal Compliance team in a fast-paced, global environment. The role advises on export controls, cross-border technology transfers, and product classifications, while drafting policies and leading due diligence for strategic deals.

The candidate will partner with engineering and data systems teams, manage licensing strategies, and develop internal controls to mitigate trade risks.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school with bar eligibility.
• Proven export controls compliance experience in law firms or in-house.
• Strong knowledge of the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and national security laws.

Responsibilities

• Advise stakeholders on export controls issues and provide practical solutions across geographies.
• Counsel data systems, R&D and engineering on legal implications of hardware/software classifications and cross-border transfers.
• Draft and negotiate trade compliance provisions in contracts and lead due diligence for M&A.
• Represent the company before government agencies (e.g., BIS) and manage licensing strategies.
• Design and deliver training to mitigate global trade risks and build an Export Compliance Program.
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal export compliance policies and tools.
• Support automation of export compliance processes.
• Stay current on evolving export control laws and EAR guidance.
• Monitor and assess impacts of regulatory changes.
• Address sanctions interfaces with U.S. export controls.
• Support ad hoc projects for the Global Legal Compliance Team.

Skills

Juris Doctorate

Export controls knowledge

U.S. Export Administration Regulations

Commerce Control List classifications

Policy development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

ABA-accredited JD

Job description

Our Global Legal Compliance team provides key support for TikTok's innovative initiatives, state-of-the-art products, and integrated platforms servicing our global markets. We help our technological and business teams enable their vision by providing integrated legal and compliance guidance and support. The Global Legal Compliance team is growing fast and seeking highly experienced, bright, and capable legal professionals to join us. We are looking for experienced export compliance counsel to join our Global Legal Compliance team as a key member to advise and counsel on export controls related issues. The ideal candidate is willing to work in a fast-paced, global environment with cross-functional teams in different time zones.

• Be a key member of the export controls compliance team to advise and counsel stakeholders on export controls-related issues and provide thoughtful and practical solutions when navigating complex geo-political environments.
• Advise data systems, R&D and engineering teams on the legal implications of complex hardware, software, product classifications, cross-border technology transfers, and new product development.
• Draft and negotiate trade compliance provisions in commercial agreements and lead international trade due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments.
• Represent the company before government agencies (e.g., BIS), manage complex licensing strategies, and lead internal reviews and voluntary self-disclosures.
• Partner with stakeholders to design the corporate Export Compliance Program, draft foundational legal policies, and deliver targeted training to mitigate global trade risks.
• Develop, implement, improve, and maintain internal policies, internal control plans, procedures, guidelines, and other export compliance program tools tailored to specific operations and demands of our company.
• Support global export compliance practices, including supporting or developing export compliance process automation tools.
• Maintain competency in evolving export controls laws and regulations and strong working knowledge of the U.S. Export Administration Regulations and relevant agency guidance.
• Work with stakeholders to monitor, assess, and determine impacts of potential changes to export controls.
• Conduct periodic risk assessments of operations to identify vulnerabilities and close compliance gaps.
• Respond to country/territory specific sanctions intersections with U.S. export controls laws and regulations.
• Support ad hoc projects as needed by the Global Legal Compliance Team.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification(s)

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school, with up-to-date qualifications to practice law in a common law jurisdiction.
• Proven law firm and/or in-house export controls compliance experience, including trade compliance advisory and program management.
• Deep understanding and strong working knowledge of the U.S. Export Administration Regulations and related national security laws.
• Experience with product, part, and component classifications under the Commerce Control List.
• Ability to proactively identify export controls issues and propose solutions.
• Excellent communication, organization, project management, and documentation skills and able to work through practical solutions with stakeholders.
• Possesses the highest standard of ethics, a positive attitude, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn new skills.

Preferred Qualification(s)

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating commitment to teamwork, and a willingness to change assignments to meet client needs and deliver with timeliness, accurately sensing the urgency and sensitivity of a situation.
• Ability to manage heavy workload volume and meet critical deadlines with little supervision.
• Proactively makes recommendations for necessary process improvements.
• Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the clients' business, industry, and organization.
• Experience working with multinational technology companies.

Job Information

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $174000 - $295800 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:

1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems;
3. Exercising sound judgment.

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Why Join Us

Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.

We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.

TikTok Accommodation

TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request

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