Global Trade Counsel

Gateway Recruiting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Recruiting seeks an experienced Global Counsel, Trade Compliance to lead the company’s international trade controls program and the ITCO operations. The role provides legal guidance on export controls, sanctions, licensing, and cross-border transactions across multiple jurisdictions while partnering with business leaders and regulators worldwide.

The position oversees licensing, due diligence, training, audits, and regulatory engagement, ensuring policies align with applicable laws and

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. state jurisdiction.
• Minimum 8-10 years of legal practice experience.
• Extensive experience advising on global trade compliance matters, including export controls and sanctions.
• Familiarity with ITAR and EAR export control regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee export licensing activities, including ITAR/EAR compliance and classification.
• Advise stakeholders on cross-border regulatory implications and licensing requirements.
• Manage due diligence, audits, training, and regulatory engagement related to trade controls.
• Develop and maintain Export Compliance Manual, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with business units, government agencies, and legal/compliance teams to drive program effectiveness.

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Cross-border transactions

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Automated export systems

Screening tools

Job description

About The Role

The Global Counsel, Trade Compliance is responsible for managing and overseeing the company's global trade compliance program and leading the day-to-day operations of the International Trade Controls Office (ITCO). This role provides legal guidance and compliance oversight related to U.S. and international export controls, sanctions regulations, licensing requirements, technology transfers, and cross-border business activities. The position partners closely with business leaders, program teams, customers, suppliers, and government agencies worldwide to ensure trade compliance requirements are effectively integrated into business operations while supporting organizational objectives and global growth initiatives.

The Global Counsel, Trade Compliance serves as a key advisor on international trade controls matters, overseeing export licensing activities, business clearances, due diligence, compliance training, audits, investigations, and regulatory engagement. This role monitors global regulatory developments and helps ensure the company maintains an effective compliance framework aligned with applicable laws and regulations across the jurisdictions in which it operates.

Key Responsibilities: Export Licenses & Government Authorizations:

• Ensure controlled technology, software, technical data, products, and services are exported in accordance with applicable export licenses and government authorizations.
• Liaise with U.S. and foreign government agencies and regulatory authorities to understand compliance requirements, licensing obligations, and authorization processes.
• Monitor U.S. and international trade regulations and communicate relevant regulatory developments and compliance impacts to key stakeholders.
• Serve as one of the company's designated ITAR Empowered Officials.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of export license applications, classification requests, commodity jurisdiction requests, advisory opinion requests, and other government authorizations.
• Oversee export requirements associated with employee international travel and business activities.
• Prepare documentation and monitor the use of export license exemptions and exceptions.
• Oversee the classification of products, services, technical data, and technology subject to export controls.
• Maintain oversight of export compliance recordkeeping requirements and related retention practices.
• Support business units in determining licensing requirements, managing export authorizations, and identifying transactions that may be restricted or prohibited.
• Oversee administration of the company's automated export compliance systems and tools.

Procedures & Compliance Program Management:

• Ensure global business processes effectively incorporate applicable trade compliance, export control, sanctions, and customs requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the Export Compliance Manual, policies, and procedures to reflect regulatory, organizational, and operational changes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen the company's trade compliance program, controls, and compliance processes.

Approvals, Reviews & Clearances:

• Review proposed projects, master agreements, joint ventures, and follow-on work to identify export control requirements and potential compliance risks.
• Provide trade compliance clearances and approvals for projects, pursuits, and transactions, including any required conditions or mitigation measures.
• Review and approve business opportunities involving international participation, including proposal and execution-stage clearances.
• Advise stakeholders on export control, sanctions, and cross-border regulatory implications associated with international business activities, opportunities, and contractual arrangements.
• Assist in reviewing, drafting, and negotiating export compliance provisions within customer, subcontractor, supplier, and partner agreements.
• Oversee denied party screening, sanctions reviews, customer vetting, supplier screening, and related due diligence activities.

Training & Awareness:

• Promote awareness of trade compliance requirements and assist employees in understanding their compliance responsibilities.
• Develop, implement, and deliver trade compliance training, onboarding materials, and targeted educational programs.
• Provide guidance and support to employees, managers, and business leaders on export control and sanctions compliance matters.
• Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and ethical business conduct throughout the organization.

Audits & Monitoring:

• Coordinate and facilitate internal trade compliance audits across business units and programs.
• Conduct periodic reviews of projects and operations to ensure adherence to export control requirements and ITCO approval conditions.
• Identify compliance gaps, recommend corrective actions, support remediation efforts, and monitor overall compliance program effectiveness.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with customers, subcontractors, suppliers, and business partners to provide export compliance guidance and support compliance across the supply chain.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, and government representatives.
• Collaborate across Legal, Compliance, Business Development, Contracts, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Operations functions to support compliance objectives.
• Promote the company's values, culture, and commitment to a safe, supportive, inclusive, and compliant work environment.

Basic Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. state jurisdiction.
• Minimum 8-10 years of legal practice experience.
• Extensive experience advising on global trade compliance matters, including U.S. export controls, economic sanctions, and foreign trade control regulations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
• Familiarity with Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) export control requirements.
• Experience supporting Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.
• Experience implementing, managing, or advising on trade compliance programs.
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, government contracting, or other highly regulated industries involving controlled technologies.
• Ability to satisfy applicable pre-employment screening requirements and obtain and maintain any required security clearances.

Professional Skills & Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of global trade controls, export regulations, sanctions compliance requirements, cross-border regulatory frameworks, and government authorization processes.
• Ability to apply complex regulatory requirements to business operations and strategic initiatives.
• Strong legal analysis, risk assessment, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop a strong understanding of business processes and their interaction with trade compliance requirements.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with government agencies, regulatory authorities, and trade organizations.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively with personnel at all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational, project management, and team leadership capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as an ITAR Empowered Official.
• Experience supporting multinational operations and advising on foreign export control regimes and compliance requirements outside the United States.
• Experience implementing or managing automated export compliance systems and screening tools.
• Experience supporting public companies or organizations undergoing significant corporate transformation.
• Prior experience designing and delivering enterprise-wide compliance training programs.
• Experience leading compliance audits, investigations, and regulatory reviews.