Sanctions Officer

gunvor; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gunvor seeks an experienced Sanctions Officer based in the United States to join our global Sanctions team. This role reports to the Global Head of Sanctions and focuses on OFAC compliance for Gunvor's US operations while supporting the Americas region.

You will screen and assess sanctions risks, advise on live transactions, and deliver training to ensure governance and regulatory alignment across trading, compliance, and legal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Law degree or compliance qualification or another relevant university degree.
• Significant experience advising on US sanctions matters, including OFAC regulations and expectations.
• Knowledge of European and Canadian sanctions is a plus.
• Experience in commodities trading, energy, or shipping is preferred.
• Strong ability to analyze sanctions screening data and assess risk.

Responsibilities

• Act as the dedicated OFAC sanctions compliance officer for Gunvor's US operations and support the Americas framework.
• Perform and oversee sanctions screening, due diligence, ownership analysis, and transaction reviews for US operations.
• Serve as primary contact for sanctions-related KYC escalations and due diligence requests for US operations.
• Provide sanctions guidance to traders, business development, and trade finance on live transactions and opportunities.
• Monitor sanctions developments and communicate impacts to the business in a timely manner.
• Deliver OFAC sanctions training and maintain robust documentation of assessments and decisions.

Skills

US sanctions experience

OFAC regulations

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Law degree

Compliance qualification

Tools

Sanctions screening software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Sanctions Officer to join our global Sanctions team.

Reporting to the Global Head of Sanctions, the successful candidate will act as the dedicated US-based OFAC sanctions compliance and officer, providing real-time sanctions support to commercial, compliance and legal stakeholders across the Americas.

The role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of international trade, energy markets, shipping and geopolitical developments.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the dedicated OFAC sanctions compliance officer for Gunvor's US operations and support implementation of the Group sanctions compliance framework across the Americas.
• Perform and oversee sanctions screening and due diligence, including vessel screening, ownership and control assessments, and transaction-related reviews for Gunvor's US operations.
• Serve as the primary contact for sanctions-related KYC escalations, questionnaires and counterparty due diligence requests for Gunvor's US operations.
• Provide practical sanctions advice to traders, business development teams, trade finance professionals and M&A stakeholders on live transactions and commercial opportunities for Gunvor's US operations.
• Monitor and analyse sanctions developments and communicate relevant impacts to the business in a timely and practical manner.
• Deliver OFAC sanctions training and awareness programmes to commercial and support teams.
• Maintain robust documentation of OFAC sanctions assessments, escalations and decisions in line with regulatory and internal governance expectations.
• Support continuous enhancement of sanctions controls, risk assessments and compliance processes.

Qualifications

• Law degree, compliance qualification or another relevant university degree.
• Significant experience advising on US sanctions matters, particularly OFAC regulations and compliance expectations, knowledge of US antiboycott laws and US export controls would be a plus.
• Good working knowledge of European sanctions regimes and knowledge of Canadian sanctions would be a plus.
• Experience in commodities trading, energy and shipping or another relevant internationally focused industry is preferred.
• Strong understanding of sanctions screening, due diligence, ownership analysis and transaction risk assessment.
• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to balance regulatory requirements with commercial realities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail and ability to manage multiple time-sensitive priorities.

Our people make all the difference in our success.