Senior Manager, Export & Sanctions Compliance

Grainger; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 123,000 - 205,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

18 paid time off (PTO) days annually

6% company contribution to 401(k)

Tuition reimbursement and employee discounts

Job summary

Grainger in Lake Forest is hiring a Senior Manager of Export and Sanctions Compliance to oversee compliance with regulations across global operations. This role involves developing policies, providing operational support, and managing workflows around compliance investigations.

The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in compliance and extensive knowledge of trade laws. The position offers hybrid work, with 3 days onsite each week, and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in compliance, legal, or related roles focused on trade compliance.
• In-depth knowledge of export and sanctions laws and regulations.
• Proven experience developing and implementing compliance policies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain export and sanctions compliance program.
• Review and resolve business escalations related to compliance.
• Monitor changes in global trade regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Trade compliance knowledge

Communication skills

Fluency in multiple languages

Education

Bachelor's degree in law, business administration, finance, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Work Location Type

Hybrid

Req Number

332023

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value‑added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose‑driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $123,000.00 – $205,100.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 20 % or $ , based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.

Rewards and Benefits

With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full‑time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non‑birth parents.

For additional information and details regarding Grainger's benefits, please click on the link below:

https://experience100.ehr.com/grainger/Home/Tools-Resources/Key-Resources/New-Hire

Position Details

As the Senior Manager of Export and Sanctions Compliance, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing robust export and sanctions‑related policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations across our global operations. You will lead a program focused on preventing, detecting, and mitigating export and sanctions‑related risks, and fostering a culture of integrity and ethical conduct throughout the organization. This position will also function as the ITAR Empowered Official.

This role requires a highly operational compliance leader who can balance strong governance with practical, timely support for the business. The successful candidate must be comfortable working directly in transaction review workflows, resolving escalations quickly, and enabling compliant business execution without unnecessary delay.

You will report to the Senior Director, Global Trade Compliance.

This position is based in Lake Forest or Chicago and is onsite 3 days a week.

You Will

• Develop, enhance, implement, and maintain a comprehensive export and sanctions compliance program to include policies, procedures, and controls tailored to the company's risk profile and regulatory requirements.
• Function as a hands‑on operational leader for export and sanctions compliance, providing timely review and resolution of business escalations, transaction holds, restricted party screening matches, licensing questions, classification issues, and end‑use/end‑user concerns to support compliant and efficient global operations.
• Monitor and analyze changes in global trade regulations and assess their impact on company operations through regular compliance risk assessments. Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks, working closely with cross‑functional and global business partners to implement effective controls.
• Manage and improve operational workflows for export and sanctions reviews, including intake, triage, documentation, escalation paths, approval protocols, and service‑level expectations.
• Design and deliver comprehensive training programs on export and sanctions‑related policies, procedures, and relevant laws for team members at all levels of the organization.
• Establish monitoring mechanisms to detect potential instances of non‑compliance in the export and sanctions space, including the use of data analytics and regular audits.
• Stay informed of changes in global export and sanctions‑related laws, including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions and assess their impact on the company's operations to update the export and sanctions compliance program accordingly.
• Support investigations into potential export or sanctions compliance concerns, including fact gathering, transaction review, root‑cause analysis, remediation, and corrective action tracking.
• Provide strategic guidance to senior management on export and sanctions compliance matters.
• Lead and mentor the export compliance team, fostering a culture of compliance and continuous improvement.

You Have

• Bachelor's degree in law, business administration, finance, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in compliance, legal, or related roles, with a focus on trade compliance in multinational corporations.
• In‑depth knowledge of export and sanctions laws and regulations, such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions, and other relevant international regulations.
• Proven experience developing and implementing export and sanctions policies and procedures in a complex, global organization.
• Strong leadership, team management, and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Fluency in multiple languages and experience working in diverse cultural environments is a plus.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Export Compliance Officer (CECO) or similar are highly desirable.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one's employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.