Trade Compliance Program Manager

Aston Carter; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life insurance

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Program Manager to lead and scale operational frameworks, governance, and compliance processes for cross-border expansion. You will work across business lines and geographies to create repeatable, scalable processes that ensure compliant movement of goods in new markets.

The role is hands-on, highly operational, and focused on delivering clear frameworks, intake models, and governance rhythms that align with broader trade compliance strategy.

Qualifications

• Strong program coordination and management skills with a focus on operational execution.
• Experience on trade compliance or customs programs, including import/export operations.
• Ability to translate ambiguous inputs into structured, actionable plans and well-documented processes.
• Interest in trade compliance, customs, import/export operations, or regulatory program management.
• Comfort working across multiple stakeholders, geographies, and concurrent workstreams.
• Process-oriented mindset and documentation discipline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design and formalize operational frameworks, governance structures, and process standards to support expansion programs and regulatory readiness.
• Coordinate intake, prioritization, and delivery across planning cycles to build scalable intake models.
• Document end-to-end process flows, decision frameworks, and SOPs to ensure repeatability for new programs.
• Establish engagement rhythms such as program reviews and stakeholder syncs across regions.
• Contribute to development of operational metrics and reporting for program performance and compliance.
• Identify execution gaps and drive cross-functional improvements.
• Partner with business teams to implement compliant operational frameworks across markets.
• Support trade enablement projects including new import/export pathways and market launches.
• Translate regulatory requirements into clear guidance for trade/non-trade stakeholders.
• Support Importer/Exporter of Record setups and related regulatory requirements.
• Serve as point of contact for stakeholders navigating trade execution and risks.
• Support process improvements to scale compliance in new markets and lines of business.
• Work with a small team to shape expansion-related trade programs governance and coordination.

Skills

Program coordination

Program management

Trade compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory awareness

Written and verbal communication

Operational execution

Tools

Excel

Internal systems

Job description

This Program Manager role supports a global trade enablement team in building and scaling the operational frameworks, governance structures, and compliance processes that underpin international expansion. The position is highly hands-on and operationally focused, working across multiple business lines and geographies to design and implement repeatable, scalable processes that enable compliant cross-border movement of goods in new markets. The work spans both program and governance development and direct business enablement, with significant opportunity to bring structure to emerging programs, create durable frameworks, and drive clarity in areas of ambiguity while maintaining strong compliance rigor.

Responsibilities

• Design and formalize operational frameworks, governance structures, and process standards that support trade compliance expansion programs, including country-entry workflows, regulatory readiness processes, and ongoing compliance execution models.
• Coordinate intake, prioritization, and delivery of trade enablement requests across planning cycles, helping to build and refine a consistent, scalable intake model.
• Document end-to-end process flows, decision frameworks, and standard operating procedures to bring consistency and repeatability to programs being created or scaled for the first time.
• Establish and maintain engagement rhythms such as program reviews, quarterly business reviews, and stakeholder syncs to drive alignment, transparency, and cross-functional coordination across programs and regions.
• Contribute to the development of operational metrics, tracking mechanisms, and reporting that provide visibility into program performance, compliance outcomes, and expansion readiness.
• Identify execution gaps, inconsistencies, and areas where processes can be strengthened or standardized, and work with cross-functional partners to design and implement improvements.
• Partner with business teams to understand trade requirements and help implement compliant operational frameworks aligned with the broader trade compliance strategy.
• Support trade enablement projects that help business teams operationalize compliance solutions, including standing up new import and export pathways, supporting regulatory readiness for market launches, and embedding compliance into workflows for new programs and geographies.
• Translate customs, export control, and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable business guidance that makes compliance practical and accessible for non-trade stakeholders.
• Support Importer of Record and Exporter of Record entity setup, registrations, licensing, and related regulatory requirements to enable compliant import and export execution.
• Serve as a point of contact for business stakeholders navigating trade execution, risks, and operational pathways, providing guidance and helping resolve issues.
• Support process improvement initiatives that reduce friction, improve consistency, and strengthen the teams ability to scale compliance execution into new markets and business lines.
• Work closely with a small team to shape how expansion-related trade programs are governed and operationalized, including defining intake and prioritization models and establishing cross-functional coordination mechanisms.
• Build operational foundations that allow the team to support expansion at pace without sacrificing compliance rigor, while simultaneously delivering enablement work with direct business impact.

Essential Skills

• Strong program coordination and program management skills with a focus on operational execution.
• Experience working directly on trade compliance or customs programs, including import and export operations.
• Ability to take ambiguous inputs and translate them into structured, actionable plans and well-documented processes.
• Experience with, or strong interest in, trade compliance, customs, import/export operations, or regulatory program management.
• Comfort working across multiple stakeholders, geographies, and concurrent workstreams.
• Process-oriented mindset with a natural inclination to standardize, document, and improve how work gets done.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex regulatory and trade requirements into clear guidance for both trade and non-trade audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to support operational execution in trade, customs, import, export, or regulatory-focused environments.

Work Environment

This is a temporary, full-time role with a standard schedule of approximately 40 hours per week. The position operates in a fast-paced, globally distributed environment where priorities may shift as expansion needs evolve. You will work closely with a small team focused on high-visibility programs at the intersection of trade compliance, global operations, and business expansion. The role relies heavily on standard business tools such as Excel and internal systems, and may involve frequent virtual collaboration across time zones. The environment emphasizes structure, documentation, and continuous improvement while balancing strategic governance work with hands‑on operational execution.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Bellevue, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $54.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Bellevue, WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Bellevue,WA.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world‑class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry‑leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] ([e-mail]) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: 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.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.