Director of Trade Compliance

About RS Group

Across the industrial design, manufacturing and maintenance worlds, we’re the digital destination for product and service solutions to help our customers with the maintenance, repair and operation of their businesses. We provide global access to an unrivalled range of over 750,000 stocked industrial products. Each day our team of experts deliver solutions to resolve our customer’s challenges across design, procurement, inventory and maintenance. We consistently strive to deliver the best possible service to all of our customers and challenge ourselves to provide a seamless procurement experience.

We are one team. We deliver brilliantly. We do the right thing. We make every day better. These are our values. They unite our c.9,000 global colleagues and differentiate us from our competition. They are a mix of how we work today and how we must step up for the future. Most importantly, it is one set of values shaped by our people, for our people.

Together, we can make great things happen. Aim for amazing and beyond.

This role is part of RS Americas corporate team, in support of a location that receives, stores and maintains 275,000 stocked products, and processes and dispatches all customer orders that originate in North America.

About the Role

Role Purpose

The Director of Trade Compliance is the primary US authority responsible for ensuring that the organization adheres to all applicable international and domestic trade regulations and laws, proactively managing risks through robust compliance programs. This leadership role requires strategic oversight of compliance policies and risk management related to trade operations. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in regulatory affairs, supply chain compliance, and quality control methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously update regional policies, procedures and programs covering all aspects of trade compliance, aligning with global organizational strategy and protocols, ensuring that the business is accurately educated and trained.
• Drive operational excellence to ensure effective management of our Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and spearhead continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging technology, business intelligence and automation to enhance efficiencies (e.g., Global Trade Management Systems).
• Act as an Empowered Official, to provide guidance in the writing and submission of DDTC and BIS export licenses, application of exemptions, exceptions, and other regulatory approvals for the exportation and importation of products from and to the United States.
• Conduct horizon scanning of trade developments, sanctions, and emerging risks, advising senior leadership on strategic directions to mitigate exposure to business disruption or penalties.
• Lead the US Trade Compliance team to ensure adherence to all relevant laws and regulations while driving performance via defined KPIs and control systems, with accurate data processing.
• Partner with Legal and work cross-functionally across all business departments to foster a coordinated, company-wide quality and compliance approach that effectively serves the customer.
• Manage relationships with regulatory agencies, oversee Informed Compliance visits, investigations, and audits ensuring application of best practices and regulatory compliance.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, International Trade, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in trade compliance, quality assurance or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• In-depth import/export knowledge, including a deep understanding of U.S. Customs regulations, FTZs, USMCA and other FTAs, C-TPAT, HTS/ECCN/USML classifications and tariffs, AD/CVD regulations, Partner Government Agencies (PGAs), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC), and Bureau of Census and Statistics , US and global sanctions and embargoes, Antiboycott regulations.
• Preferable, working knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems (QMS), ISO protocols and implementation of comprehensive quality assurance policies.
• Proven leadership skills with a track record in team management and development, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic advisory roles.
• Experience of leveraging technology and business intelligence for continuous process improvement, process automation, and effective risk management.
• Exceptional communication skills to articulate complex regulatory changes and compliance strategies to executive leadership and team members alike.

Org Structure 

Reporting regionally to the Senior Director, Distribution & Logistics, and matrixed to Head of Global Transactional Compliance. Role has direct reports. 

Core Values:

One Team: Collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments and regions to achieve common goals.

Deliver Brilliantly: Strive for excellence in all aspects of product management, from strategy to execution.

Do the Right Thing: Act with integrity and transparency in all interactions and decisions.

Make Everyday Better: Continuously seek opportunities to improve products, processes, and customer experiences.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RS Americas is an equal opportunity employer and maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent and prohibit unlawful discrimination against any qualified employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other unlawful classification to the extent protected by law. This policy of non-discrimination applies to all employment practices, including hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, training and termination. Employees who engage in unlawful discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

#LI-SC1