The Role: Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. As a key member of our Global Trade & Operations organization, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring Moderna's medicines and technologies move seamlessly across borders throughout the EMEA region. Working at the intersection of global strategy, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance, you'll help shape the future of our international trade program while enabling the rapid delivery of innovative medicines to patients. Based in Harwell, you'll partner closely with Global and Regional Trade leadership to strengthen Moderna's Global Trade & Operations Program across EMEA. This is an opportunity to influence regional trade strategy, drive digital transformation, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to build scalable, compliant, and agile trade operations. You'll also have the opportunity to leverage emerging digital technologies and Generative AI-enabled solutions to enhance compliance processes, automate workflows, and improve decision-making across the trade function.
Here’s What You’ll Do:
- Partner closely with Global and Regional Trade leadership to enhance Moderna's Global Trade & Operations Program across the EMEA region.
- Shape and lead regional trade compliance strategies, ensuring alignment with global objectives while supporting evolving business priorities.
- Serve as the regional subject matter expert on customs and international trade regulations across EMEA, providing strategic guidance to internal stakeholders and ensuring local execution aligns with global trade strategy.
- Support day-to-day operational trade activities across EMEA, ensuring import and export transactions, product classifications, documentation, and customs processes are executed efficiently, compliantly, and within business timelines.
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive trade compliance programs covering tariff classification, customs valuation, licensing requirements, country of origin determination, and recordkeeping obligations.
- Champion digital transformation by driving the adoption, optimization, and enhancement of trade compliance technologies and automation platforms, including SAPGTS, MIC, and Descartes, while identifying opportunities to further streamline operations through advanced digital and AI-enabled capabilities.
- Monitor changes to customs and international trade regulations across the EMEA region, proactively assessing business impacts and ensuring organizational readiness for new regulatory requirements.
- Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Tax, Logistics, and other key stakeholders to embed trade compliance into business processes and operational decision-making.
- Identify, develop, and lead strategic trade optimization initiatives, including the implementation of special customs procedures, duty relief opportunities, bonded warehouse programs, and other cost-saving initiatives.
- Lead interactions with customs authorities across the EMEA region, managing external audits, customs investigations, and regulatory inquiries while maintaining strong relationships with government agencies.
- Support the development of trade compliance capabilities by delivering guidance, training, and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the regional trade compliance network.
- Define, monitor, and continuously improve trade compliance metrics, key performance indicators, and customs broker performance to drive operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Foster standardization, process optimization, and operational consistency across regional trade activities while balancing regulatory integrity with business agility.
The key Moderna Mindsets you'll need to succeed in the role:
We obsess over learning. We don't have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest. We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.
Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)
- Bachelor's degree in a related field (Business, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, International Business) or equivalent experience.
- Minimum of 10 years of work experience, including at least 6 years in a compliance, legal, auditing, or investigation role in life sciences, preferably in biotechnology, medical device, and/or pharmaceutical industries.
- Strong expertise in both operational trade execution and project management within complex international environments.
- Solid knowledge of EU Union Customs Code and local customs laws across EMEA, including experience in import/export operations, dual-use regulations, classification, valuation, origin, and free trade agreements.
- Proven experience managing customs brokers, freight forwarders, and 3PLs, as well as interactions with regulatory bodies across multiple jurisdictions.
- Demonstrated leadership in implementing digital trade compliance tools (e.g. SAPGTS, MIC, Descartes, or similar systems).
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills with the ability to influence across levels and geographies.
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Strong critical thinking, sound judgment, and decision-making skills.
- Passion for your work and a curious mindset that challenges the status quo.
- Self-directed, proactive, motivated, and a fast learner.
- Ability to work independently.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Communicate effectively in English, spoken and written.
A part of Moderna's commitment to workplace safety, this role may require an enhanced pre-employment check.
Pay & Benefits
At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That's why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
- A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
- Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
- Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
- Location-specific perks and extras
The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.
About Moderna
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, theinfrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team.
We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world. By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our peopleare the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.
Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
As we build our company, we have always believed an in‑person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in‑office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in‑office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship.
Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
Moderna is a smoke‑free, alcohol‑free, and drug‑free work environment.
Moderna is a place where everyone can grow.
Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non‑discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law.
We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
We're focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities.
Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com.
Third Party Staffing Agencies
Moderna does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. For the protection of all parties involved in the recruiting process, resumes will only be accepted from recruiters/agencies if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position. Unsolicited resumes sent to Moderna from recruiters/agencies do not constitute any type of relationship between the recruiter/agency and Moderna and do not obligate Moderna to pay fees if we hire from those resumes.
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Please inform the company's personnel representative by calling 617-460-9346 or emailing humanresources@modernatx.com if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.
Senior Manager, Trade Operations & Compliance, EMEA in Harwell employer: Moderna Therapeutics
Moderna Therapeutics is an exceptional employer located in Oxford, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being and career development, the company provides a comprehensive benefits package and ample opportunities for professional growth, making it an ideal place for those passionate about advancing the future of medicine.