Senior Trade Compliance Manager in Coventry

An established global aerospace and defence engineering business is seeking an experienced Trade & Security Compliance professional to join them! This is a high-impact role responsible for leading and developing trade and security compliance across a complex, highly regulated engineering environment. Working across Engineering, Programme Management, Supply Chain, Operations, Shipping, Legal, HR, IT and senior leadership, you will act as a subject matter expert and ensure the business remains compliant with UK and international export controls, sanctions, customs requirements and government security obligations.

A significant proportion of the role will involve supporting projects and strategic initiatives, developing site policies and strategic direction, and working directly with teams to ensure complex regulations and contractual obligations are understood and applied effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continually develop trade and security compliance policies, procedures and programmes across the site, ensuring alignment with UK and international regulations, customer requirements and contractual obligations.
• Provide expert guidance on UK and US export controls, sanctions, customs, controlled technical data and government security classifications, translating complex legislation into practical business processes.
• Support strategic projects and business initiatives, including policy development, regulatory change, compliance strategy and wider improvement programmes.
• Conduct compliance audits, reviews, walkarounds, investigations and self-assessments, identifying risks and implementing effective corrective and preventative actions.
• Lead and develop a team while collaborating with Engineering, Supply Chain, Programme Management, Operations, Shipping, Legal, HR, IT and Security stakeholders.
• Oversee areas including export licensing, product and technology classification, sanctions screening, third-party due diligence, customs compliance and the secure transfer and handling of controlled information.
• Ensure the organisation meets defence security requirements, contractual security obligations and UK Government Security Classification Policy, including the appropriate protection, storage and transmission of sensitive and classified information.
• Develop and deliver training programmes, ensuring employees and stakeholders understand their responsibilities and can apply regulatory and security requirements effectively.

Essential Experience / Skills / Qualifications

• Significant professional experience within trade compliance, export controls, security compliance or a highly regulated aerospace, defence, engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Strong practical knowledge of UK Export Controls, including military export controls, alongside experience with US ITAR, EAR and OFAC/OFSI requirements.
• Strong understanding of customs, import compliance and international trade restrictions.
• Experience working with defence security controls, government security classifications and contractual security requirements.
• Experience managing controlled technical data, sensitive information and/or classified government information within a secure environment.
• Proven experience developing and implementing compliance policies, procedures, internal controls and training programmes.
• Ability to interpret legislation, contractual requirements and customer obligations and convert them into clear, practical processes.
• Experience conducting audits, compliance reviews and investigations, including corrective actions and root-cause analysis.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to influence both operational teams and senior leadership.
• Previous experience managing, mentoring or developing a team.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and strategic initiatives simultaneously.
• Willingness to undertake approximately 10% international travel, primarily for training and business requirements.

Desirable Experience

• Aerospace and defence experience supporting UK Government, Ministry of Defence or major prime contractor programmes.
• Knowledge of GSCP, NATO security requirements, DFARS, CUI or CMMC.
• Experience with OGEL, OIEL, SIEL, F680, ITAR and EAR authorisations.
• Experience supporting classified programmes, secure facilities or access-controlled government environments.
• Knowledge of AEO, Inward Processing Relief, Customs Warehousing or other customs duty and tax recovery programmes.
• Experience managing government or customer audits, regulatory correspondence or voluntary self-disclosures.
• Experience using SAP or SAP GTS within a trade compliance environment.

Company Benefits

• Annual bonus
• Focused career development planning and progression opportunities
• Pension scheme with up to 10% company contribution
• Income protection scheme
• Life assurance of 4x basic salary
• Share purchase scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell up to 5 additional days' holiday
• Additional service-related holiday entitlement
• Cash Plan or Private Medical Cover
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee discounts across a wide range of goods and services
• Employee referral scheme
• Free on-site parking
• Early finish every Friday
• 4 days on site, 1 day working from home