Head of Global Trade Compliance in Harlow

Function: Legal

Location: Harlow, Glenrothes, Livingston, Manchester, Gloucester or Home worker (with some travel required).

Clearance Required: Ability to obtain and maintain a MoD security clearance.

Hours: 37 hours (we adopt a flexible working model and welcome discussions around flexible working arrangements; many of our team work in different ways including compressed hours, part time and alternate days off).

At Raytheon UK, we take immense pride in being a leader in defence and aerospace technology. As an employer, we are dedicated to fuelling innovation, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture of excellence. Joining our team means being part of an organisation that shapes the future of national security whilst investing in your growth and personal development. We provide a collaborative environment, abundant opportunities for professional development, and a profound sense of purpose in what we do.

Summary of Role

Reporting to the Head of Global Trade, the Head of Global Trade Compliance is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring that the company operates in strict adherence to relevant legal, regulatory, ethical standards and internal policies, particularly in relation to Trade Compliance, Export Controls, Sanctions, and Customs. This pivotal role oversees the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the compliance programme that removes or minimises risk and facilitates seamless cross‑border trade.

Main Duties / Objectives

• Lead the compliance and customs team, setting strategic direction and ensuring effective risk management across the organisation.
• Develop and implement global trade compliance policies and procedures to ensure alignment with RTX and Raytheon policies and business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Drive compliance by working with colleagues within RSL, Raytheon, and RTX to ensure that export, sanctions and import activities are conducted in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, company policies and best practice.
• Provide consistent, pragmatic, and clear advice on all aspects of Global Trade compliance and Customs to the wider Legal function and business.
• Conduct prompt reporting of and lead investigations into potential violations by RSL employees of RSL, Raytheon, or RTX policies and/or applicable laws, in consultation with the Raytheon Global Trade Investigations and Disclosures team.
• Support the drafting of investigation closure memos and disclosures where required and direct and monitor remedial actions where appropriate.
• Deliver a regular audit and control testing programme and utilise the data to devise action plans and inform continuous improvement.
• Provide expert guidance, training and communications on regulatory changes and policy developments.
• Develop relationships with business leads, the wider Raytheon Global Trade team and regulatory agencies.
• Supervise other compliance specialists within the Global Trade compliance team.
• Act as the company’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) principle contact with HMRC for customs matters.
• Implement, where appropriate, suitable Customs duties and taxes mitigation procedures (IP, OP, CW, Transit etc.) for the economic benefit of the company.

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in a Global Trade Compliance, Customs management role, including leadership experience.
• Extensive experience in UK Customs, Sanctions, Import and Export control laws and regulations.
• Have practical and demonstrable experience of US Sanctions, ITAR and EAR regulations.
• Proven track record of managing complex cross‑border trade operations, Customs procedures and HMRC regulations; Customs clearance processes, tariff classifications, valuation, origin determinations, and duty reliefs.
• Understanding of the relationships among the parts of UK government responsible for export licensing, policy and enforcement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft substantive reports within strict deadlines.
• Well‑organised, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Integrity and sound judgment, with a strong team orientation.
• Leadership, analytical, and motivational skills – a pro‑active strategic planner, critical thinker, decision‑maker, and problem solver.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels, both internally and externally, and build relationships and networks.
• Familiarity with work in a global context, and ability to travel abroad on occasion.

Desirable

• Prior experience working as part of a global team.
• Interest in defence and aerospace industry.
• Awareness and understanding of Business Agreements.
• Working knowledge of SAP GTS.

Equal Employment Opportunity – RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.