Global Trade Compliance Director

For more than 50 years, Photronics has been a global leader in photomask technology — enabling the innovation behind smartphones, computers, automotive electronics, and countless other devices used every day. Our success is driven by advanced technology, strong customer partnerships, and, most importantly, our people.

Join Photronics and be part of a collaborative, high-tech manufacturing environment where learning, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement are core to everything we do.

Position Summary

This role requires a senior compliance leader to oversee our global export controls and trade compliance program. This role is based in any of our U.S locations, reporting directly to General Counsel, with a dotted line to the Head of Global Supply Chain. You’ll manage a team of approximately 4–5 professionals located across various areas of Photronics’ global operations landscape – U.S., U.K., Germany, Taiwan, China, South Korea, and Singapore.

As the company’s subject matter expert and strategic leader on trade compliance, you’ll design, refine, and future-proof our programs as the global import and export landscape evolves. You’ll partner closely with international trade specialists embedded within the supply chain organization to establish systems, controls, and practical solutions to compliance challenges. The role will have a focus on U.S. export regulations, including EAR jurisdictional analysis, effectively balancing regulatory rigor with the speed and agility required to keep our business moving.

Responsibilities

Policy & Program Management

• Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of the Trade Compliance Program (TCP).
• Ensure compliance with U.S. (EAR, OFAC), Taiwan, EU, Japan, Korea, China, and other applicable regulations.
• Prepare documentation for government audits and regulatory reviews.

• Classify products and technology under HS Code, ECCN, SHTC, and related controls.
• Perform EAR jurisdictional analyses, including foreign direct product rule and de minimis reviews.

• Oversee Denied Party Screening (DPS) for customers, suppliers, and partners.
• Verify end-use and end-user certifications.
• Escalate ‘catch-all’ cases requiring licensing or government engagement.

• Prepare and submit export license applications with relevant authorities.
• Track license progress and maintain audit-ready records.
• Advise leadership on licensing requirements and regulatory impacts.

• Develop and deliver global export compliance training.
• Lead internal and external audits of compliance programs.

• Serve as company expert on export/import compliance.
• Monitor sanctions, geopolitical developments, and regulatory trends.
• Refine compliance processes to minimize risk while preserving business agility.

• 8+ years of progressive trade compliance experience; 5+ years in global leadership.
• Deep expertise in U.S. export controls (EAR, OFAC, BIS), with demonstrated ability to operationalize regulatory requirements in complex environments.
• Experience standing up and owning denied/restricted party screening programs, including automation of screening systems and compliance workflows.
• Experience implementing and automating trade compliance systems aligned with U.S. government security initiatives (e.g., CTPAT/CT-PAT, Commerce anti-terrorism controls), with ownership of deployment and resource execution.
• Knowledge of Taiwan, EU, U.K., China, Japan, and Korea trade regulations within a global compliance framework.
• Strong leadership managing globally dispersed teams and cross-functional partners.

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or advanced degree preferred.
• Fluent in English.
• U.S. Person status requirement due to export-controlled regulatory engagement.

• Be part of a global technology leader driving innovation for the world’s biggest tech companies.
• Work in a collaborative, growth-focused environment where your expertise will have a real impact.
• Develop your leadership skills by mentoring and guiding a talented team. Enjoy stability,…