Assistant Director, Trade Compliance & Logistics

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We're pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive.

We're building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you're passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

Assistant Director, Trade Compliance & Logistics

Job Summary

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented trade compliance and logistics professional to lead and support U.S. import compliance activities and global logistics operations. This role will be responsible for ensuring compliance with U.S. Customs and Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements, managing import and transportation processes, supporting commercial launch activities, and driving operational improvements across the global supply chain.

The ideal candidate will bring 8-10 years of experience in U.S. import compliance and international logistics within a regulated industry, along with strong cross-functional collaboration, problem-solving, and project management skills. Join a dynamic team that values operational excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Support day-to-day U.S. import compliance activities in accordance with CBP and applicable PGA requirements, including review and approval of import documentation, HTS classifications, valuation, country of origin, and end-use documentation.
• Review, audit, and maintain import documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, customs entry records, and FDA-related import documentation.
• Coordinate and communicate with customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely customs clearance and delivery.
• Monitor international shipments and proactively resolve customs clearance or transportation issues, including CBP inquiries, FDA holds, and other clearance-related delays.
• Assist with HTS classification and country-of-origin determinations by coordinating with internal stakeholders and external trade compliance resources as needed.
• Support import audit readiness and compliance reporting activities, including periodic review of customs entries and implementation of corrective actions and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA/APHIS, Fish & Wildlife Service, and other PGA import requirements by gathering and verifying required import data and ensuring permits and licenses are in place prior to shipment.
• Track logistics and import compliance metrics, shipment status, transportation performance, and broker KPIs; participate in periodic business review meetings with logistics providers and customs brokers.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, and external logistics providers to improve operational efficiency, reduce supply chain risk, and support commercial launch readiness.
• Support and lead process improvement initiatives related to trade compliance and logistics operations, including SOP updates, shipping qualification activities, risk assessments, and GTM-related initiatives.
• Support commercial launch activities involving FTZ operations, FDA import coordination, and temperature-controlled international shipments.

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Logistics, International Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in U.S. import compliance and international logistics
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. Customs regulations, import procedures, and FDA/PGA import requirements
• Experience managing and working with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transportation…