Associate Director of Global Trade

Associate Director of Global Trade

Wolverhampton

At Safran, excellence is a journey – and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision.

Safran Actuation Systems UK is a world‑class centre for the design, manufacture and support of actuation and flight‑control solutions used across commercial, military and rotary platforms. With major sites in Wolverhampton and Banbury, our teams play a critical role in delivering innovative, reliable and safe systems that keep aircraft performing at their best.

Our UK Actuation business brings together engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capability and a proud heritage within the aerospace sector. Whether supporting major global programmes or developing the next generation of actuation technologies, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

This is a global leadership role, responsible for the development and execution of the organisation's global trade compliance strategy, ensuring adherence to international import/export regulations, customs requirements, and sanctions programmes. Partner with senior business leaders to support growth objectives while mitigating trade-related risks across multiple jurisdictions. Drive operational excellence through process standardisation, automation, and duty optimisation initiatives, while providing strategic leadership, guidance, and expertise on evolving global trade regulations.

• Develop and implement the global trade compliance strategy aligned with business objectives and growth plans.
• Act as the interface between Safran Actuation Systems and Safran Group SLT on international trade regulations, sanctions, and compliance risks.
• Lead, coach, and develop a globally dispersed, high‑performing team of trade compliance professionals.
• Ensure compliance with import/export laws, customs regulations, and trade controls across global operations.
• Lead trade compliance audits, investigations, risk assessments, and corrective action programmes.
• Manage relationships with customs authorities, brokers, and regulatory agencies to support compliant operations.
• Drive standardisation, automation, and continuous improvement of global trade compliance processes.
• Support supply chain efficiency through duty mitigation strategies, tariff classification, and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) management.
• Implement best practices to streamline customs clearance activities and reduce trade-related costs.
• Monitor regulatory developments, assess business impact, and report on key compliance metrics, risks, and performance indicators.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, International Trade, Supply Chain, Law, or related field (Master's preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in global trade, customs, or compliance, ideally in a multinational corporation.
• Strong knowledge of import/export regulations, sanctions, and trade compliance frameworks (e.g., EAR, ITAR, OFAC, EU and UK regulations).
• Proven track record of managing global trade compliance programs and interacting with regulatory authorities.
• Capable of leading a remote team of 20+ highly‑capable Trade Compliance professionals across Europe and the US.
• Exceptional leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional certifications (e.g., LCB, CCS, or equivalent) are a plus.

At Safran, we understand that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective, and as an organisation, we are committed to fair and equitable employment practices for everyone.

We also know that some candidates may be put off applying for jobs where they don't meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the advert, however, we encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation.