Director, Global Trade Compliance & Quality

Location: Tampa Bay, Florida (preferred) or Remote within the United States. Candidates should be located near a major airport and willing to travel as required. Relocation assistance is not available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Company Overview

A leading provider of telecommunications and networking technology solutions is seeking an experienced leader to oversee global trade compliance and quality management initiatives. This position plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with international trade regulations while driving quality system excellence across the organization.

Position Summary

The Director of Global Trade Compliance & Quality is responsible for leading the company's international trade compliance program and supporting the development, implementation, and maintenance of its Quality Management System (QMS).

The primary focus of the role is global import/export compliance, including export controls, customs regulations, product classification, licensing, sanctions compliance, regulatory documentation, and international shipping requirements. The individual will serve as the internal subject matter expert, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations worldwide.

Additionally, the Director will lead strategic quality initiatives, including achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 and TL 9000 certifications, establishing quality processes, and driving continuous improvement efforts throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Trade Compliance (Primary Focus)

• Lead and continuously improve the organization's global import/export compliance program.


• Interpret and apply relevant U.S. and international trade regulations, including export controls, customs requirements, sanctions regulations, and telecommunications-related regulatory requirements.


• Manage product, software, technology, and component classifications utilizing export-control and tariff-classification methodologies.


• Determine licensing and authorization requirements for global shipments and transactions.


• Administer denied-party, restricted-party, embargo, sanctions, and end-use/end-user compliance processes.


• Review transactions involving controlled technologies, countries, customers, suppliers, and end users.


• Develop and maintain compliance policies, procedures, internal controls, and documentation.


• Ensure accurate international shipping, customs, and regulatory documentation.


• Support country-of-origin determinations, customs valuation, tariff classifications, and trade documentation requirements.


• Monitor regulatory developments and implement necessary operational changes.


• Conduct trade compliance audits and risk assessments.


• Develop and deliver compliance training across the organization.


• Investigate and resolve complex compliance issues.


• Coordinate activities with freight forwarders, customs brokers, suppliers, manufacturing partners, customers, and regulatory agencies.


• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to support regulatory classification and compliance assessments.


• Balance regulatory requirements with practical business objectives and operational efficiency.

Quality Management (Secondary Focus)

• Lead initiatives to achieve and maintain ISO 9001 and TL 9000 certification.


• Develop, implement, and maintain a company-wide Quality Management System (QMS).


• Perform certification-readiness assessments and establish implementation roadmaps.


• Create and maintain quality policies, procedures, work instructions, and document-control processes.


• Lead internal audits and management review activities.


• Manage corrective and preventive action (CAPA) programs and root-cause investigations.


• Establish and monitor quality metrics and performance indicators.


• Coordinate quality requirements with manufacturing, supply-chain, and supplier partners.


• Support supplier qualification, performance management, and corrective action initiatives.


• Partner with engineering, operations, and customer support teams on product and process quality issues.


• Prepare for certification and surveillance audits while serving as the primary liaison with certification bodies.


• Drive continuous improvement efforts utilizing quality data, customer feedback, supplier performance metrics, manufacturing trends, and field performance data.

Required Experience

Trade Compliance

• 8+ years of progressive trade compliance experience within telecommunications, networking, technology hardware, electronics, or similarly regulated global industries.


• Deep understanding of U.S. export controls and international trade regulations.


• Experience performing product export classifications and tariff classifications.


• Background determining export licensing and authorization requirements.


• Experience managing sanctions, embargo, denied-party, and restricted-party compliance programs.


• Knowledge of international import/export documentation requirements.


• Experience working with freight forwarders, customs brokers, contract manufacturers, and global suppliers.


• Ability to assess regulatory risk and resolve complex compliance challenges.


• Experience developing compliance procedures, controls, training programs, and audit processes.


• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering and technical teams regarding product classifications and regulatory requirements.


• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.

Quality Management

• Hands-on experience working within ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.


• Knowledge of internal auditing, management reviews, document control, CAPA processes, and continuous improvement methodologies.


• Experience supporting or leading ISO certification audits.


• Prior TL 9000 experience is highly desirable.


• Experience within telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, networking equipment, or technology hardware environments preferred.


• Familiarity with quality methodologies such as:
  
  
  
  • 5 Whys
  
  
  • 8D Problem Solving
  
  
  • Fishbone/Ishikawa Analysis
  
  
  • Pareto Analysis
  
  
  • FMEA
  
  
  
  

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, International Trade, Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field preferred.


• Equivalent combinations of education and significant industry experience will be considered.

Preferred Certifications

Trade Compliance

• Certified Export Specialist (CES)


• Certified Customs Specialist (CCS)


• U.S. Customs Broker License


• Additional certifications or formal training related to export controls, customs, sanctions, or international trade compliance

Quality

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer


• TL 9000 Training


• ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)


• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)


• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)