Lead, Trade Compliance

Lead, Global Trade Compliance – Licensing

Industry: Aerospace & DefenseEmployment Type: Full-TimeLocation: Multiple U.S. LocationsTravel: Approximately 30% DomesticSchedule: 9/80 – Every Other Friday OffRelocation Assistance: Available

Northwest Talent Solutions (NWTS) is conducting a confidential search for an experienced Lead, Global Trade Compliance – Licensing professional to join a major aerospace and defense organization.

This is a high-visibility opportunity for a trade compliance professional with deep ITAR/EAR licensing expertise and Empowered Official experience who is ready to influence international trade activities across a sophisticated, highly regulated enterprise.

You'll work directly with business leaders, trade compliance teams and U.S. Government regulators while helping enable international business in a compliant and commercially practical way.

What You'll Do:

You'll serve as a senior trade licensing resource with responsibility for:

• Reviewing, preparing and submitting ITAR and EAR license applications
• Providing guidance regarding ITAR Exemptions and EAR Exceptions
• Serving as an Empowered Official in accordance with ITAR requirements
• Acting as a primary point of contact with U.S. Government regulators on international trade licensing matters
• Managing export authorizations, DDTC notifications and regulatory reporting
• Reviewing international employee travel for trade compliance requirements
• Reviewing foreign-national visitors, restricted-party screening and required authorizations
• Supporting enterprise reporting, including annual sales, encryption and other regulatory requirements
• Developing trade compliance procedures, processes, templates and guidance
• Creating and delivering trade compliance training, webinars and educational programs
• Supporting internal monitoring, investigations and compliance outreach
• Partnering across business units to enable compliant international growth

What We're Looking For:

The strongest candidates will bring:

• Significant ITAR and EAR expertise
• At least 5 years of experience working with ITAR Exemptions and EAR Exceptions
• Hands-on experience drafting and submitting international trade license applications
• Empowered Official experience, preferably within aerospace and defense
• Aerospace/defense licensing experience
• Experience interacting directly with U.S. Government regulators
• Strong knowledge of export authorization management and regulatory recordkeeping
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• High levels of judgment, integrity, discretion and attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels of an organization
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and SharePoint
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 30%
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance

Experience with OCR EASE or previous experience as a U.S. Government trade regulator is highly valued.

Candidates typically will have a bachelor's degree with approximately 9+ years of relevant experience, a graduate degree with 7+ years of relevant experience, or substantial equivalent professional experience.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers considerably more than transactional licensing work.

You'll have the opportunity to operate at the intersection of global business, national security and regulatory strategy, influence enterprise trade practices, interact directly with regulators and help shape compliant solutions for complex international initiatives.

The organization offers comprehensive benefits, retirement programs, education assistance, paid time off, parental leave and a 9/80 schedule providing every other Friday off.

Relocation assistance is available.

Why Work With Northwest Talent Solutions?

NWTS brings 20+ years of executive and specialized search expertise, supported by AI-enabled talent intelligence and a high-touch, human-led recruiting approach.

We understand that specialized trade compliance experience can't be evaluated through keywords alone. Our conversations focus on the licensing programs you've supported, regulatory environments you've navigated and the level of responsibility you've actually held.

If you're an aerospace and defense trade compliance professional with ITAR/EAR licensing and Empowered Official experience, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply confidentially through Northwest Talent Solutions.