Head of Trade and Product Compliance

A leading retail organisation is seeking a Head of Trade and Product Compliance to champion the integrity and quality of its product portfolio across diverse markets. This pivotal role offers you the opportunity to shape compliance strategy at the highest level, ensuring that every product meets rigorous legal, safety, and quality benchmarks.

The Head of Trade and Product Compliance will oversee the company’s compliance programs related to trade and product regulations, ensuring that all products meet applicable legal, quality, and safety standards in all markets where the company operates. This leadership role will be responsible for driving the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of compliance processes across the organization, with a focus on mitigating risks
and enhancing business operations.

What you'll do:

Regulatory Strategy & Oversight:

• Stay updated on local, national, and international regulations affecting the company’s products.
• Develop and implement compliance strategies to ensure all products meet legal and quality standards.
• Monitor product consultants to ensure they meet service agreements and offer competitive pricing.

Collaboration & Advisory:

• Work closely with teams (legal, import/export, and global trade and product compliance) to align compliance efforts with business goals.
• Provide advice and guidance on compliance issues to senior leadership and business units.

Import Trade Compliance & Customs Operations:

• Ensure smooth import customs declaration to prevent unnecessary charges and penalties such as Demurrage & Detention (D&D) and storage fees.
• Monitor and evaluate customs brokers' performance, ensuring they meet the company’s service level agreements (SLA) and provide competitive pricing compared to market rates.
• Collaborate with custom broker to enhance customs clearance efficiency.
• Build strong relationships with customs authorities to stay informed on regulations and address issues proactively.
• Oversee classification, valuation, and duty payments to ensure compliance with import/export laws.

Compliance Reporting:

• Prepare and submit trade & product compliance reports to management and regulatory authorities.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation for regulatory filings and certifications.

Risk Management & Gap Analysis:

• Conduct risk assessments for new products or product changes.
• If unexpected issues arise during importation, proactively find ways to manage and clear the cargo with minimal cost.
• Identify trade and product compliance gaps and lead corrective actions to ensure compliance with new or revised regulations.

Internal and External Audits & Process Improvement:

• Lead internal and external audits and inspections to monitor compliance.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.

Training & Culture:

• Develop training programs to educate staff on compliance requirements.
• Foster a culture of compliance throughout the organization.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead, motivate, and mentor the team.
• Develop team skills and ensure alignment with company goals.

What you bring:

To excel as Head of Trade and Product Compliance, your background should reflect substantial experience in regulatory environments where attention to detail is paramount.

• 8+ years of experience in trade, product compliance, or regulatory roles, with a strong understanding of industry regulations and standards.
• Proven experience in a regulatory compliance role within a similar industry, with a strong understanding of relevant regulations and standards.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to organize, prioritize & multitasking tasks, manage deadlines and coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex compliance issues clearly to both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Leadership experience, with a track record of motivating teams, driving results, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, with a focus on identifying issues early and finding effective solutions.

Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.