Sr. Director, Global Trade Compliance (UK)

Senior Director, Global Trade Compliance (UK) at Smith+Nephew

• Set and execute global Trade Compliance strategy, evolving the roadmap and standards.
• Act as trusted advisor to senior leadership on trade risk, regulatory change, and geopolitical impacts.
• Ensure robust compliance with import, export, customs, sanctions, and preferential trade programs across diverse markets.
• Drive simplification, standardisation, and digitalisation of trade compliance processes.
• Strengthen governance, controls and risk management while enabling speed-to-market and supply continuity.
• Represent the organisation with Customs Authorities, Government Agencies, and external partners across regions.
• Manage the Global Trade Compliance team, including developing centres of excellence for customs, export controls, and global training.
• Implement and continuously improve global trade compliance policies, procedures, and controls.
• Oversee key pillars such as HS classification, country of origin, valuation, denied party screening, and broker governance.
• Lead compliance risk assessments, internal reviews, and regulatory audits; identify gaps and execute remediation plans.
• Support complex supply chain initiatives, new market entries, product launches, and network transformations.
• Align with global digital initiatives such as ERP and customs systems.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Global Trade Compliance team and subject matter experts.
• Build strong cross functional partnerships across Operations, Legal, Finance, and Commercial teams.

• 10+ years of experience in global trade compliance within a multinational environment (MedTech, Life Sciences, Manufacturing or other regulated industries).
• Strong knowledge of global customs, import/export controls, sanctions, FTAs, and trade regulations.
• Proven ability to operate at senior leadership level, influencing without authority.
• Experience leading global compliance programs and managing regulatory risk at scale.
• Pragmatic, solution oriented mindset with confidence to navigate ambiguity and change.
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage regulators, external partners, and internal executives.