Trade Compliance Operations Manager

• →Personally perform and review classification and other trade compliance activities, particularly during ramp-up, peak periods and operational backlogs.
• →Execute HS and ECCN classification work within approved playbooks and decision frameworks.
• →Manage classification requests and prepare clear, authority-ready escalation packages when matters fall outside established guidance.
• →Ensure complete documentation, decision traceability and audit-ready evidence.

• Build, lead, coach and develop the Kuala Lumpur Trade Compliance Operations Coordinators.
• Allocate work, manage queues and backlogs, balance workload, and monitor quality, productivity and cycle times.
• Act as the first point of contact for daily execution issues and run regular delivery and performance routines.
• Remain actively involved in operational work; this is not a management-only or strategy-only role.

• Ensure consistent use of approved playbooks, controls and escalation rules.
• Perform first-line quality assurance through sampling, error tracking and root-cause analysis.
• Drive corrective actions, coaching, retraining and continuous improvement.

• Help build and scale the Kuala Lumpur Trade Compliance Operations capability and support the controlled transfer of additional activities.
• Identify recurring execution patterns that can be standardized, simplified or added to playbooks.
• Work closely with the Operations Control Tower, Trade Compliance Infrastructure, Export Control and Sanctions, Customs, Supply Chain Security, Process and Risk teams.
• Own continuous improvement of the operation by simplifying and standardizing processes, increasing automation, improving data and workflows, and applying AI-enabled solutions where appropriate to improve quality, speed and scalability.

• Typically 5-8 years of relevant experience in trade compliance operations, export controls, customs, product classification or a comparable regulated operational environment, including experience leading or supervising an operational team.
• Strong practical knowledge of product classification processes, including HS classification; experience with ECCN or export control classification is strongly preferred.
• Proven people leadership experience, including coaching and developing employees, allocating work, managing performance and taking ownership of team delivery.
• Experience allocating work and managing operational queues, quality, KPIs, backlogs and cycle times.
• Comfortable combining people leadership with personal execution and review of operational work.
• Ability to work consistently within documented playbooks, controls and escalation frameworks.
• Strong attention to detail, documentation discipline and a practical, collaborative mindset.

Note: The successful candidate must have sufficient trade compliance knowledge to execute and review classification work, recognize compliance risks, apply established requirements correctly and escalate matters requiring specialist or authority-level interpretation.

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, engineering, international trade, law or a related field, or equivalent relevant practical experience.

• Fluent English, written and spoken, is required.
• The ability to speak, read and write Mandarin Chinese is a strong advantage.
• Other relevant language skills are welcome.

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