Senior Global Trade Compliance Manager

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. 

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. 

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Global Trade Compliance Manager to join John Crane. This role is responsible for leading and enhancing the global trade compliance function, ensuring adherence to international trade regulations while minimising risk and optimising duty costs.

Reporting into senior leadership, you will act as a strategic advisor on trade compliance risks and opportunities, supporting the organisation’s international growth and operational excellence across multiple regions.

Duties & Responsibilities (not limited to)

Strategy and Governance

• Develop and continuously improve the global trade compliance framework.
• Align operational processes with corporate governance policies and ethical standards. 
• Monitor geopolitical and regulatory changes, advising leadership on risks and mitigation strategies. 

Compliance Operations

• Act as subject matter expert on export controls, sanctions, customs and antiboycott regulations. 
• Ensure effective compliance controls, operational processes and frameworks are embedded across global operations.
• Oversee product classification, licensing, customs processes and restricted party screening. 
• Conduct audits, investigations and corrective actions in collaboration with internal audit and compliance teams.

Tariff Mitigation

• Lead strategies to reduce tariff exposure and duty costs across global operations. 
• Deliver tariff modelling, forecasting and scenario planning.
• Drive utilisation of free trade agreements and duty recovery initiatives. 

Digital and Process Transformation

• Lead optimisation and implementation of trade compliance systems, including SAP GTS and ERP platforms.
• Drive automation of classification, screening and documentation processes.
• Enhance governance of classification and origin data management. 

Risk Management and Assurance

• Monitor and assess the global trade compliance risk profile. 
• Ensure audit readiness and regulatory adherence across all regions. 
• Investigate compliance issues and implement remediation actions. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership

• Lead and coordinate a global network of Trade Compliance Officers and regional managers. 
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Commercial, Supply Chain and external advisors.
• Deliver training, build capability and drive a culture of compliance across the organisation. 

• Significant experience in global trade compliance within a complex international business. 
• Strong expertise in export controls, customs regulations, sanctions and trade laws. 
• Proven experience leading global programmes, transformation initiatives and cross-functional teams. 
• Experience with SAP, SAP GTS, QAD or similar trade compliance systems.
• Strong analytical, financial and strategic thinking capability. 
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage risk, drive compliance and deliver measurable business impact. 
• Bachelor’s degree required; additional qualifications or certifications are advantageous. 

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity. 

Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network. 

Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future. 

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)