Trade Compliance Specialist

Export Compliance Specialist

As a key member of a collaborative, cross-functional team, the Export Compliance Specialist helps protect the company's ability to do business globally while supporting the success of colleagues across Operations, Engineering, Sales, Finance, HR, and IT. This position implements and manages risk mitigation strategies that guard the company against export and import control violations, ensuring the effective development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Trade Compliance program, including training, process design, and proactive risk management. The Specialist works in close partnership with teams throughout the business to build practical, sustainable compliance practices that support both our regulatory obligations and our shared business goals.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Classification Controls: Control Export Control Classification determinations for products, export-controlled data, services, and any other items intended for export or import. Control tariff classification determinations for exported/imported hardware. Ensure records of all classification determinations are retained indefinitely.
• Export/Import License Management: Control the conditions that trigger export/import license (government authorization) requirements and exemption/exception determinations. Prepare, submit, and manage export/import licenses from applicable government authorities. Ensure affected employees and parties remain compliant with the scope of issued licenses.
• Export/Import Documentation: Review and correct commercial invoices, bills of lading, and customs declarations to ensure smooth shipment clearance, including proper references to license numbers, export classifications, tariff codes, and destination control statements. Control the processing of Electronic Export Information through the customs ACE portal.
• Broker Management: Coordinate with customs brokers and freight forwarders to resolve shipping and clearance issues.
• Export Controlled Data Management: Control the identification, marking, security (access controls), and communication (verbal, virtual, in-person, visitor, electronic) of Export Controlled Data. Screen and clear visitors requiring facility access, including managing technology control measures as needed.
• Transaction Screening: Control the screening of shipments, returns, and other export/import transactions against Restricted Party Lists, prohibited end-use/end-user verifications, boycott requests, export license determinations, and transaction red flags. Send appropriate forms and certifications to end users for authorization and compliance confirmation. Determine whether end users, end uses, and destinations are eligible for export or re-export in accordance with applicable regulations. Exercise independent authority to request additional information or clarification regarding export transactions and authorizations.
• ATA Carnets: Apply for and manage ATA Carnets or other temporary export documentation for employees traveling outside the U.S. with company equipment or technical data.
• Integration of Trade Compliance: Coordinate with functional partners (Operations, Engineering, Sales, Finance, HR, IT) to integrate and adapt export compliance requirements into business processes and systems. Support customer, regulatory, and internal audits related to export and trade compliance. Support implementation of flow-down trade control requirements from customer contracts and purchase orders.
• Training: Develop training materials covering all components of the Trade Compliance Program, including an introduction to trade compliance. Determine training frequency, manage the training schedule, train all affected employees, and maintain training records. Maintain continuous awareness of regulatory changes and pursue self-development on best practices through professional trade compliance associations.
• Self-Assessments and Corrective Actions: Assess internal trade controls using a risk assessment matrix to record and quantify degrees and areas of risk. Communicate identified risk to senior leadership along with recommendations for improvement or corrective action. Consult with the corporate Director of Trade Compliance and senior leadership on recommended corrective actions, and collaborate on approaches, plans, and implementation.
• Investigations: Escalate material compliance risks, potential violations, and significant issues to leadership in a timely manner. Lead and coordinate cross-functional responses to compliance issues and investigations, ensuring actions are assigned, tracked to closure, and communicated to stakeholders. Support trade compliance development, initiatives, investigations, and audits as directed by the corporate Director of Trade Compliance. Report potential trade compliance violations and communications from government authorities related to investigations to the corporate Director of Trade Compliance.
• Program Communications: Provide regular updates on the health of the trade compliance program, project status, and the implications of regulatory changes and directives. Prepare, track, and communicate key performance indicators on trade controls to monitor processing time and issues.

Job Specifications:

• Education: Associate's or bachelor's degree in supply chain, international trade, business, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of related export/trade compliance experience and/or training, preferably in the aerospace and defense industries.
• Knowledge: Expertise in export control laws and regulations, including ITAR, EAR, OFAC, and Customs Regulations.
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and cross-functional communication.
• Proficient project management and change management skills to effectively administer developments within the Trade Compliance Program.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret procedures, contracts, and government regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and employees.
• Ability to solve practical problems and work with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, diagram, or schedule form.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office applications and relevant compliance/screening tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and decision-making authority, particularly in compliance-related matters.

NOTE: Preferred Certifications: ECoP EAR/ITAR Certification, or coursework through the Export Compliance Training Institute (ECTI).

Values & Behaviors:

• Integrity: Being Honest, Ethical, and doing the Right Thing.
• Intensity: Bringing Energy and Passion into everything you do.
• Involvement: Promoting Engagement, Ownership, and Teamwork.
• Innovation: Engineering Creative Solutions and driving Continuous Improvement.
• Inclusion: Encouraging cross-functional collaboration. All are welcome here.

Employment Eligibility Requirements:

• This position may involve access to items subject to U.S. export-control laws. Employment is contingent upon the employee's authorization to access such items under applicable law. The company does not guarantee, and is under no obligation to seek, such authorization if it would be necessary.
• An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a pre-employment background and drug screening (including cannabis). Applicants who do not successfully pass both the drug and background screenings will not be considered for employment.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Office Setting: This position is performed predominately or exclusively on-site at the office or other approved worksite. This may occur in a personal office or in a moderately noisy shared work area with an assigned cubicle.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to type on a keyboard as well as feel and manipulate items; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear over headphones, other communication devices, or in person. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and intermittently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

The employee may be intermittently exposed to outside weather conditions, and is occasionally exposed to fumes, building temperature fluctuation, dust, chemicals, odors, and low-to-moderate levels of noise. Other conditions may include frequent interruptions, working alone, working long hours during peak periods, and extended exposure to computer monitors. Safety glasses and hearing protection may be required at times.

Astronics Test Systems offers a competitive benefit package including:

• Stay Healthy - Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity
• Save for the Future - 401K & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Find Balance - Employee Assistance Program & Wellness Program
• Time for You - Generous Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Growth - Tuition Reimbursement Program