Director, Global Trade and Operations Strategy

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ARWR) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.

Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI.  Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need. 

The Position

The Director, Head of Global Trade Operations and Strategy is a key Supply Chain leader responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing Arrowhead’s global trade compliance program while shaping trade-related strategy to support the company’s continued growth, resilience, and innovation. This role ensures compliance with applicable international trade regulations while enabling efficient, ethical, and scalable global operations across R&D, manufacturing, clinical, and commercial activities.

This individual will set the direction for Arrowhead’s global trade policy, operating model, and strategy; drive proactive engagement with regulatory authorities; and partner closely with senior and executive leaders across Supply Chain, Commercial, Legal, Finance, Tax, Regulatory, and Quality to align trade compliance strategies with business objectives.

This position reports to the Vice President, Global Operations & Supply Chain. This role is based in Pasadena, California or Verona, WI with an expectation to be in the office five days a week.

Responsibilities

Global Footprint & Operating Model

• Design and evolve Arrowhead’s global trade and operating model, including importer-of-record/exporter-of-record structures, legal entity setup, intercompany flow design, and ex-U.S. supply pathways, to support commercial activation in new geographies.
• Lead country activation from a trade and Operations perspective, partnering with Regulatory, Commercial, Finance, Tax, and Legal to define the operating model, supply pathway, and trade documentation required to enter each market.
• Anticipate and enable footprint changes required as Arrowhead expands from rare disease into broader patient populations and grows its international commercial presence.
• Partner with Global Network & Risk to ensure the global operating model and physical supply network are aligned, complementary, and mutually enabling.

Global Trade Compliance Program Leadership

• Own and continuously enhance Arrowhead’s global trade compliance framework, including import/export policies, standards, and procedures aligned with U.S. CBP, OFAC, DEA, FDA, and relevant international agencies and programs, including those in the EU, UK, Japan, and other applicable markets.
• Maintain the governance model for global trade compliance, including oversight of risk assessments, monitoring activities, internal controls, and executive-level reporting.
• Ensure robust internal controls are in place across R&D, clinical, and commercial supply chains for classification, valuation, licensing, documentation, restricted party screening, sanctions compliance, and country-of-origin determinations.
• Engage with regulatory authorities to proactively understand evolving policy, clarify expectations, and assess potential impacts to Arrowhead’s operations and global trade strategy.

  Strategic Governance, Oversight, and Monitoring

• Partner with senior leaders across Global Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Tax, Finance, Legal, Regulatory, Quality, and Commercial to embed trade compliance strategy into network design, sourcing decisions, product launch plans, and international expansion.
• Collaborate with Legal, Policy, Compliance, and cross-functional stakeholders to support Arrowhead’s position on global trade and regulatory policy matters.
• Analyze and implement tariff mitigation and duty optimization strategies, including First Sale for Export, duty drawback, Free Trade Agreements, and Foreign Trade Zones, as applicable, to enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce costs.
• Monitor international regulatory, trade, and geopolitical developments; advise senior leadership on business impacts, risks, and recommendations that inform enterprise-level decision-making.
• Establish KPIs to measure compliance performance, identify emerging risks, and drive continuous improvement across the global trade compliance program.
• Support due diligence, onboarding, and qualification requirements for Logistics Service Providers as they relate to trade compliance, including compliance certifications, internal controls, documentation practices, and screening capabilities.
• Establish programs to ensure Logistics Service Providers adhere to Arrowhead trade policies related to export controls, sanctions, restricted party screening, customs valuation, classification, and country-of-origin determination.

  People Leadership

• Lead and develop a global team of trade compliance professionals and regional specialists.
• Build organizational capability through targeted training, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional engagement.
• Communicate compliance priorities clearly across all levels of the organization, driving a culture of accountability.

Systems, Tools, and Continuous Improvement

• Partner with IT, Logistics, Supply Chain, and other functional teams to enable scalable processes and systems for global trade compliance operations, including SAP and other supporting technologies.
• Lead global process harmonization, technology enablement, global trade management system initiatives, and benchmarking efforts to enhance program efficiency, consistency, and scalability.

  Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in supply chain, business, operations, engineering, life sciences, or a related field; 
• 10+ years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, including at least 5 years in trade compliance, global supply chain operations, operating model design, or related Global Operations & Supply Chain functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading global trade compliance activities, including import/export controls, customs compliance, HTS classification, country-of-origin determinations, Incoterms, sanctions/OFAC compliance, Free Trade Agreements, and importer-of-record/exporter-of-record structures.
• Demonstrated experience designing or evolving global operating models for pharmaceutical or biotechnology organizations, including legal entity setup, intercompany flows, and country activation.
• Hands-on experience with GxP distribution compliance, including GDP, DSCSA, EU FMD, and serialization/track-and-trace operational implementation.
• Strong understanding of U.S. and ex-U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain operations and the regulatory environment governing pharmaceutical trade and distribution.
• Experience with cold chain qualification, supply chain security, and anti-diversion/anti-counterfeit programs.
• New product launch experience required; specialty pharmaceutical launch experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting expansion from rare disease into larger patient populations is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams in a global, cross-functional environment.
• Demonstrated capabilities in business case development, total landed cost analysis, contract negotiation, financial acumen, and structured problem-solving.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong written, presentation, and proactive communication skills; able to translate operational complexity into clear recommendations and executive-level decisions.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed to engage with regulators, customs authorities, regional teams, partners, and service providers.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA or Master’s in a related field).
• Passion for science-driven storytelling and an interest in Arrowhead’s mission to advance RNAi-based therapeutics.
• Experience developing operations network strategies for a growing global market

Wisconsin pay range

$190,000—$220,000 USD

California pay range

$215,000—$240,000 USD

Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.   

Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.