Director – International Trade (Asia)

Key Responsibilities:

1. Regional Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute Asia trade strategy aligned with global objectives.

• Identify trade trends, market entry opportunities, and regulatory shifts in key Asian markets

• Lead multi-country expansion initiatives and regional partner development.

2. Trade Operations & Supply Chain Integration

• Oversee regional import/export operations, ensuring smooth documentation, licensing, and customs clearance.

• Align trade operations with supply chain, manufacturing, and sales functions.

• Monitor shipping timelines, tariffs, INCOTERMS, HS classifications, and import/export costs.

3. Trade Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure regional compliance with international trade laws, sanctions, and customs regulations (e.g., AEO, RCEP, WTO, dual-use goods).

• Lead investigations, audits, and internal controls related to trade compliance.

• Coordinate with legal, finance, and government bodies on regulatory changes.

4. Commercial Development & Partner Engagement

• Support regional sales and business development teams in structuring compliant and competitive trade deals.

• Negotiate cross-border commercial contracts and long-term customer agreements.

• Manage distributor/export partner relationships across the region.

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor regional trade teams and country-specific trade managers.

• Build cross-functional collaboration across logistics, compliance, finance, and commercial units.

• Drive training programs and implement regional competency frameworks.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Trade, Law, Logistics, or related field; MBA or Master’s preferred.

• Minimum 12–15 years of experience in international trade management, including at least 5 years in a regional leadership role.

• In-depth knowledge of Asia-Pacific trade environments, customs regimes, and free trade agreements (RCEP, ASEAN, CEPA, CPTPP, etc.).

• Proven experience in managing multi-country trade operations and compliance frameworks.

• Strong commercial acumen and experience negotiating with high-level stakeholders.

• Proficiency in English; additional Asian languages (Mandarin, Japanese, Korean) are an asset.

• Experience with trade systems like SAP GTS, Oracle GTM, or similar platforms.