Inhouse International Trade Lawyer – Trade Compliance, Sanctions & Export Control
Reporting Line: Group General Counsel
Location: TBD (Corporate HQ / hybrid)
Seniority: 5–7 years of experience
The Context
The Group operates internationally as a manufacturer of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) in the High-Mix Low-Volume segment and serves the Aerospace & Defence, MedTech and High-Performance Electronics markets.
In a highly regulated international trade environment, the Legal & Compliance function plays a critical role in supporting the Group’s global operations, ensuring that cross-border activities are conducted in compliance with applicable export control, sanctions, customs and trade regulations across jurisdictions.
The Role
The Inhouse International Trade Lawyer operates in a complex and evolving international regulatory landscape and serves as the internal reference point for international trade law within the Group.
The role combines deep technical expertise in trade compliance with a significant commercial and contractual dimension, and is central to the design, implementation and continuous evolution of the Group’s trade compliance framework. The position involves close and ongoing interaction with corporate functions and local teams, with active involvement in projects related to growth, integration and continuous improvement.
What You Will Do
* Support and coordinate international trade legal matters, including export control, sanctions and customs compliance, across multiple jurisdictions, in close collaboration with the Group General Counsel .
* Develop, implement and maintain the Group’s trade compliance framework, including policies, procedures and internal controls related to export controls, sanctions regimes and customs requirements.
* Advise on product classification for export control purposes (e.g. EU Dual-Use, EAR, ITAR, military items) and on customs classification (HS / CN codes), working closely with technical and operational teams.
* Assess and manage sanctions and export control risks in commercial transactions, customer and third-party relationships, and cross-border flows of goods, software, technology and technical assistance.
* Provide legal support on licensing strategies, export authorisations, exemptions and reporting obligations, including interaction with external advisors and competent authorities where required.
* Draft, review and negotiate international commercial contracts, with particular focus on trade compliance, sanctions, export control, customs and risk allocation clauses.
* Act as a legal business partner to commercial and operational teams, supporting compliant deal structuring without compromising business objectives.
* Contribute to trade compliance training and awareness initiatives tailored to relevant business functions and risk profiles.
* Participate in continuous improvement and digitalisation initiatives, including the implementation of trade compliance tools, screening solutions and automation of classification and control processes.
What We Are Looking For
* Law degree and 5–7 years of experience, preferably within multinational organisations or international law firms, with focus on international trade law, export control, sanctions and international commercial contracts .
* Strong hands-on knowledge of export control regimes (e.g. EU Dual-Use Regulation, U.S. EAR and ITAR) and international sanctions frameworks .
* Solid experience in customs law, including tariff classification and interaction with customs authorities.
* Proven ability to manage international commercial contracts in regulated cross-border environments.
* Excellent command of English ; additional languages are a strong plus.
* Comfortable operating in international and matrixed environments .
How You Work
* Highly structured, detail-oriented and comfortable with regulatory complexity.
* Pragmatic and business-minded, with the confidence to take ownership of trade and contractual decisions.
* Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with non-legal stakeholders.
* Proactive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.
Why This Role
* Strategic role at the intersection of law, international trade and business operations.
* Direct reporting line to the Group General Counsel and exposure to senior stakeholders.
* Opportunity to own and shape both the trade compliance and international contracting agenda in a global industrial group.
* International scope with tangible impact on business execution and growth.