Trade Compliance Manager/Lead

At CDW, we make it happen, together. Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It’s why we’re coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we’re headed. We’re proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW.

Job Summary
The Trade Compliance Manager – UK & International (UKI) is the senior regional leader for trade compliance across CDW’s UK and international operations. The role is accountable for translating global trade compliance strategy into effective regional execution. This is a visible, trusted leadership role at the intersection of regulation, technology and global commerce. The Trade Compliance Manager plays a critical role in protecting CDW’s reputation, enabling international growth, and strengthening scalable, modern trade compliance capabilities across multiple jurisdictions.

Reporting into the Global Trade Lead, the Trade Compliance Manager acts as the primary regional authority for export controls, sanctions and customs compliance. The role leads regional Trade Analysts, oversees regional processes and controls, manages regional risks and serves as the escalation point for complex, novel or high‑risk trade matters across EMEA/APAC regions.

What You Will Do:

Regional Trade Compliance Leadership

• Implement and interpret global trade compliance policies across UK and international entities, ensuring alignment with local regulatory requirements.
• Act as the regional authority on export controls, sanctions and customs compliance, escalating novel, complex or high‑risk issues to the Global Trade Lead with clear options and recommendations.
• Lead, coach and develop regional trade analysts, driving performance, capability growth and consistent execution.
• Monitor regional adherence to global trade policies, addressing non‑compliance promptly and proportionately.
  

Regulatory Oversight & Subject Matter Expertise

• Ensure the compliant movement of goods, software and technology under UK, EU and relevant international export control, sanctions and customs regimes.
• Oversee classification, licence management, restricted party screening and customs compliance, ensuring accuracy, consistency and audit readiness.
• Provide expert guidance on HS/HTS classification, ECCN/CLC determination, country of origin, valuation and Incoterms.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess impacts on CDW products, technology, customers and supply chains.
  

Stakeholder & Regulatory Engagement

• Maintain effective working relationships with regulatory authorities (including ECJU, OFSI, OTSI and HMRC), customs brokers, freight forwarders and logistics partners.
• Serve as the primary trade compliance adviser to UKI Sales, Procurement, Supplier Management, Logistics, Finance and Operations.
• Manage and coordinate regulatory enquiries, audits and investigations, working closely with the Global Trade Lead and CDW Legal.

Process Excellence, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Own regional trade compliance processes and SOPs, ensuring they are documented, embedded and consistently followed.
• Drive regional standardisation and harmonisation of trade compliance processes and controls.
• Partner with global and regional teams to embed scalable, technology‑enabled trade compliance solutions across ERP, screening and case management platforms.
• Identify and deliver continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen controls, efficiency and scalability.

Training, Capability & Culture

• Deliver regional trade compliance training aligned to global programmes.
• Ensure training materials for regional procedures and controls are developed, maintained and kept current.
• Identify capability gaps within the regional team and support targeted development plans.
  

Reporting, Assurance & Performance Management

• Track and report regional compliance KPIs, using data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute data‑driven insights to global trade reporting, assurance and audit activity.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring timely, accurate and well‑evidenced responses.

What We Expect of You:

• 7+ years’ experience in international trade compliance, including export controls, sanctions and customs.
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing trade compliance teams.
• Strong working knowledge of UK export controls and sanctions frameworks, with exposure to EU dual‑use regulation and U.S. EAR/ITAR in re‑export scenarios.
• Proven experience managing regulatory relationships and supporting audits or investigations.
• High level of judgement, integrity and commercial awareness.

Technical Expertise

• Expertise in HS/HTS classification, ECCN/CLC determination, country of origin, valuation and Incoterms.
• Experience with licence applications (including SPIRE/LITE) and trade compliance systems (screening tools, ERP, case management platforms).
• Strong technology literacy and comfort working with digital and automated compliance solutions.

Desirable

• Exposure to additional international regimes (e.g. UAE or wider Commonwealth markets).
• Experience with duty optimisation or free trade agreements.
• Professional trade compliance certification.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (expected to be limited).

CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization

We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making. You don’t need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work.

Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.

About Us

CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what’s possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it. At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.

As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next.

Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.

CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.