Program Manager, Sanctions Compliance (OFAC)

Description

Position at Matson Navigation Company, Inc

About the Role

The Program Manager, Sanctions Compliance (OFAC) serves as Matson's specialist professional and subject matter resource for enterprise sanctions compliance, restricted-party screening, and related international trade controls. The position independently manages large and complex compliance processes with limited oversight and is responsible for translating applicable sanctions requirements into practical policies, procedures, controls, investigations, training, and business guidance.

The role leads administration and continuous improvement of sanctions screening across relevant counterparties, transactions, shipments, and geographies. It partners across Legal, Operations, Technology, Finance, Procurement, and Commercial functions to strengthen screening coverage, data quality, system reliability, documentation, audit readiness, and timely escalation of potentially significant matters.

This is a hybrid position requiring onsite work at our Corporate Office in Walnut Creek, CA, three (3) days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday).

What you'll do:

Sanctions screening, investigations, and advisory support; additional Treasury activities

• Own and administer enterprise sanctions and restricted-party screening processes for relevant counterparties, transactions, and shipments.
• Independently review, investigate, document, and disposition potential screening matches using available identifiers, ownership information, transaction details, shipment information, and other relevant evidence.
• Exercise sound judgment in determining false positives, documenting conclusions, identifying matters requiring further review, and escalating unusual, unresolved, or potentially significant concerns to designated Legal and business stakeholders.
• Prepare clear written findings, recommendations, decision records, and supporting evidence; coordinate required holds, restrictions, approvals, remediation, and follow-up actions through completion.
• Provide practical subject matter guidance to business teams regarding sanctions requirements, control expectations, and risk-mitigation measures.
• Participate in other day-to-day Treasury related tasks, including cash management, compliance (SOX, FBAR, KYC, Nacha, etc.), and bank account maintenance.

Program governance, policies, and risk management

• Develop, maintain, and implement sanctions compliance policies, procedures, standards, and controls aligned with applicable requirements and business operations.
• Lead or support periodic assessments of sanctions risk across operations, counterparties, transactions, shipments, and geographies; recommend control enhancements based on identified risk.
• Monitor relevant sanctions developments, evaluate potential business impacts, and communicate recommended actions to appropriate stakeholders.
• Promote consistent execution of sanctions requirements across business units and operational processes without direct people-management responsibility.
• Maintain complete, organized, and audit-ready records demonstrating program execution, decision quality, and control effectiveness.

Technology, data, metrics, and continuous improvement

• Partner with Technology and business system owners to improve screening coverage, data quality, system integrations, workflow reliability, and the compliance evidence trail.
• Provide subject matter leadership for the selection, testing, implementation, and enhancement of sanctions screening platforms, case-management tools, and related compliance technology.
• Develop and maintain metrics, dashboards, and management reporting for screening volume, exceptions, escalations, completion, remediation, and control effectiveness.
• Identify and implement opportunities to automate controls, reduce manual effort, improve timeliness, and strengthen documentation and monitoring.
• Participate in the AI initiative by leveraging AI-driven solutions to enhance processes.

Audit, training, and stakeholder engagement

• Support internal audits, compliance reviews, control testing, assessments, and regulatory inquiries involving sanctions compliance.
• Develop and deliver sanctions compliance training and awareness materials for relevant employees and stakeholders.
• Track corrective actions and process improvements through completion and verify that identified deficiencies are remediated.
• Lead cross-functional workstreams and coordinate the contributions of other professionals; coach or provide technical guidance on sanctions processes as needed.

You have these qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in sanctions compliance, international trade compliance, regulatory compliance, financial-crimes compliance, risk management, maritime compliance, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in sanctions or restricted-party screening, including investigation and disposition of potential matches and documentation of well-supported conclusions.
• Experience independently managing significant compliance programs, processes, projects, or control enhancements with limited oversight.
• Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical business policies, procedures, controls, system requirements, and training.
• Strong analytical, investigative, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to address difficult and often complex matters.
• Ability to influence and coordinate stakeholders across Legal, Operations, Technology, Finance, Procurement, and Commercial functions without relying on formal authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of concise findings, recommendations, and management reporting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Extra credit if you have:

• Experience in maritime transportation, logistics, freight forwarding, supply chain, international trade, financial services, or another regulated industry.
• Working knowledge of OFAC regulations, sanctions programs, restricted-party screening, and risk-based compliance frameworks.
• Familiarity with related export-control considerations, including the Export Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
• Experience with screening tools, case-management systems, third-party risk databases, system integrations, workflow automation, audit support, regulatory reviews, compliance assessments, or remediation programs.
• Basic familiarity with AI and generative AI tools.

The annual salary range is posted for this position in California. The salary offered will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

At Matson, we're looking for people to build a unified team to maintain our values of trust, integrity, and reliability. We welcome people who think rigorously and thoughtfully challenge assumptions.

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