Trade Control Program Manager

Nidec Corporation

$100K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in relevant field or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years in global trade compliance or import/export operations in regulated industries.
  • Experience with HTS and ECCN Classification, Denied Party Screening.
  • Knowledge of EAR, ITAR, and other export-control regulations.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead Nidec Aerospace trade control function and ensure compliance.
  • Supervise and develop Trade Control Specialists team.
  • Establish and monitor operational controls for trade activities.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on aerospace product development.
  • Oversee and ensure the compliant execution of import/export operations.
  • Manage relationships with customs brokers and service providers.
  • Implement audit findings and coordinate compliance responses.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to contribute to advanced aerospace technologies.
  • Collaboration with leading experts in aerospace and defense.
  • Continuous learning and innovation in a specialized field.
  • Support for professional development and certifications.
Full Job Description

Job Summary

Nidec Aerospace is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered motors, generators, motor controllers, and integrated motion control solutions serving the aerospace and defense industries. Our technologies support commercial aviation, military platforms, advanced air mobility, and next-generation aerospace applications where reliability, performance, and safety are mission-critical.

As part of Nidec Corporation, a global leader in precision motor and industrial technology solutions, Nidec Aerospace combines the stability and resources of a worldwide organization with the agility and innovation of a specialized aerospace business. Our teams work closely with customers to develop advanced technologies that support flight-critical applications, electrification initiatives, and emerging aerospace platforms.

At Nidec Aerospace, we are committed to operational excellence, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and the development of innovative solutions that help shape the future of aerospace.

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Nidec Aerospace Trade Control Program Manager leads the operational execution of import and export processes for Nidec Aerospace, part of Nidec Motor Corporation. This role is responsible for transaction execution, trade data governance, product classifications, country-of-origin determinations, denied-party screening execution, broker coordination, and operational trade controls.  In addition, this individual is responsible for ensuring the integrity of trade-related operational processes, systems, and data that support compliant import and export activities throughout Nidec Aerospace. 
 
The position serves as the primary trade control leader within the business and supervises Nidec Aerospace‘s Trade Control Specialists while partnering closely with NAHC Trade Compliance, as well as Nidec Aerospace Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, and Operations teams/leadership.  In doing so, this individual will support Nidec Aerospace's highly regulated aerospace and advanced air mobility operations by ensuring effective execution of import, export, classification, screening, country-of-origin, trade-program, and trade-data-management requirements supporting commercial, aerospace, defense, prototype, and development activities. 

Location: Atlanta, Georgia (Preferred)
Travel: Up to 15% as required
 
Key Responsibilities 


Operational Leadership 

  • Lead the Nidec Aerospace trade control function.

  • Supervise, coach, and develop Trade Control Specialists.

  • Establish operational controls supporting compliant trade activity.

  • Monitor trade control performance through KPIs, audits, corrective actions, and operational control effectiveness.

Aerospace Product & Technology Support

  • Partner with Engineering, Product Development, Program Management, Procurement, and Trade Compliance to support aerospace product-development activities involving import, export, classification, and country-of-origin requirements.

  • Support trade-control activities associated with prototype hardware, aerospace components, electric propulsion technologies, test equipment, technical data transfers, and international development programs.

  • Ensure controls are executed in accordance with EAR, ITAR, and customer-specific requirements.

  • Support new product introductions, engineering changes, technology transfers, supplier qualifications, and international business opportunities.

Import & Export Operations

  • Oversee compliant execution of import and export activities.

  • Maintain trade-related master data, including classifications, country-of-origin records, supplier data, FTA records, screening records, and customs attributes.

  • Manage product classifications and origin determinations for U.S. and Canadian operations.

  • Coordinate shipment execution with internal and external logistics partners.

  • Collaborate with trade teams throughout the Americas.

Customs Broker & Service Provider Management

  • Manage customs broker and trade service provider relationships.

  • Monitor performance and resolve operational issues impacting compliance and business continuity.

  • Resolve transactional import/export issues affecting operations in the U.S. and Canada.

Trade Compliance Execution

  • Support internal and external audits and compliance reviews.

  • Implement corrective actions arising from audit findings.

  • Coordinate responses to government inquiries, customs reviews, audits, CF28s, and CF29s.

  • Implement operational changes related to tariffs, trade remedies, policy updates, and regulatory requirements.

  • Ensure business stakeholders complete required trade-control activities accurately and on time.

Continuous Improvement

  • Identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and process optimization.

  • Lead trade-control improvement initiatives that reduce operational risk and improve effectiveness.

  • Participate in trade savings and supply chain improvement projects.

Cross-Functional Partnerships

  • Partner with Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Operations teams.

  • Evaluate trade implications of new technologies, sourcing changes, supplier transitions, and international business activities.

  • Communicate trade risks and compliance concerns to leadership.

  • Support U.S., Canada, and Mexico cross-border trade activities where applicable.

Free Trade Agreements & Origin Programs

  • Lead supplier certification campaigns and annual qualification reviews.

  • Maintain origin documentation and supporting qualification records.

  • Partner with FTA teams on qualification reviews, audits, and supplier outreach.

  • Support duty-savings initiatives and preferential trade programs.

Supply Chain Security & Trusted Trader Programs

  • Support business participation in CTPAT, OEA, AEO, and similar trusted trader initiatives.

  • Coordinate security assessments, certifications, validations, and corrective actions.

  • Maintain controls supporting supply chain security compliance.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in International Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Customs Administration, Business Administration, or related field; or equivalent professional experience.

  • 5+ years of progressive experience in global trade compliance, import/export operations, customs compliance, or related international trade functions, including experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries

Technical Trade Knowledge

  • Experience supporting highly regulated environments, including aerospace, defense, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, or supply chain operations.

  • Demonstrated experience with:

    • HTS Classification

    • ECCN Classification

    • Valuation

    • Country-of-Origin Determinations

    • Denied Party Screening

    • Import/Export Operations

    • Free Trade Agreements

    • Customs Broker Coordination

    • Trade Recordkeeping Requirements

  • Working knowledge of export-control concepts involving technical data, technology transfers, foreign-national interactions, and controlled products.

Trade Systems

  • Experience utilizing ERP and trade-management systems.

  • Experience implementing and maintaining documented trade controls and operational compliance processes.

Other Skills

  • Supervisory, team leadership, or project leadership experience.

  • Strong analytical, organizational, project management, written, and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives involving Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Finance, Logistics, Customer Service, and Operations stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) and/or Certified Customs Specialist (CCS).

  • Aerospace, aviation, defense, propulsion systems, advanced manufacturing, or related industry experience.

  • Experience with EAR-controlled, ITAR-controlled, or dual-use products.

  • Customs broker management experience.

  • Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) experience.

  • Experience with ACE, SAP, Oracle, E2Open, Descartes, OCR EASE, Visual Compliance, Integration Point, or similar systems.

  • Experience with Section 301, Section 232, AD/CVD, tariff mitigation, and duty savings programs.

  • Experience supporting IMMEX, Annex 24, Annex 30, VAT certification, or maquiladora operations.

Desired Qualifications

  • Familiarity with aerospace-industry quality systems, government contracting requirements, and defense supply chains.

  • Exposure to USML classifications and technical data controls.

  • Spanish language proficiency.

  • Trade compliance certifications such as CZS, CTCS, CUSECO, or CUSICO.

  • Familiarity with Buy America and Buy American Act requirements.

  • Lean, Kaizen, PPI, or continuous improvement experience.

Core Competencies

  • Operational Leadership

  • Trade & Customs Expertise

  • Risk Identification & Mitigation

  • Process Ownership

  • Data Integrity

  • Business Partnership

  • Talent Development

  • Continuous Improvement

Additional Job Details

Management – M2

Organizational Impact

  • Works to achieve operational, functional, and/or business targets within the team with direct impact on departmental or job family results

  • Delivers operational results that have impact on the immediate or short-term results (e.g., less than 1 year) for the department and/or job family group

  • Plans and establishes goals and objectives for a team typically comprising intermediate-level professionals and entry-level professionals

Communication & Influence

  • Communicates with parties within and occasionally outside of own department or job family, which may include external clients or partners depending upon the job area

  • Requires ability to influence others outside of own job area on policies, practices and procedures

Innovation & Complexity

  • Responsible for making moderate improvements of processes, systems, or products to enhance performance of the job area

  • Problems are difficult and moderately complex and typically impact multiple departments or job family

  • Problems are typically solved through drawing from prior experience and analysis of issues

Leadership & Talent Management

  • Manages a team typically comprising intermediate-level professionals and entry-level professionals

  • Leads, directs, and reviews the work of team members in order to accomplish operational plans and results

  • Typically has hiring, firing, promotion, and reward authority within own area, in accordance with manager review and approval

Knowledge & Experience

  • Requires practical knowledge in leading and managing the execution of processes, projects, and tactics within one job area

  • Typically has advanced knowledge and skills within a specific technical or professional discipline with understanding of the impact of work on other areas of the organization

  • Typically has a bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional certification and 5 years of prior relevant experience

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