VitalSpec
Defence Trade Compliance Manager
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Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Defence Trade Compliance Manager to lead the regulatory, compliance activities associated with international defence trade and export business.
The successful candidate will take ownership of export control licensing, trade compliance, stakeholder coordination and transaction execution across multiple jurisdictions for at least a minimum of 6 months with options to extend.
This is a hands-on role requiring a blend of regulatory expertise, operational delivery capability, and commercial pragmatism. You will act as the focal point between manufacturers, customers, freight providers, customs agents, testing organisations, legal advisers, and government authorities.
You must be comfortable operating in a lean, entrepreneurial environment where outcomes matter more than process and where the ability to build trusted relationships across cultures and organisations is essential.
Phase 1 – Licensing, Classification & Transaction Mobilisation
Lead the assessment and mobilisation of active defence transactions.
Responsibilities:
- Review proposed transaction structures.
- Support and manage engagement with the UK Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU).
- Prepare, coordinate, and submit licence applications through SPIRE/LITE.
- Validate military-list classifications and associated licensing assumptions.
- Coordinate the collection and validation of End User Certificates, End User Storage Certificates, and supporting documentation.
- Conduct counterparty due diligence and sanctions screening.
- Review manufacturers, intermediaries, freight providers, and end users from a compliance perspective.
- Establish transaction governance, document control, and audit-trail requirements.
- Coordinate specialist legal and regulatory advisers where required.
- Identify and mitigate regulatory, contractual, and operational risks.
Phase 2 – Supply Chain & Transaction Execution
Following regulatory approval, lead the execution of licensed transactions.
Responsibilities:
- Coordinate activities between manufacturers, freight providers, customs agents, and customers.
- Ensure all shipments remain compliant with licence conditions and regulatory requirements.
- Manage import, export, and transit documentation.
- Coordinate customs-clearance activities across relevant jurisdictions.
- Monitor manufacturing progress against contractual milestones.
- Support quality-assurance and inspection activities.
- Coordinate testing providers and independent verification where required.
- Maintain transaction records and compliance evidence.
- Escalate and resolve delivery, compliance, or logistics issues before they impact programme delivery.
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Phase 3 – Compliance Framework & Operational Handover
Support the development of VitalSpec’s long-term compliance and transaction-management capability.
Responsibilities:
- Review and enhance existing compliance policies and procedures.
- Develop practical transaction-management playbooks for future projects.
- Create repeatable processes for supplier onboarding, due diligence, and transaction governance.
- Support implementation of proportionate sanctions, export-control, and counterparty-screening controls.
- Provide recommendations for scaling compliance capability as the business grows.
- Support recruitment and handover to permanent operational staff where required.
Essential Experience
- Significant experience in UK defence trade compliance, export controls, or defence-industry transaction management.
- Demonstrable experience supporting or managing ECJU licence applications with experience in brokering applications highly advantageous.
- Strong understanding of UK Strategic Export Controls and UK Military List controls.
- Experience working with international defence supply chains and regulated transactions.
- Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders across different countries and organisations.
- Ability to operate independently and take ownership of complex workstreams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong commercial awareness and pragmatic decision-making capability.
Preferred Experience
- Experience supporting transactions involving artillery systems, components, projectile manufacture, or charge-loading facilities.
- Experience with ML3-controlled goods and associated licensing regimes.
- Previous employment within defence manufacturers, defence primes, or specialist defence consultancies.
- Experience using SPIRE and/or LITE.
- Experience supporting SITCL, SIEL, OIEL, or related licence applications.
- Experience coordinating international freight and customs activities for controlled military goods.
- Experience working with NATO defence supply chains.
- Experience operating across Europe, India, South-East Asia, or the Middle East.
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Personal Characteristics
- Highly credible with senior government, military, and industry stakeholders.
- Calm, pragmatic, and solutions-focused.
- Naturally organised and detail-oriented.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguous and fast-moving environments.
- Culturally aware and capable of building trust across international organisations.
- Commercially minded whilst maintaining rigorous compliance standards.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
About VitalSpec
VitalSpec is a specialist defence and critical-industry sourcing business operating across international supply chains. We connect qualified manufacturing capacity with defence and government demand, coordinating highly regulated transactions involving manufacturers, testing providers, freight operators, customs authorities, government agencies, and end users.
As our first specialist hire, you will play a critical role in helping establish the foundations of our international trade and compliance capability whilst supporting the delivery of live defence transactions.
Armed Forces Covenant
VitalSpec is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and recognises the exceptional leadership, planning, operational, and stakeholder-management skills developed through military service.
Applications are welcomed from veterans, reservists, and service leavers with relevant experience in defence procurement, logistics, programme delivery, export controls, or international defence trade.
RECRUITMENT AGENCIES ARE NOT REQUIRED.
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