Fortress Recruit Ltd
Head of Compliance
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Head of Compliance
Fortress Recruit is now looking for a Head of Compliance to join a leading international defence engineering organisation, taking a senior leadership role within their Portsmouth based business.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the MD, you'll become a key member of the leadership team with responsibility for driving compliance, governance and operational assurance across the business. This is a broad leadership role covering a variety of internal and external teams, whilst also influencing compliance strategy across a wider global business.
This is not a specialist technical role focused on one discipline. Instead, you'll lead experienced managers and subject matter experts, ensuring the right governance, processes and controls are in place to support a highly regulated defence environment. You'll work across the business balancing priorities, managing risk and helping teams understand not only what needs to be done, but why it matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading the Export Control & Trade Compliance, Quality Assurance, IT & Cyber Security and Operational Development functions.
- Managing, coaching and developing a team of experienced managers whilst driving a culture of compliance, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Acting as the senior compliance lead for the UK business whilst supporting wider governance initiatives across an international engineering group.
- Providing strategic oversight of export control, trade compliance and defence regulatory requirements including UK Strategic Export Controls, EAR and ITAR.
- Leading business readiness for customer, regulatory and certification audits across multiple compliance disciplines.
- Overseeing site, personnel and information security governance, ensuring ongoing compliance with UK Government and defence customer requirements.
- Supporting cyber security governance and the ongoing development of compliance with frameworks including NIST, Cyber Essentials Plus, CMMC and ISO 27001.
- Maintaining and continually improving the Business Management System, ensuring compliance with ISO standards and quality assurance requirements.
- Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial and international stakeholders to embed compliance into business decision making.
- Identifying compliance risks, supporting investigations where required and implementing pragmatic corrective actions to protect the business.
- Driving governance improvements, policy development and operational change across a complex engineering organisation.
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Requirements
To be considered for this role, you'll have:
- Previous experience leading compliance, governance, quality assurance, cyber security or operational development within a defence, aerospace, maritime or highly regulated engineering environment.
- A broad understanding of Export Control and Trade Compliance, including UK Strategic Export Controls, EAR and ITAR.
- Knowledge of Quality Management Systems including ISO 9001, with exposure to standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 (advantageous)
- An appreciation of defence cyber security frameworks including NIST, Def Stan 05-138, Cyber Essentials Plus and CMMC.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing senior stakeholders across complex organisations.
- The ability to balance multiple priorities whilst providing pragmatic, risk based solutions within a highly regulated environment.
- Strong communication and relationship building skills, with the confidence to engage at executive, customer and operational levels.
- A proactive, collaborative leadership style with a focus on continuous improvement, governance and business performance.
- Eligibility for ITAR and SC clearance (5 years' UK residency without visa or sponsorship requirement)
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Benefits
This is an excellent opportunity to join a globally recognised engineering organisation in a highly visible leadership position, offering genuine influence across both UK operations and international business functions. You'll lead an established team, shape the future direction of compliance and governance and play a key role in supporting the continued growth of a business delivering complex engineering solutions into the global defence sector.
This is a full time, permanent position based in Portsmouth, offering a competitive salary, car allowance and bonus, comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work with international stakeholders across Europe, Asia and North America (approx. 20% travel requirement UK and internationally).
How to Apply
For a confidential conversation or to request a full job description, please get in touch with a copy of your up to date CV.
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