Trade Compliance Operations Manager
Role description
From the employerROLE PURPOSE
Lead and develop the Kuala Lumpur execution capability as part of NXP's global
Trade Compliance Operations team. This is a hands-on player-manager role: the
manager leads the Trade Compliance Operations Coordinators while also personally
executing and reviewing operational work. The initial focus is product
classification, including HS and ECCN classification. Over time, further Trade
Compliance activities may be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur team.
The role ensures accurate, timely and playbook-based execution, with disciplined
escalation of new, sensitive or precedent-setting matters through established
global channels.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Hands-on execution
- Personally perform and review classification and other trade compliance
activities, particularly during ramp-up, peak periods and operational
backlogs.
- Execute HS and ECCN classification work within approved playbooks and
decision frameworks.
- Manage classification requests and prepare clear, authority-ready escalation
packages when matters fall outside established guidance.
- Ensure complete documentation, decision traceability and audit-ready
evidence.
Team leadership and delivery ownership
- Build, lead, coach and develop the Kuala Lumpur Trade Compliance Operations
Coordinators.
- Allocate work, manage queues and backlogs, balance workload, and monitor
quality, productivity and cycle times.
- Act as the first point of contact for daily execution issues and run regular
delivery and performance routines.
- Remain actively involved in operational work; this is not a management-only
or strategy-only role.
Execution governance and quality
- Ensure consistent use of approved playbooks, controls and escalation rules.
- Perform first-line quality assurance through sampling, error tracking and
root-cause analysis.
- Drive corrective actions, coaching, retraining and continuous improvement.
Scaling and cross-functional coordination
- Help build and scale the Kuala Lumpur Trade Compliance Operations capability
and support the controlled transfer of additional activities.
- Identify recurring execution patterns that can be standardized, simplified or
added to playbooks.
- Work closely with the Operations Control Tower, Trade Compliance
Infrastructure, Export Control and Sanctions, Customs, Supply Chain Security,
Process and Risk teams.
- Own continuous improvement of the operation by simplifying and standardizing
processes, increasing automation, improving data and workflows, and applying
AI-enabled solutions where appropriate to improve quality, speed and
scalability.
QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE
- Typically 5-8 years of relevant experience in trade compliance operations,
export controls, customs, product classification or a comparable regulated
operational environment, including experience leading or supervising an
operational team.
- Strong practical knowledge of product classification processes, including HS
classification; experience with ECCN or export control classification is
strongly preferred.
- Proven people leadership experience, including coaching and developing
employees, allocating work, managing performance and taking ownership of team
delivery.
- Experience allocating work and managing operational queues, quality, KPIs,
backlogs and cycle times.
- Comfortable combining people leadership with personal execution and review of
operational work.
- Ability to work consistently within documented playbooks, controls and
escalation frameworks.
- Strong attention to detail, documentation discipline and a practical,
collaborative mindset.
Note: The successful candidate must have sufficient trade compliance knowledge
to execute and review classification work, recognize compliance risks, apply
established requirements correctly and escalate matters requiring specialist or
authority-level interpretation.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, engineering, international
trade, law or a related field, or equivalent relevant practical experience.
LANGUAGE
- Fluent English, written and spoken, is required.
- The ability to speak, read and write Mandarin Chinese is a strong advantage.
- Other relevant language skills are welcome.
More information about NXP in Malaysia...
[https://www.nxp.com/company/about-nxp/worldwide-locations/malaysia:MALAYSIA]
#LI-6650