Trade Compliance Manager China/APAC

China - Shanghai - RHQ (2801)

Process & Product Development, Procurement

Posted on 05-08-2025

About Umicore

Reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Powering the cars of the future. Giving new life to used metals. We are the leading circular materials technology company fulfilling its mission to create materials for a better life. With ambitions like this, imagine what you could do?

About Support Functions

A global organisation. It’s not just those in our industrial sites and technical centres that are vital to Umicore’s growth. Across our support functions we ensure that we continue to grow and evolve – whether it’s by making sure our decisions are commercially viable, enhancing our reputation, building new customer relationships or finding the right people who can build on what we’ve already achieved. The variety of our work means we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.

What you will be doing

Develop and manage the regional function – Trade Compliance China/APAC

• Provide leadership and direction in export control and sanctions and customs compliance with a strategic focus on short-term, midterm, and long-term response strategies. Bring excellence to the trade compliance function through global end-to-end process ownership in across geographic and BU boundaries in order to ensure compliance, efficiency and effectiveness, working closely together with the Head of Trade Compliance.
• Monitor actively geopolitical and regulatory trends and provide guidance to the business to be prepared for upcoming regulations, with a main focus on China and APAC.
• Provide regional expertise and input for the development of the required internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with export regulations and international sanctions and embargo’s as well as with Umicore specific policies regarding military end use and certain destinations. Ensure regional implementation of policies and adherence
• Build and foster a continuing program of training, education and cooperation throughout Umicore group that guarantees compliance with export control, sanctions and customs requirements, in cooperation with the global trade compliance team,  tailored on China/APAC requirements and needs.
• Bring corporate oversight on export control and sanctions and customs for China/ APAC region. Provide insights to the Head of Trade Compliance
• Establishing an intimate connection with the global TC team, other corporate departments and the different sites in China/APAC in order to be a pro-active and strategic partner in the Trade Compliance related issues that are essential for the business and Umicore. (decisions on CAPEX, OPEX, Trade flows taking into account free trade agreements with import duty savings opportunities as an example to bring value as strategic partner.)

Act as a member of the Global Trade Compliance team in China with an overview on APAC

• Provide regional input and expertise to the head of Trade Compliance required for the development of the global strategy.
• Establish regional implementation and execution of the global TC strategy. Develop the regional role Trade Compliance China/APAC.
• Actively follow-up on changes in regional regulations in China and share Trade Compliance trends, best practices and results, and organize knowledge distribution in Umicore in cooperation with the global trade compliance team,  tailored on China/ APAC requirements and needs. .
• Stay up-to-date with China trade compliance regulations, identify issues, develop solutions and provide guidance to management on resolving issues to support business objectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and internal policies and ensuring maximum added value (e.g., by maximizing import duty savings).
• Manage the Restricted Party Screening Program for China/ APAC
• Serve as a designated regional point of contact to regularly respond to requests for information, analysis of export compliance impact and review of contact provisions relating to export controls
• Monitor regional duty savings / avoidance and report to the head of TC

Represent Umicore and make sure Umicore’s interests are served in Export control and sanctions and Customs regulations on a regional level in collaboration with the Head of Trade Compliance

• Ensure close collaboration with other SOF departments such as APAC Government Affairs, TAX, EHS, Finance
• Monitor actively regional trends and provide guidance to the business to be prepared for upcoming regulations.
• Provide market intelligence on a variety of Trade Compliance related topics.
• Share best practices between sites and across Bus.
• Advocate on Umicore’s interests in Trade Compliance related topics.

Who we are looking for

• Functional Requirement

-        10+ years of substantial direct functional experience in global trade compliance including an in-depth understanding of applicable global export controls, economic sanctions and regulations as well as extensive experience with global trade and third party due diligence and monitoring programs, frameworks, and standard methodologies at multinational companies. Extensive experience in China/APAC trade compliance.

-        Experience working for a large, diverse multinational is preferred. Experience working in at least an international environment is required.

-        Proven experience in directing and strengthening global trade compliance processes and procedures; building trade controls governance infrastructure

-        Proven experience implementing strong compliance programs with high standards to comply with new trade regulations

-        Master degree (economics, sciences, …) required with a focus in logistics, supply chain, compliance and/or transportation preferred. Global trade certifications are a plus.

-        Excellent knowledge of English and Chinese

What we offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?

If our pioneering approach can make us a leader in sustainability.