Regional Director, Trade Compliance EMEA and APAC (m/f/d)

Xylem is a leading global water technology company with over 23.000 employees dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues. We are a global provider of efficient, innovative and sustainable water technologies improving the way water is used, managed, conserved and re-used. Our international team is unified in a common purpose: creating advanced technology and other trusted solutions to solve the world’s water challenges. We are committed to creating an organization of inclusion and diversity, where everyone feels involved, respected, valued and connected, and where everyone is free to bring their authentic selves and ideas.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a Regional Director, Trade Compliance EMEA and APAC (m/f/d) to join our team. This role is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the regional trade compliance program, providing strategic direction to the Regional Trade Compliance Team to drive continuous improvement in compliance performance. This role ensures adherence to corporate trade policies and all applicable governmental regulations by working in close partnership with business leadership and trade compliance personnel. The position provides guidance on the appropriate application of regional and country-specific requirements, as well as U.S. re-export controls, and ensures that trade compliance practices are effectively embedded and operationalized across all business locations within the region.

Locations: Budapest / Törökbálint (Hungary) or Montecchio Maggiore (Italy) or Lainate (Italy)

Tasks

• Regional Structure: Support and refine Xylem’s regional trade compliance structure, ensuring compliance while furthering business needs. Promote cross-business function harmonization and alignment of business interests and processes, elevate trade within the region, benchmark with industry peers to stay informed of geopolitical trends and developments.
• Regional Trade Compliance Team: Actively manage the EMEA and APAC Regional Trade Compliance Team, coordinating and hosting monthly conference calls, scheduling team meetings, and driving trade initiatives through a cohesive team approach.
• Interface with business segment, divisional and regional management to ensure trade compliance objectives are effectively communicated and understood. Develop and maintain leadership support for trade initiatives that incorporate business strategy related to trade.
• Implement Xylem trade compliance policies through standard operating procedures and the development of automated trade compliance tools. Collaborate with global Trade Compliance team and business personnel to enhance policies and develop new ones as needed to maintain compliance with changing government regulations.
• Trade Compliance Operationalization: Collaborate with business to ensure trade compliance requirements are integrated into standard business practices. Develop clear guidelines for operational and compliance activities including local business procedures as appropriate.
• Best Practice Implementation: Collaborate with business personnel to develop, implement, and share best practices across the entire trade compliance organization.
• Global Compliance: Coordinate with the Senior Director of Trade Compliance to ensure the success of the regional trade compliance program. Work with business personnel to communicate trade compliance policies, collaborate with businesses to embed trade requirements for regional needs, and continuously identify compliance needs to ensure seamless business processes and supply chain integration.
• Strategic Trade Compliance Network: Establish and actively maintain a robust network of internal and external trade compliance professionals to ensure real-time visibility into emerging geopolitical developments, regulatory changes, enforcement trends, and government investigations. This network serves as a critical sounding board for rapidly evolving trade issues and supports proactive risk management. Regularly participate in key regional and global trade compliance conferences, symposia, and forums to stay connected to current developments and ensure alignment with industry best practices.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in business or equivalent. A country-specific Customs Broker License is highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership ability, with the capacity to develop and lead project teams. Strong mentoring skills. Exceptional project management skills.The ideal candidate will bring energy, drive, and focus to the role.
• Experience in manufacturing, supply chain, traffic, logistics, and trade. Experience dealing with government agencies is a plus.
• Demonstrated leadership and experience in leading customs and export compliance programs in the EU, CH,