Director, Global Trade Compliance

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives. 

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals. 

Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuityinc.com. 

 

Work location:

• This position may be based anywhere in the United States and includes travel as part of the responsibilities.

Job Summary

Oversee the Global Trade and Legal Compliance program across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, ensuring full alignment with applicable import/export laws, export controls, and sanctions regulations. Responsible for developing and maintaining corporate trade compliance policies, regulatory methodologies, and a global risk framework that enables consistent execution, audit readiness, and effective risk mitigation across all regions.

 

Serves as the escalation authority for complex, multi-jurisdictional compliance matters, including export controls, sanctions, tariff applicability, duty mitigation strategies, and country of origin determinations (including substantial transformation analysis). Represents the company before regulatory authorities and advises senior leadership on regulatory risks, business impact, and compliance strategy. Supports global growth initiatives through regulatory due diligence, market entry analysis, and development of scalable compliance processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee global import/export compliance programs and design, implement, and maintain global trade compliance policies, procedures, and regulatory methodologies, including classification, licensing, and adherence to export controls and sanctions regulations. 
• Monitor global trade regulations and drive research and development of international trade strategies, including country of origin and substantial transformation methodologies, proactively providing guidance to leaders on developments, risk exposures, and impacts.
• Direct internal audit programs (classification, valuation, country of origin, ACE filings, BIS/export controls), including remediation and continuous improvement efforts, to ensure global consistency in compliance execution and alignment with corporate standards.
• Establish and manage a global compliance risk framework to ensure consistent application across regions (Americas, EMEA, APAC) and develop and deliver global training to promote awareness and compliance.
• Lead external audit responses and coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate submissions.
• Lead trade compliance due diligence and analysis for new market entry, acquisitions, and global expansion initiatives.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree or equivalent
• 12 or more years relevant experience
• Advanced expertise in U.S. and international export controls, sanctions, customs valuation, origin, and trade agreement regulations
• Independent regulatory interpretation and compliance positioning in complex, multi-jurisdictional matters
• Development and governance of global trade compliance frameworks and internal control structures
• Establish and manage third-party screening and oversight programs (suppliers, distributors, brokers, agents), including risk-based monitoring
• Regulatory audit strategy, disclosure management, and authority engagement
• Trade compliance systems oversight, data integrity controls, and process integration
• Organizational design, leadership of multi-regional teams, and executive advisory communication

Preferred

• Degree in International Business, Supply Chain, Law, Engineering or related field (or