Trade Compliance Manager - Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines

Work Your Magic with us!  

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

What You Do

This position is responsible for driving and managing trade compliance activities across Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines through effective strategy development and execution. The role will lead the local teams in these countries, ensuring robust processes and initiatives that include regulatory communication and advocacy, supporting business needs, optimizing business models, and addressing customer training and requests.

The primary objective is to ensure seamless execution of business operations from a trade compliance (TC) perspective, guaranteeing adherence to all applicable local regulations and guidelines relevant to Life Science (LS) business transactions. Additionally, this position will foster and maintain strong relationships with government authorities (such as Customs and DIW), industry associations, NGOs, and internal stakeholders including Regulatory, Quality, Customer Service, Sales and Marketing, Warehouse, and Logistics.

This position will be full time functionally based in Thailand.

Main Roles - Strategy:

• Take initiatives for building up relationship and advocacy with local authorities and trade associations in terms of Life Science interests. Safeguard company strategic interests and objectives in arising regulations.
• Effective coordination of strategic activities with the subject matter experts, local regulatory bodies and industry associations. Secure flow of information from/to authorities, industry associations and the Life Science organization.
• Manage and support businesses on evolving requirements in a rapidly changing legal landscape.
• Drive and develop digitalization strategy and automation tools to improve efficiency and improve data quality.
• Develop and update trade compliance SOP for legal entity and define and clarify the roles & responsibilities of Trade Compliance and other internal functions for smooth collaboration.
• Drive implementation of policies and instructions through monitoring, make proper communication on regulation change and implication analysis.
• Provide guidance and coordinate regulatory activities, such as certification / notification and its follow-up action together with internal / external stakeholders
• Coordinate self-assessments and reporting on LS trade compliance status.
• Proactively contribute and/or lead regulatory & trade compliance initiatives / projects in the region. Keep close interaction & collaboration with SEA country Regulatory & TC SMEs and APAC/global Regulatory & TC organization.

Main Roles – Operational Excellence:

• Coordinate the determination of Commodity HS codes and identify the required licenses or permits.
• Provide guidance on risk assessments, evaluate compliance impacts on Life Science operations, and recommend mitigation strategies. Actively represent the company in sensitive or high-risk matters with authorities, inspectors, and trade associations.
• Monitor Life Science shipments by land, air, and sea to verify licensing requirements. Prepare and submit applications for necessary licenses, permits, or authorizations, ensuring they are obtained prior to shipment arrival when required for documentation.
• Drive and manage registration, notification, and listing activities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and proper change management. Maintain tracking systems for renewals, updates, and reporting of status.
• Stay updated on regulatory changes by liaising with authorities. Assess risks, identify potential impacts, and communicate clearly to stakeholders, including business and operations teams. Provide regular reports to the Head of Sub-Region on relevant issues.
• Manage license/permit application of controlled chemicals which are within trade compliance scope to manage.
• Interface with customs authorities, freight forwarders, and brokers to ensure smooth processing of import and export shipments.
• Conduct periodic internal audits to identify compliance gaps, assess their criticality, and develop roadmaps for improvement. Design process changes to strengthen business controls and coordinate trade compliance audits of external service providers.
• Develop, implement, and update internal regulatory procedures and process improvements for efficiency, including creating and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures aligned with Quality Assurance requirements.
• Review, classify, and maintain import/export and domestic trade requirements in the ERP system to ensure transactional compliance.
• Deliver regulatory training and briefings to current and new team members as needed.

Who You Are

• Degree in life science area (e.g. Chemistry or related science), or law, international trade, logistics or related area
• Job Knowledge: Have at least 8-years trade compliance experience in multi-national life science relevant industries.
• Hard Skills:

• • Extensive knowledge of customs laws and regulations, chemicals, pharm & food, MD & IVD, biological materials, and equipment authorities’ requirements.
  • Excellent knowledge and experience with customs and relevant authorities in handling licences and reporting to respective authorities in related to hazardous chemical management in Thailand and chemical regulations knowledge in Vietnam and the Philippines.

• Active member in relevant association industry and have great connection with relevant authority (Customs, DIW, FDA, etc) is highly preferable.
• Soft Skills: good communication with impact, excellent negotiation and presentation skills, proactive handling of regulatory change, results-oriented, resilient, teamwork.
• Computer literate: Excellent knowledge of Windows 365 and standard Microsoft office modules. Familiar with Power automate and Power BI are preferable.
• Language: Fluent in spoken and written English and Thai

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!