Back to Job Search

Job Description

Defense Programs & Export Compliance Manager

Are you the person who reads a complex defense tender and immediately starts spotting the risks others miss?

Do you understand how export regulations, logistics support, and program delivery all connect long before a contract is signed?
And when a proposal lands on the table involving international naval customers, do you know exactly how to ensure it’s compliant, executable, and commercially sound?

If that sounds like you, this could be the role where your experience truly makes an impact.

You’ll help shape bids before they’re submitted, ensuring regulatory, export, and lifecycle requirements are fully understood and built into the plan from the start.

This isn’t a purely advisory compliance role — it’s an operational leadership position where your decisions influence real programs, real customers, and real ships.

When a defense tender arrives, are these the questions you naturally ask?
  • What export controls apply — and how will they impact delivery?
  • Are the contractual requirements realistically executable?
  • Do the lifecycle obligations match the proposed solution?
  • Have the compliance and logistics requirements been fully mapped before submission?
If your instinct is to structure, analyse, and coordinate across teams to get the answers, you’ll thrive here.
Could you lead the compliance side of complex defense bids? You might already be the person who:
  • Reviews international defense RFPs and tenders with a critical compliance lens
  • Builds compliance matrices and requirement trackers to keep proposals structured
  • Identifies regulatory, contractual, and export risks before they become problems
  • Supports bid / no-bid decisions with clear regulatory insight
  • Coordinates with Sales, Engineering, and Project teams to ensure the proposal is realistic
  • Ensures compliance requirements are embedded into delivery and execution plans
Do you understand the real-world logistics behind naval programs? When you see Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) requirements in a tender, do you immediately think about how they will translate into practical deliverables?
You could be the person who:
  • Interprets ILS requirements in naval and government contracts
  • Helps define spares provisioning and lifecycle support strategies
  • Coordinates development of technical documentation and maintenance packages
  • Ensures lifecycle commitments are contractually aligned and operationally achievable
  • Supports the transition from proposal stage into project execution
Are you comfortable owning export compliance?

In this role you’ll take ownership of:
  • Day-to-day ITAR / EAR export compliance activities
  • Reviewing contracts and RFPs for export control implications
  • Developing and maintaining Technology Control Plans (TCPs)
  • Coordinating export classifications with engineering and advisors
  • Ensuring proper handling of controlled technical data
  • Preparing documentation for audits and regulatory reviews
  • Managing export considerations for international customers and suppliers
Does your background look something like this? You may already have:
  • 6–10 years of experience in defense, maritime systems, or export-controlled industries
  • Hands-on experience working with ITAR and/or EAR regulations
  • Experience supporting international defense tenders or government programs
  • Familiarity with shipboard systems or maritime equipment
  • A track record of working between commercial and technical teams
  • Strong skills in documentation, compliance interpretation, and regulatory analysis
If this sounds like you, then please reach out to me for a confidential discussion and more details on the role.

Please note : Only candidates that have the right to live and work in the USA will be considered for this role.
Back to Job Search