For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.
Job Summary
The Director of Global Trade Compliance and Logistics Procurement is responsible to oversee and manage all aspects of international trade compliance and logistics procurement. Ensuring adherence to global trade regulations, optimizing logistics operations, and leading procurement strategies to drive efficiency, cost reduction, and compliance across the organization.
This position will work remotely, from a home office.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Global Trade Compliance:
- Lead the continued development and enhancement of the global trade compliance programs to ensure all activities comply with relevant international trade laws, regulations, and customs requirements.
- Stay up-to-date with changes in trade regulations, tariffs, import/export laws, and sanctions to ensure company policies are always aligned with industry standards and government regulations (including FDA, CDC, USDA, F&W, etc)
- Manage and mitigate risks related to international trade and customs, including audits, penalties, and compliance violations.
- Oversee the preparation and submission of impot/export documentation, including but not limited to customs declarations, shipping documents, and certificates of origin.
2. Logistics Procurement:
- Lead global logistics procurement strategies to identify, negotiate, and secure optimal shipping, transportation, and distribution contracts.
- Build and maintain relationships with logistics providers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other supply chain partners.
- Conduct market research and supplier performance evaluations to ensure cost-effective and efficient logistics solutions across global operations.
- Assist with the logistics procurement budget with individual sites, identifying opportunities for cost savings while maintaining service quality and reliability.
3. Supply Chain Optimization:
- Work cross-functionally with procurement, supply chain, and finance teams to improve overall supply chain performance, including freight cost reduction and lead-time optimization.
- Analyze and identify opportunities for process improvement and continuous improvement of global trade and logistics functions.
- Implement key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards to monitor trade compliance, logistics efficiency, and logistics procurement performance.
4. Leadership & Team Management:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of trade compliance professionals, and logistics manager.
- Foster a collaborative and results-driven culture that aligns with the company objectives and industry best-practices.
- Provide training and development opportunities to ensure team members are up-to-date with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including legal, finance, operations and IT to ensure seamless integration of trade compliance and logistics procurement processes.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for senior leadership regarding global trade compliance and logistics procurement matters.
6. Reporting & Compliance Documentation:
- Prepare and present reports for executive leadership on global trade compliance metrics, logistics performance, and procurement cost-saving initiatives.
- Ensure proper record-keeping and documentation for audit purposes and compliance reporting.
Job Qualifications
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, International Trade, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in global trade compliance, logistics procurement, and supply chain management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• In-depth knowledge of international trade regulations, customs requirements, tariffs, import/export compliance, ITAR, licensing, and logistics best practices
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills, with experience in global logistics sourcing and contract management
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with a proven track record of building and developing high-performing teams
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze complex data and translate it into actionable insights
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and cultures
• Proficiency in trade compliance software (ACE, CARM), ERP systems (SAP), and logistics management tools
• Preferred: Certifications in trade compliance (e.g., Certified Customs Specialist, Licensed Customs Broker) are a plus
Other:
• Willing & able to travel to various CRL and customer locations, domestically and internationally
• Willing to work as necessary to achieve defined goals and objectives
• Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate global stakeholders and suppliers
Compensation Data
The pay range for this position is $155K – 210K USD annually. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.
About Corporate Functions
The Corporate Functions provide operational support across Charles River in areas such as Human Resources, Finance, IT, Legal, Sales, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Corporate Development. They partner with their colleagues across the company to develop and drive strategies and to set global standards. The functions are essential to providing a bridge between strategic vision and operational readiness, to ensure ongoing functional innovation and capability improvement.
About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.
With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.
At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.
We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Charles River Laboratories is an Equal Opportunity Employer – all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, veteran or disability status.
It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to [email protected]. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
For more information, please visit www.criver.com.
Helping you find your moment
You take great care and effort when you apply for a job with us. Rest assured that we’ll be just as diligent in finding the role that’s right for you. Here’s how our hiring process works:
Job Search
Learn about CRL, our culture, and why we do the work we do while also searching for roles that match your interests and expertise.
Application
Create a profile and apply to as many roles as you have an interest.
Note: Depending on the role, you may be required to include a resume in your application.
Assessment and application review
Complete assessments, if requested, to determine whether the role is likely to be a good fit for you – and vice versa. The recruiter will review your resume and qualifications against the requirements of the role and will determine next steps.
Note: At any point in the process, you can log into your profile to review the status of your application.
Interview
Engage in our inclusive interview process by meeting with a diverse group of interviewers who will provide information on the company, culture, and your role while also asking you questions to assess your skills, interests, and expertise. This is also a great time for you to ask questions.
Note: Charles River leverages technical and behavioral-based interview questions based on our DNA (Care, Lead, Own, and Collaborate). Please familiarize yourself with the DNA and be prepared to relate your experiences to them.
Job offer and onboarding
Receive a competitive offer either by phone or email from a Charles River recruiter or hiring manager. The offer will include your title, salary, location, and other relevant information.
Note: Upon acceptance, you will work with your recruiter to confirm a start date and will receive paperwork to electronically complete prior to your start. For US-based roles, upon your acceptance, you will be required to take a pre-employment drug screen and pass a criminal background check.
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Moment by moment
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About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage Contract Research Organization (CRO). Here, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. With 100 sites around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our clients’ unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies, hospitals, and academic institutions around the world.
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Supporting your well-being
Your dedication and passion make a life-saving difference in lives around the world. We’re committed to providing you with benefits that elevate your quality of life.
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About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage Contract Research Organization (CRO). Here, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. With 100 sites around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our clients’ unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies, hospitals, and academic institutions around the world.