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Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Hybrid
Associate Director, Cell Therapy Trade Compliance Operations
Introduction to role:
At AstraZeneca Cell Therapy, we are building the capabilities required to deliver complex, personalized therapies through a highly coordinated, patient-centered, and globally scalable supply chain. As our network, geographic footprint, and operational complexity continue to expand, trade compliance operations are increasingly critical to ensuring that patient materials, critical manufacturing inputs, intermediates, and finished product can move compliantly, predictably, and without avoidable delay across borders.
The Associate Director, Cell Therapy Trade Compliance Operations leads the operating model for import/export and Free Trade Zone (FTZ) execution across the cell therapy network. This role is responsible for building scalable, reliable, and compliant operational processes; leading first-line escalation and business continuity for cross-border execution; and strengthening broker performance, visibility, digitization, and standardization to support future growth and commercial readiness.
This role also provides people leadership for team members responsible for operational trade compliance execution and partners closely within Patient Supply Operations, Global Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and Digital teams to ensure cross-border trade requirements strengthen the delivery system that supports patient and product journeys.
This role is a hybrid position with a requirement to work in the office three days a week.
Accountabilities:
Lead the trade compliance operating model for import/export and FTZ execution across the cell therapy network, including global execution rhythms, governance routines, escalation pathways, role clarity, and cross-site ways of working that support reliable daily operations.
Lead import/export and FTZ execution for patient materials, manufacturing inputs, intermediates, and finished product, ensuring compliant and timely execution of customs entry, shipment coordination, broker engagement, FTZ activity, and issue resolution in line with customs requirements, FDA/CBER import expectations, and internal procedures.
Own first-line escalation and continuity management for cross-border trade execution issues, including shipment holds, documentation issues, customs delays, broker performance concerns, and FTZ operational issues that may impact patient timelines, manufacturing continuity, or inventory control.
Drive process excellence and scalability across trade compliance operations through workflow simplification, bottleneck removal, standard work, and repeatable operating methods that support network expansion, increasing shipment volumes, and growing operational complexity.
Strengthen digital enablement and operational visibility by partnering with business and digital stakeholders to improve workflows, dashboards, KPI reporting, exception tracking, and data quality, reducing manual effort and enabling more scalable and data-driven trade compliance operations.
Own operational documentation and standard work for shipment execution, FTZ processes, broker coordination, escalation management, issue resolution, business continuity, and execution controls, ensuring SOPs, work instructions, playbooks, and training materials remain current, practical, and aligned to regulatory and business requirements.
Lead performance management and broker management for customs brokers, freight forwarders, and related service providers, including performance monitoring, service issue management, escalation handling, and operational input to scorecards and structured performance reviews.
Support network readiness and expansion for new countries, sites, lanes, products, and operating models by ensuring trade compliance execution requirements, broker readiness, documentation processes, and FTZ implications are understood and deployable.
Use data to improve operational performance by tracking trends and risks across customs clearance, shipment holds, broker performance, FTZ execution, and exception resolution, and by driving corrective actions that improve predictability, compliance, and service reliability.
Provide strong people leadership, building and leading a high-performing team through clear direction, role clarity, workload prioritization, coaching, development, and performance management to ensure strong execution quality, accountability, collaboration, and effective network coverage.
Essential Skills/Experience:
Minimum education: a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, International Business, Life Sciences, Logistics, Engineering, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in customs brokerage, import/export operations, trade compliance, global logistics, or supply chain operations in a regulated environment
Strong experience with FTZ or bonded operations, customs entry processes, broker governance, and import/export execution
Demonstrated experience leading operating models, process improvement, digitization, and scalable business processes
Clear communication, stakeholder management, sound judgment, and the ability to lead within a matrixed organization are essential.
Desirable Skills/Experience:
Advanced degree such as MS, MBA, or equivalent.
Experience supporting clinical-to-commercial transition, global expansion, country enablement, or network scale-up in a complex supply environment.
Experience with Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Smartsheet, or similar tools for reporting, workflow management, and operational visibility.
Experience supporting time-critical, cryogenic, temperature-controlled, or highly specialized logistics operations.
Working knowledge of GDP, GxP, and regulated logistics practices relevant to cross-border execution in biopharma environments.
The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from 115,919.2 to 173878.8 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.
Why AstraZeneca:
Here, you are trusted to take accountability and make change real—pairing scientific ambition with digital innovation to speed therapies to patients. You will work with expert partners across disciplines, using data, automation, and practical problem-solving to reimagine how critical materials flow through a complex, regulated network. We move decisively and learn fast, valuing kindness alongside ambition, so you can contribute boldly, grow your craft, and see the impact of your decisions reflected in patient outcomes and enterprise progress.
Call to Action:
If you are ready to design, lead, and scale a disciplined, data-driven trade compliance operation that keeps cell therapies moving to patients, take the next step and share your story with us today.
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Date Posted
25-Sept-2026Closing Date
25-Oct-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.
