Defence Project Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. 

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. 

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

The Regional Trade Compliance Manager will lead and enhance trade compliance operations across North and Latin America. This strategic leadership role is responsible for ensuring compliance with export controls, sanctions, customs, and anti-boycott regulations while driving tariff optimization, risk mitigation, and digital transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Americas trade compliance program, ensuring adherence to international trade laws and company policies.
• Serve as the regional subject matter expert for customs, export controls, sanctions, and trade regulations.
• Develop and implement compliance strategies, governance frameworks, and control processes.
• Drive tariff mitigation initiatives, including trade zone optimization, free trade agreement utilization, and duty recovery programs.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to reduce compliance risk and support business growth.
• Oversee trade compliance audits, investigations, risk assessments, and corrective actions.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives, including automation of classification, screening, and trade documentation processes.
• Monitor geopolitical and regulatory developments and advise senior leadership on trade risks and opportunities.
• Build organizational trade compliance capability through training, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives.

What You Will Deliver:

• Reduced trade compliance risk and tariff exposure.
• Enhanced regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
• Improved trade process efficiency through automation and digitalization.
• Strategic guidance that enables business growth while maintaining compliance across the Americas.

This is a high-impact leadership role combining strategic trade compliance expertise, operational excellence, and business partnership to support John Crane's growth across the Americas.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required or on the job training. 
• Must be able to speak, read and write fluently in English. 
• Managing international trade issues relating to the Americas within a complex global supply chain environment.
• Experience in developing and deploying compliance policies, processes and procedures.
• Well-developed skills in project program definition and management.
• Experience with other Trade Classification Management systems, also beneficial.
• Extensive experience in international trade compliance, customs, export controls, and sanctions management.
• Strong understanding of US and LATAM trade regulations.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience with SAP GTS, ERP systems, tariff analysis, and trade process automation.
• Strong analytical, risk management, and project leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity. 

Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network. 

Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future. 

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We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)