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Freelance Global Trade Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OverviewPosition Summary The Director, Global Trade Compliance & Trade Operations is a senior enterprise leader responsible for defining and advancing the company's global trade strategy, integrating ...

Trade Operations Import Analyst 3M Health Care is now Solventum At Solventum, we enable better ... Work with Global Trade Compliance to research Partner Government Agencies (PGA) requirements with ...

Trade Operations Import Analyst 3M Health Care is now Solventum At Solventum, we enable better ... Work with Global Trade Compliance to research Partner Government Agencies (PGA) requirements with ...

Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. As a key member of our Global Trade & Operations organization, you'll play a ...

Design IT solutions to support global trade operations, including customs compliance, import/export processes, and trade finance. * Ensure solutions align with business goals, regulatory requirements ...

Global Trade Analyst

Austin, TX · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

... global trade operations. This role is responsible for architecting, developing, and delivering ... Architect Robotics Process Automation (RPA) solutions for operational workflows and collaborate ...

Global Trade Analyst

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$92K - $126K/yr

... global trade operations. This roleis responsible forarchitecting, developing, and delivering ... Architect Robotics Process Automation (RPA) solutions for operational workflows and collaborate ...

Global Trade Analyst

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$92K - $126K/yr

... global trade operations. This roleis responsible forarchitecting, developing, and delivering ... Architect Robotics Process Automation (RPA) solutions for operational workflows and collaborate ...

By aligning trade operations with corporate strategy and regulatory requirements, this role helps protect the company from compliance risks, supports global supply chain efficiency, and contributes ...

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Freelance Global Trade Operations information

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$14

$47

$132

How much do freelance global trade operations jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance global trade operations in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Global Trade Operations vs Freelance Customs Compliance Specialist?

AspectFreelance Global Trade OperationsFreelance Customs Compliance Specialist
CredentialsKnowledge of trade regulations, certifications like CTPAT or FTZCustoms regulations, compliance certifications, import/export licenses
Work EnvironmentGlobal trade firms, logistics companies, or freelance projectsCustoms agencies, import/export companies, consulting firms
Industry UsageUsed across international trade, logistics, supply chain managementFocused on customs laws, import/export compliance, tariffs
Search IntentTrade operations, international logistics, supply chain managementCustoms compliance, import/export regulations, customs clearance

Freelance Global Trade Operations professionals handle the broader scope of international trade processes, including logistics, documentation, and compliance. In contrast, Freelance Customs Compliance Specialists focus specifically on customs laws and import/export regulations. Both roles require knowledge of trade regulations but differ in their scope and daily tasks.

What cities are hiring for Freelance Global Trade Operations jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Global Trade Operations job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Global Trade Operations jobs? The most popular types of Global Trade Operations jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Global Trade Operations jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Global Trade Operations jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Global Trade Operations jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Global Trade Operations jobs are:
Infographic showing various Freelance Global Trade Operations job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

Director, Global Trade

Waters Corporation

Milford, MA • On-site

Other

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

Overview
Position Summary
The Director, Global Trade Compliance & Trade Operations is a senior enterprise leader responsible for defining and advancing the company's global trade strategy, integrating regulatory compliance with world-class import/export operations. This role operates at the intersection of risk governance and supply chain execution, ensuring the organization can scale globally while maintaining strict adherence to international trade laws.
This role carries elevated scope, visibility, and influence-serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and a key enabler of global growth. The Director will lead transformation initiatives, shape global policy, and build a forward-looking trade capability that supports a complex, innovation-driven life sciences business.
Typical tasks of the position include, but are not limited to
Key Responsibilities
  1. Global Trade Strategy & Executive Advisory
  • Define and lead the enterprise-wide vision and multi-year roadmap for global trade compliance and operations.
  • Act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on trade-related risks, opportunities, and geopolitical developments.
  • Translate complex regulatory environments into actionable business strategies that enable growth while safeguarding compliance.
  • Drive alignment between global trade strategy and broader supply chain, commercial, and innovation priorities.
  1. Enterprise Compliance Governance & Oversight
  • Establish and maintain a robust global compliance framework, including policies, controls, and governance mechanisms across all regions and business units.
  • Provide executive-level oversight of compliance with:
    • Export controls (EAR)
    • Sanctions/embargo regulations (OFAC, EU, UN)
    • Global customs and import/export regulations
  • Lead enterprise risk assessments, compliance audits, and regulatory readiness efforts.
  • Oversee investigation, escalation, and resolution of complex compliance issues, including voluntary disclosures where necessary.
  • Interface directly with regulatory authorities and internal / external counsel on high-impact matters.
  1. Integrated Global Trade Operations Leadership
  • Own end-to-end global import/export performance, ensuring seamless integration between compliance requirements and operational execution.
  • Drive operational excellence and standardization across regions, balancing global consistency with regional regulatory needs.
  • Oversee strategic partnerships with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
  • Establish and govern performance metrics tied to service, cost, compliance, and customer impact.
  • Lead initiatives to enhance resilience, visibility, and agility across global trade flows.
  1. Risk Mitigation & Trade Optimization
  • Anticipate and proactively manage risks related to sanctions, export controls, classification, valuation, and country-of-origin.
  • Lead advanced trade optimization strategies, including:
    • Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programs
    • Duty savings and avoidance mechanisms
    • Tariff mitigation and classification strategies (e.g. FSFE, NRI)
  • Continuously evaluate global trade landscapes to identify risks and opportunities tied to geopolitical shifts and regulatory changes.
  1. Digital Transformation & Data-Driven Leadership
  • Own the global trade technology strategy, including the implementation and optimization of Global Trade Management (GTM) systems.
  • Champion automation, data integrity, and analytics to enhance compliance accuracy and operational efficiency.
  • Drive integration of trade systems into core ERP and supply chain platforms to enable end-to-end visibility.
  • Leverage advanced analytics to inform decision-making, monitor risk indicators, and improve performance outcomes.
  1. Cross-Functional Influence & Business Partnership
  • Serve as a key partner to Supply Chain, Legal, Manufacturing, Finance, Regulatory Affairs, and Commercial leadership.
  • Provide proactive guidance on trade implications for product development, technology transfers, market expansion, and M&A activities.
  • Influence enterprise decision-making by embedding trade considerations early in strategic initiatives.
  • Elevate trade compliance as a business enabler rather than a control function.
  1. Organizational Leadership & Capability Building
  • Lead, scale, and develop a globally distributed organization spanning compliance and trade operations.
  • Build a strong leadership bench and succession pipeline, with a focus on long-term capability development.
  • Establish a high-performance culture centered on accountability, continuous improvement, and ethical conduct.
  • Deliver enterprise-wide training and awareness programs to strengthen compliance culture.

The successful candidate will have a combination of knowledge, skills, and experience that would include the following
Qualifications
Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in International Business, Supply Chain, Law, or related field (advanced degree strongly preferred).
  • 12-15+ years of progressive experience in global trade compliance and international logistics, including significant leadership scope.
  • Demonstrated success leading global trade programs in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or other highly regulated industries.
  • Experience interacting with executive leadership and influencing enterprise-level decisions.

Technical Expertise
  • Deep expertise in export controls, sanctions regulations, customs compliance, and global logistics.
  • Advanced knowledge of classification (ECCN/HTS), licensing, valuation, and origin rules.
  • Strong experience with GTM systems (e.g., SAP GTS) and ERP integration.
  • Proven ability to lead audits, regulatory engagements, and complex compliance investigations.

Leadership & Competencies
  • Proven ability to operate with autonomy in high-impact, high-visibility roles.
  • Strong strategic orientation combined with disciplined execution.
  • Exceptional stakeholder management, with the ability to influence at executive levels.
  • Demonstrated success leading transformation and building scalable global capabilities.

Company Description
Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.