Global Trade Compliance Manager

This is a remote role, but candidates must be based in Portugal or UK for further consideration.

Reachdesk is the first truly end-to-end SaaS global gifting and swag platform, helping B2B companies create meaningful connections with prospects, customers, and employees: while driving measurable ROI.

We believe gifting is more than just a transaction: it’s about building genuine human connections that fuel business growth. Whether you’re engaging prospects, celebrating customers, or recognizing employees, our platform makes it easy to deliver personalized gifts, branded swag, and unforgettable event & brand experiences at scale through automated sourcing, storage, and global delivery.

Trusted by many of the most recognized names in technology and SaaS, Reachdesk integrates effortlessly with your marketing, sales, and HRIS tech stack and is powered by a world-class team with hubs in New York, London, and Lisbon.

The Global Trade Compliance Manager will lead all aspects of global trade compliance and VAT operations for Reachdesk’s business. You will ensure that our shipments, vendor partners, internal processes, and financial systems comply with international trade laws, customs regulations, VAT requirements, and import/export controls across all regions in which we operate

This is a strategic, high-impact role suited for someone who is detail-oriented, legally and commercially savvy, and capable of building scalable compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

Key responsibilities include the following:

Global Trade & Customs Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain Reachdesk’s global trade compliance framework — covering import/export regulations, customs requirements, product classification (HS codes), country-of-origin, valuation, and duties.
• Manage relationships with customs brokers, carriers, 3PLs, and logistics partners to assure correct customs documentation and clearance.
• Handle compliance for restricted items, export controls, and sanctioned party screening (OFAC/EU/UK sanctions, embargoes, export control regimes).
• Monitor regulatory changes globally; proactively update policies and procedures to stay compliant.
• Oversee customs audits, customs holds, shipment inspections, and remediation when needed.

VAT & Indirect Tax Compliance

• Own VAT compliance for all relevant jurisdictions: ensuring correct VAT registration, VAT invoicing, reclaim, reporting, and remittance depending on country and business model (e.g., marketplaces, local fulfillment, cross-border shipments).
• Coordinate with Finance and Accounting to ensure VAT is correctly calculated on sales and shipments, and that VAT-related bookkeeping is accurate.
• Manage VAT filings, returns, compliance deadlines, intra-community sales/purchase documentation, and required filings (e.g. Intrastat or equivalent, where applicable).
• Build and maintain processes for VAT-related documentation (invoices, import VAT, duties, commercial invoices, proof-of-delivery/consumption where relevant).
• Stay abreast of changes to VAT laws and regulations across jurisdictions where Reachdesk operates; interpret and implement changes accordingly.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Governance

• Work closely with Operations, Logistics, Marketplace, Product, Legal, and Finance teams to embed compliance into business operations and strategic decisions (e.g., new markets, vendor onboarding, product sourcing).
• Develop, implement, and maintain vendor compliance frameworks and controls to ensure vendors meet regulatory, legal, ethical, security, and contractual requirements
• Build and maintain documentation: compliance policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), training materials, audit logs, and record-keeping for trade and VAT compliance.
• Conduct compliance risk assessments for new geographic markets, vendors, or shipping/fulfillment models — highlight risks and mitigation strategies.
• Provide internal training and awareness to relevant teams (e.g. vendor teams, customer success, finance) to ensure compliance at all levels.

Reporting, Data & Systems

• Manage master data for compliance — e.g. product classifications (HS, ECCN), country-of-origin, restricted-status, VAT treatment, intra-EU/ cross-border shipping flags, customs histories.
• Evaluate, implement and maintain compliance tools or software (Avalara, trade compliance software, VAT automation — if/when needed) to scale compliance operations.
• Support internal audits or external customs/VAT audits, provide reports, documentation, and remedial action planning when required.

About You

• 5–8+ years of experience in global trade compliance, customs compliance, VAT/indirect tax compliance, or similar roles involving cross-border trade (preferably in e-commerce, retail, logistics, or global supply chain).
• Strong working knowledge of international trade laws, customs regulations, HS classification, duties, valuations, export/import compliance, export controls, sanctions screening.
• Clear understanding of VAT (or indirect tax) regimes — EU VAT, UK VAT, international VAT/GST implications — and experience managing VAT compliance (filings, invoicing, returns, documentation).
• Experience working with logistics partners, brokers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, carriers.
• Excellent project management, process-design, and documentation skills.
• Strong cross-functional communication: able to collaborate with legal, finance, ops, and product teams.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, international, scaling environment; able to navigate ambiguity and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Familiarity with compliance or trade-compliance software/tools, and basic understanding of accounting/ERP systems to liaise with finance teams.

Here are just some:

• Competitive salary with generous stock options.
• Flexible PTO, increasing with tenure, plus extra flexibility for life’s unexpected moments.

*Reachdesk believes a diverse team helps us achieve our mission faster, and we actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Compensation is based on standardized salary ranges by role, level, and location—benchmarked against similar-size companies. Final offers reflect a mix of factors including experience, skills, and role fit, and may vary from the listed range.