Trade Compliance Lead - Export Controls Specialist

About this Role

We are seeking an experienced Export Controls and Trade Compliance professional to join our Compliance and Legal Integrity team in Budapest. In this role, you will provide expert guidance on export controls compliance across Vodafone Group, helping to ensure adherence to UK, EU and US export control regulations. You will act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders across Technology, Procurement, Security and Product functions, supporting risk mitigation activities, export classification, licensing decisions, and compliance governance.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a global trade compliance transformation programme, strengthen export control risk visibility, enhance compliance processes through automation, and support complex technology-related export matters involving telecommunications technology, software, encryption, semiconductors, cloud services, AI-enabled solutions and intangible technology transfers.

What you’ll do

• Provide expert advisory support to Group, market and operational stakeholders on export controls compliance matters.
• Advise on dual-use controls, sanctions-related export restrictions and intangible technology transfers.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders across Technology, Procurement, Security and Product teams.
• Review and support export classification decisions for products, technologies, software and telecommunications solutions.
• Lead the analysis, review and approval of tangible and intangible exports, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
• Manage export licence applications, monitor licence conditions and support regulator interactions where required.
• Contribute to trade compliance transformation initiatives, focusing on simplification, process optimisation and automation.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and assess their impact on Vodafone Group’s operations.
• Develop and deliver targeted export controls training and awareness programmes.
• Enhance export control processes through digital workflows and centralised licence management approaches.
• Support incident management and escalation activities relating to potential export controls or sanctions compliance risks.

Who you are

• Minimum 6 years of experience in Export Controls Compliance.
• Strong working knowledge of UK, EU and US export control frameworks.
• Expertise in EU Regulation 2021/821, UK Export Control Order 2008 and US Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
• Experience in export classification involving software, encryption technologies, cloud services, AI-enabled solutions, telecommunications technologies and network equipment.
• Proven knowledge of intangible technology transfers, remote access environments, cloud hosting and international engineering support models.
• Understanding of freight forwarder oversight and related compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of sanctions-driven export restrictions, semiconductor controls and military end-use/end-user considerations.
• Experience developing automated compliance controls, digital workflows and centralised compliance processes.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment capabilities with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Experience operating across multiple countries and jurisdictions within a complex business environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical business guidance.
• Fluency in English.
• Relevant degree qualification. Additional certifications or memberships such as ICA, ITI, CIEX or recognised export control accreditations are advantageous.

What's in it for you

• Opportunity to work on complex international export controls matters across multiple jurisdictions.
• Exposure to regulatory developments involving telecommunications, cloud technologies, AI solutions and semiconductor controls.
• Collaboration with senior stakeholders across Group Technology, Procurement, Security, Product and Compliance functions.
• Participation in strategic compliance transformation and automation initiatives.
• Opportunity to influence governance frameworks, compliance processes and risk management practices across a global organisation.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment that fosters innovation and continuous improvement.
• The chance to influence customer experience and product optimisation at scale.
• A dynamic environment where innovative ideas are always welcome
• A collaborative community where your professional goals and work are supported by a diverse team
• Access to internal and external trainings via other providers
• A supportive internal coaching and mentoring culture
• Corporate assets including a laptop and mobile phone with One Business Mobile Superior subscription (unlimited voice, text message, and data within the EU)
• Cafeteria package
• Private Medical Services
• Employee Assistance Program to support your well-being and mental health
• Life and accident insurance
• You can work remotely overseas for 20 days a year
• 16 weeks fully paid parental leave. This applies to all non-birthing partners who become parents due to birth or adoption
• You and your family members can enjoy several discounts from our partners
• You will be working in a hybrid model, which means 3 days working from home with 2 days office visit per week

What skills you will learn

• Advanced export licensing and classification expertise.
• Cross-jurisdictional trade compliance and regulatory interpretation.
• Compliance transformation and process automation techniques.
• Stakeholder engagement across global technology and business functions.
• Regulatory horizon scanning and emerging risk assessment.
• Incident management and escalation within complex compliance environments.
• Digital compliance workflow design and licence management practices.

Who we are

VOIS (Vodafone Intelligent Solutions) is a strategic arm of Vodafone Group Plc, creating value for customers by delivering intelligent solutions through Talent, Technology & Transformation.

As the largest shared services organisation in the global telco industry with 30,000 FTE, our portfolio of next-generation solutions and services are designed in partnership with customers across Vodafone Group, local markets, and partner markets to simplify and drive growth. With our strategic partner Accenture, we work alongside our Vodafone customers, other Telco and tech companies to drive transformation, meet the challenges of our industry and ensure we stay relevant and resilient. This partnership is a unique, industry-first model which brings together the best of in-house and 3rd party capability.

We work with customers across 28 countries from 10 VOIS locations: Albania, Egypt, Hungary, India, Romania, Spain, Turkey, UK, Germany, Ireland, and with a network of teams in Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, and Portugal.

#VOIS #BeUnrivalled #CreateTheFuture

VOIS Equal Opportunity Employer Commitment

Vodafone recognises and celebrates the value of diversity in building a workforce that reflects the customers and communities it serves. No form of discrimination is tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, discrimination based on race, colour, age, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, ethnicity, disability, religion or belief, political affiliation, trade union membership, nationality, citizenship, indigenous status, medical condition, HIV status, neurodiversity, social origin, cultural background, marital or civil partnership status, or socio-economic background.

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re working hard to build a better future. A more connected, inclusive and sustainable world. As a dynamic global community, it's our human spirit, together with technology, that empowers us to achieve this.

We challenge and innovate in order to connect people, businesses, and communities across the world. Delighting our customers and earning their loyalty drive us, and we experiment, learn fast and get it done, together.

With us, you can truly be yourself and belong, share inspiration, embrace new opportunities, thrive, and make a real difference.