Head of Compliance, Airbus Americas

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Job Description:

Airbus is committed to conducting its business with honesty and integrity, in accordance with all applicable local and international laws and regulations.

To ensure adequate supervision, promote efficiency, and demonstrate a commitment to the 'One Roof' approach to Regions, Airbus Americas Legal & Compliance has consolidated the management of related compliance duties into a dedicated position, reporting directly to the North American General Counsel.

The Head of Compliance, Airbus Americas is responsible for managing a matrix of ethics and export control professionals actively providing counsel and guidance to approximately 11,000 employees across 26 sites — including Airbus Americas' Headquarters, Final Assembly Lines, Engineering Centers, and Training Centers, as well as Airbus affiliated entities throughout North America.

As the primary executive responsible for overseeing the execution of Airbus' Compliance Program in the United States, the successful candidate will work closely with functional leaders representing Legal, Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, Security, and Information Management to ensure the appropriate resourcing and expertise to support Operations, including the continued expansion in the Region.

This is a senior leadership role for a candidate who brings both subject-matter authority and a demonstrated ability to build, develop and lead high-performing professional teams in a complex multinational environment.

Primary Responsibilities:

Compliance Program Leadership:

• Drive the Regional implementation and administration of the Airbus’ global Compliance program

• Promote awareness of, and adherence to, the Airbus’ Code of Conduct and Values, and embed a Compliance culture throughout Airbus' North American businesses

• Take ownership, lead by example and demonstrate transparency, always supporting the Airbus Speak-up culture

• Ensure accountability across the regional One Roof Compliance function by acting in a collaborative 'One Team' manner to meet Airbus’ Compliance priorities

• Continuously improve the Company's approach to Compliance by making it simple, accessible and instinctive

• Contribute to the Company's enterprise risk management process

• Own the regional Compliance risk assessment and translate findings into program priorities

Ethics & Compliance:

• Set regional direction and standards across anti-bribery and corruption, conflicts of interest, fraud, data privacy, competition, retaliation and related compliance domains

• Ensure compliant third party management, including categorization, screening and diligence, applied to customers, suppliers, consultants, and partners

• Seamlessly coordinate Know-Your-Customer and Know-Your-Supplier with Finance and Toulouse-based Compliance teams

• Manage and oversee lobbyist and special advisor engagements, review, and confirm their adherence to Airbus' BDSI and L&SA policies

• Manage the NA ECR and EPoC networks by driving engagement and incorporating feedback

• Develop effective tactics to engage the Company's employee base through messaging, communications, and training to encourage universal awareness of Ethics and Export Control obligations and in support of 100% completion of employee annual training objectives

• Lead and oversee internal investigations of Compliance concerns which may relate to bribery, fraud, data privacy, competition, conflicts of interest, export control, procurement, retaliation, security, and other concerns, with and/or without the assistance of external counsel

• Evaluate and/or investigate concerns or issues that have been discovered and/or escalated; determine and implement corrective actions and assess whether disclosure is required and/or recommended

• Oversee the regional OpenLine system for employee reporting of Compliance concerns, including tracking and meaningful reporting

• Represent Airbus in communications and negotiations with Compliance-related claimants, working closely with Legal and HR

• Participate in the North American Disciplinary Committee (NADC)

Export Control & Trade Compliance:

• Ensure compliance within the regulatory environment for all applicable trade compliance regimes

• Be responsible for organization and classification efforts across the Region, ensuring consistent methodology and application

• Manage "red flag identification" and risk mitigation related to compliance violations and U.S. export control laws and regulations

• Manage the implementation, audit and update of AAI's Internal Control Plan, Local Control Plans and Part 130 requirements

• Ensure appropriate technical depth is retained and developed within the regional export control team
   

Governance, Reporting and Representation: 

• Keep the North American Senior Leadership team and the AAI Board informed and advised regarding updates and status of implementation of Airbus' Compliance program, any disclosures or other critical or strategic Compliance matters

• Maintain transparent and effective coordination with the Company's Senior Leadership — both in the Region (Chairman/Chief Executive, Heads of Legal, Finance, HR, Procurement, Security and Sales), as well as in the Company's Toulouse-based headquarters

• Regularly interface with the SVP Group Ethics and Compliance Officer, the Airbus Compliance Steering Committee, the Airbus Export Compliance Council, the Compliance core group, and senior legal and compliance management across Airbus' divisions

• Participate in Airbus Core Team discussions and the Chief Compliance Officer and HO Export Control's coordination meetings

• Represent Airbus at conferences, seminars and industry groups involving ethics, trade, and security compliance

Assurance and Controls: 

• Manage the coordination of various internal and external audit requests, including internal trade compliance assessments, fit checks, Internal Control Self-Assessments (ICSA), secondary control evaluations, and the recommended actions resulting from such reviews

• Establish and report regional Compliance performance metrics

• Supervise Compliance projects across Airbus subsidiaries, including mergers and PMI activities

Team Leadership and Development: 

• Lead, develop and supervise the Regional One Roof E&C and Export Control Compliance teams

• Coach, mentor and assist team members with career development and ensure appropriate skills and capacity are available

• Build career progression and development pathways across both compliance disciplines

• Establish effective working relationships with the leadership teams of Regional Divisions, production facilities, affiliated entities, and global support functions

• Develop a strong network of Airbus experts, managers and staff to assist with effective and efficient communication and decision making

8. Additional Responsibilities:

 Broader support and other duties as assigned:       

• Understand the different business models, products, services, customers and suppliers of the Company's divisions and affiliates to better identify and mitigate risk

• Support other areas of Legal & Compliance, as needed, which may include corporate governance, government contracting, litigation and Airbus' Political Action Committee

• Keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments that may affect the Company and advise the Company regarding applicable legal and/or regulatory issues

Qualified Experience and Training: 

Education:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
   

Preferred

• Juris Doctor from an accredited US law school, or equivalent advanced degree (LL.M., MBA)

Experience:

Required

• At least fifteen (15) years of substantial senior experience in compliance, ethics, export controls, trade compliance and legal matters

• Leadership, management and coaching experience of a professional team

• Background with a multinational company
   

Preferred

• Prior experience  in a manufacturing company or industrial setting

• Prior experience representing an organization before US regulatory agencies

• Experience operating within a matrixed multinational environment

• Experience with export control and compliance (including KYC) digital tools, including use of AI technologies

Licensure/Certifications:

Required

• None

Preferred

• Recognized compliance certification (e.g., CCEP, CCEP-I)

Travel Required: 

• up to 30% Domestic and International
   

Citizenship: 

•   Able to work in US without current or future need for visa sponsorship

7Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

Required:

• History of providing strategic guidance and regulatory expertise

• Working knowledge of US export control regimes, ITAR and EAR

• Working knowledge of foreign export control regimes, sanctions and other geopolitical matters

• Working knowledge of anti-bribery and corruption frameworks, including the FCPA

• Promotes a cultural commitment to Compliance
   

Leadership: 

• Strong management expertise, acts as a coach and develops others, with particular care towards team members and their careers

• Respectfully listens, exercises empathy, inspires trust and motivates others

• Shares credit and visibility; candidly and openly appraises own strengths and weaknesses

• Maintains and projects confidence even when not supported by others
   

Influence and Integration:

• Leverages a strong Regional and Global network to remove barriers and accelerate actions

• Effectively integrates efforts across departments, businesses and functions

• Influences, persuades and negotiates conflicts in a constructive way, with win-win solutions under high-stakes circumstances, always remaining respectful and professional

• Navigates functional and cultural differences effectively

Judgement

• Demonstrates an unquestionable level of personal ethics and integrity

• Applies strong analytical skills, as well as sensitivity and creativity, to solve problems in a practical, positive and productive manner

• Proactively identifies emerging Compliance issues and legal/regulatory risks

• Develops and maintains a long-term, strategic big-picture view of the Company; foresees obstacles and opportunities, and generates creative ideas
   

Resilience and Standards

• Maintains a positive outlook, works constructively under pressure and responds resourcefully to change and ambiguity

• Remains consistently available as a valuable, trusted and approachable resource, providing insight, guidance, coaching, and constructive feedback

• Dedicated to producing professional, clear and error-free work product that meets or exceeds expectations

• Manifests a desire to continuously learn and grow in the Compliance field and the Airbus organization

Communication Skills:

Required:

• Communicates complex concepts in a succinct and clear manner, especially to senior leaders; comfortable addressing large groups

• Understands and is able to train others regarding various Compliance laws and regulations

• Fluency in English, written and spoken
   

Preferred:

• Fluency in other languages such as French, Spanish, or German

Technical Systems Proficiency:

Required:

• Microsoft Office and Google Suite
   

Preferred:

• Experience with export control and compliance (including KYC) digital tools, including use of AI technologies

.

Physical Requirements:

• Hybrid:  3 days in our Herndon, VA Headquarters/2 days from home

• Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. 

• Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. 

• Speaking:  able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. 

• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. 

• Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. 

• Lifting:  able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. 

• Pushing / Pulling:  able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. 

• Sitting:  able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. 

• Squatting / Kneeling:  able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving or in a/c storage compartments.

• Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices and for long periods during trade shows.

• Travel:  able to travel independently and at short notice.

• Climbing:  able to climb stairs to reach helipads; able to climb on and off of an aircraft.

• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents):  able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. 

• Personal Protective Equipment required:  Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site

• Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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