VP Trade Compliance

Primary Function of Position 

The Vice President of Trade Compliance reports to the SVP Planning and Logistics and is responsible for establishing, governing and enforcing Intuitive’s global trade compliance framework for medical devices, instruments, accessories, capital equipment, service parts, software, and indirect materials.  The role ensures full legal compliance with all applicable import, export, customs, sanctions, and trade regulations while supporting uninterrupted patient care, regulatory approvals and global commercial operations.  The position balances regulatory rigor with operational continuity in a highly regulated environment where delays and enforcement actions may impact healthcare delivery.

Essential Job Duties 

• Continue to build and lead a global trade compliance organization.  Establish training programs tailored to manufacturing, service, commercial teams, distributors, logistics providers, and customs brokerage.  Direct responsibility for compliance with inbound materials, manufacturing cross border transactions, and finished goods into markets.  Ensure escalation, issue management, and document controls.
• Serve as primary interface with customs and export control authorities, health authorities and trade regulators.  Represent the company in industry groups addressing medical device trade issues.  Manage relationships with brokers, consultants, outside counsel, and regulatory advisors. 
• Oversee trade compliance systems integrated with ERP, WMS, TMS, and Global Trade Management platforms.  UDI, lot, serial, and device history record data. Ensure accuracy of HS codes, ECCNs, valuation, and origin and the sku and serialized device level.  Drive automation to reduce clearance delays and improve audit readiness.

Required Skills and Experience 

• Strategic Leadership: define and own the trade compliance strategy across R&D, manufacturing, service, and commercial distribution.  Proactively advise executive leadership on trade risks affecting business continuity, and service programs. Assess geopolitical, sanctions, and regulatory developments impacting medical device supply chains. 
• Regulatory and Medical Device Compliance: ensure compliance with trade regulations as they apply to finished goods, capital equipment, service parts, digital health components, clinical trial materials, samples, etc.  Partner with Regulatory Affairs and Quality to ensure trade compliance does not compromise regulatory approvals, UDI requirements, or product traceability.  Understanding FDA regulated products and global equivalents (EU MDR, UKCA, PMDA, NMPA, ANVISA, etc.).
• Governance, Policy, and Risk Management: establish and maintain global policies covering: HS classification, Valuation, ECCN determinations, Country-Of-Origins and substantial transformation analysis, Free Trade Agreements and preferential duty programs, sanctioned and denied party screenings for institutions and distributors.  Lead government audits, inquiries, and inspections related to customs and export controls.  Oversee voluntary disclosures and corrective actions in coordination with Legal, Outside Counsel, and Quality.
• Continuity of Care: embed compliance into workflows including global manufacturing, field service and logistics, repair networks, consignment, loaner, and emergency replacement programs.  Ensure compliant execution of bonded movement, bonded warehouses, Free Trade Zones, and duty deferral programs.  Enable tariff-mitigation strategies without risking regulatory violations or product holds. 
• Track Record: history of zero material trade violations, on time clearance of critical device and service parts, successful audits with customs, effective tariff and duty optimization, and institution of systems and networks.

Required Education and Training 

• Proven leadership at Vice President and Director levels of global and regional compliance teams.  Demonstrated experience supporting regulated medical device or life science supply chains.
• BS in Law, International Trade, Business, Supply Chain / Logistics, or related field
• 15+ years of experience in global trade compliance, customs, or export controls
• Trade or Custom Certifications (LCB, CCS, CUSECI, or equivalent)

Working Conditions 

None

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Advanced degree
• Experience with FDA regulated products and global health authorities
• Medical device regulatory fluency and risk management.  Capital equipment, software enabled devices, serialization, service intensive portfolios

 

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.