Sr. Compliance Manager

Job Title: Sr. Compliance Manager

Location: Remote

About the Company:

IPS Corporation is a global, market-leading provider of Water and Flow Management Solutions for applications where failure is not an option. Founded in 1954 in Los Angeles, CA, IPS began by producing clear cements for laminating acrylic sheets for aircraft canopies. We were first to produce reliable cement for use with PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe and fittings, and first to introduce plastic recessed washing machine and ice maker outlet boxes. Since then, we have expanded our offering to more than 10,000+ products and solutions across multiple fast-growth industries such as residential and commercial construction, irrigation, pool & spa, marine or industrial manufacturing.

Today our industry leading products are proudly manufactured at facilities throughout the world and available through a nationwide network of customer-focused distributors. We offer premium brands, world-class customer service, seamless processes, and a global supply chain. IPS, through its two operating companies, operates 14 manufacturing plants in the US, Europe and China supporting sales to over 85 countries.

IPS Corporation is a portfolio company that is part of Centerbridge Partners. Centerbridge Partners, L.P., is a private investment management firm employing a flexible approach across investment disciplines - private equity, private credit, and real estate - in an effort to develop the most attractive opportunities for its investors. The Firm was founded in 2005 and has approximately $36 billion in capital under management with offices in New York and London. Centerbridge is dedicated to partnering with world-class management teams across targeted industry sectors and geographies. For more information, please visit www.centerbridge.com.

About the Role:

IPS Corporation is seeking a strategic and experienced Senior Compliance Manager to lead the company's global compliance, regulatory affairs, product stewardship, trade compliance, and sustainability programs. This highly visible role partners closely with Legal, Operations, Supply Chain, Product Development, Quality, and Executive Leadership to ensure compliance with domestic and international regulations while supporting business growth and global expansion.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in chemical regulatory compliance, international trade compliance, export controls, risk management, and compliance program development.

The ideal candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring our company's adherence to international trade regulations, import and export controls, and compliance standards. This role will be responsible for accurately classifying products under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), determining country of origin, managing export licensing classifications, reviewing terms and conditions (e.g., anti-boycott regulations), and staying updated on embargoed countries / denied parties and trade regulations (including REACH and RoHS) in addition to other required compliance areas.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead global regulatory compliance and product stewardship programs including manage Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), GHS Labeling, poison control notifications and hazard communication requirements.
• Ensure compliance with regulations including TSCA, REACH, UK REACH, RoHS, Proposition 65, PFAS, and other global chemical regulations.
• Monitor and assess emerging and changing regulations from EPA, OSHA, DOT, ECHA, and other global, national, regional, state, and local agencies to ensure continuous regulatory compliance and proactive implementation of applicable requirements.
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Classification:
  • Accurately classify products according to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) to ensure proper duty rates and compliance with customs regulations.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams in the Operating Companies to gather product specifications and information for accurate classification.
• Country of Origin Determination:
  • Determine the correct country of origin for products, considering various factors such as manufacturing processes, component sourcing, and value-added criteria.
  • Maintain detailed records of country of origin determinations for audit and compliance purposes.
• Export Licensing Classification:
  • Evaluate products and technologies to determine their export control classification numbers (ECCNs) or other relevant export classifications.
  • Collaborate with legal and regulatory teams to ensure compliance with export control laws and regulations.
• Terms and Conditions Review:
  • Review and assess international sales and purchase agreements, contracts, and other trade-related documents to ensure compliance with trade regulations and legal standards, including anti-boycott regulations.
  • Provide guidance on trade compliance requirements and potential risks to relevant stakeholders.
• Embargoed Countries / Denied Parties Screening and Sanctions:
  • Stay informed about embargoed countries, trade sanctions, and restricted parties lists to ensure that company operations do not involve prohibited entities / personnel or regions.
    • Primary point of contact for the companies Embargoed Countries / Denied Parties Screening software management system.
  • Monitor and assess changes in trade regulations and update internal processes accordingly.
• Training and Education:
  • Conduct training sessions for internal teams on trade compliance topics, including HTS classification, export controls, Export Licensing (as necessary / applicable embargoed countries / denied parties, and anti-boycott regulations.
  • Foster a culture of compliance awareness throughout the organization.
• Recordkeeping and Auditing:
  • Maintain accurate and organized records of trade compliance activities, including classification decisions, country of origin determinations, and export licensing classifications.
  • Support internal and external audits related to trade compliance.
• General Compliance:
  • Serve as the primary compliance resource for international trade and regulatory matters.
  • Lead enterprise compliance risk assessments, audits, policy development, and training initiatives.
  • Review and develop written policies, procedures and guidelines designed to address regulatory processes and compliance with laws and regulations and related compliance functions.
  • Develop training programs related to regulatory risk areas to educate employees in policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements relevant to the organization.
  • Lead annual enterprise risk assessments to identify regulatory vulnerabilities and risks and prioritize risks to develop and oversee compliance plan.
  • Lead regulatory audits and develop remediation plans for addressing deficiencies as needed and oversee implementation of corrective actions.
  • Create and monitor key metrics to monitor and assess effectiveness of key compliance activities and implement departmental process improvements.
  • Support evaluation of risks for target acquisition companies.
• Leads ESG reporting, sustainability initiatives, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Travel up to 15% of the time.

Critical Competencies

The successful candidate will be energetic, insightful, collaborative, self-motivated, and positive with interest in finding opportunities to businesses to over drive performance targets. Other highly valued skills include:

• Strong understanding of international trade regulations, including HTS classification, export licensing, and embargoed countries / denied party screening and anti-boycott regulations.
• Strong knowledge of TSCA, REACH, RoHS, Proposition 65, and global chemical regulations
• Proficiency in interpreting and applying trade regulations, such as EAR, ITAR, and sanctions programs.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills for accurate classification and determination processes.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and provide compliance guidance.
• Familiarity with trade compliance software and tools is a plus.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Customs Specialist) are advantageous.
• Ability to adapt to changing regulations and a dynamic global trade environment.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, or other related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in chemical regulation, trade compliance, export controls, and other regulatory experience.