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Associate Director, Trade Operations & Customs Processes

The Role

Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases.

As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives.

Moderna's commitment to advancing the technological frontier of mRNA medicines ensures a challenging and rewarding career experience, with the potential to make a significant impact on patients' lives worldwide.

This global role will be instrumental in shaping Moderna’s customs operations landscape. As the principal subject matter expert, you will lead the optimization and governance of customs-related processes across all regions. With a focus on standardization, efficiency, compliance, and automation, you’ll ensure that customs clearance activities are seamlessly integrated into Moderna’s end-to-end supply chain operations. You will take ownership of global brokerage oversight, support strategic trade decisions, and guide the deployment of digital solutions like SAP GTS. This is a high-impact, hands-on position requiring strong collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders to uphold trade compliance while enabling agile operations across our international footprint.

Here’s What You’ll Do

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Lead the optimization and execution of global customs processes, ensuring adherence to internal standards and evolving regulatory requirements.

• Develop, maintain, and deploy global standard operating procedures (SOPs) for import/export and customs clearance processes.

• Manage global customs brokerage performance, including implementation and monitoring of service level agreements (SLAs) and driving continuous improvements.

• Oversee global customs clearance activities, identifying and resolving delays, inconsistencies, or operational breakdowns in collaboration with regional stakeholders.

• Advance customs operations through process automation, especially in areas like classification, valuation, and origin determination.

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Act as the subject matter expert for global customs operations, supporting the Trade Compliance team and addressing complex operational issues.

• Lead digital trade compliance initiatives, particularly SAP GTS and broker integration workflows, in partnership with Digital/IT teams.

• Evaluate tariff impacts and deliver analyses to guide decisions in sourcing, supply chain, and planning while maintaining trade compliance and cost efficiency.

• Spearhead the implementation of Importer of Record (IOR) capabilities in new and existing global markets.

• Collaborate with Logistics, Supply Chain, Planning, Quality, and Finance teams to ensure customs decisions are embedded in end-to-end workflows.

• Participate in international travel as needed for operational reviews, audits, or system deployments.

• Carry out additional duties as assigned in line with strategic business needs.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

• We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.
  This role is central to Moderna’s push toward digital integration in trade operations. You will be a core driver in deploying automation tools and digital compliance systems like SAP GTS to build scalable, efficient customs workflows globally.

• We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.
  You will own the global customs operations space, delivering improvements not only within your scope but influencing trade compliance and supply chain resilience at a global scale. Your leadership will directly shape how Moderna navigates international trade.

Here’s What You’ll Need ( Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Business, International Trade, Supply Chain, or related field.

• Minimum 10 years of experience in trade compliance, with deep customs process execution and brokerage oversight expertise.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Proven experience managing global customs operations and broker networks.

• In-depth knowledge of international customs regulations, procedures, and documentation.

• Demonstrated success in process optimisation and operational execution in life sciences or highly regulated industries.

• Familiarity with SAP GTS or equivalent trade compliance systems.

• Ability to work cross-functionally, influence without authority, and manage through change.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

• Strong decision-making capability under pressure and within tight timelines.

• A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Quality healthcare and insurance benefits
• Lifestyle Spending Accounts to create your own pathway to well-being
• Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
• Family planning and adoption benefits
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savingsandinvestments
• Location-specific perks and extras!

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, theinfrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our peopleare the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com .

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Associate Director, Trade Operations & Customs Processes

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At Moderna we are pioneering the development of a new class of drugs made of messenger RNA (mRNA). This novel drug platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the body’s cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs that can have therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells.

We have a clear mission to propel the field of mRNA science forward and deliver new medicines to patients and a unique vision for how to achieve this mission.

Our Mission: To deliver on the promise of transformative messenger RNA (mRNA) science to bring new medicines to patients.

Our Vision: To unlock the potential of mRNA by establishing an ecosystem of teams and partners that will work together to develop the broadest possible array of drugs, across diverse therapeutic areas and routes of administration, for serious diseases that are not treatable today.

Third Party Staffing Agencies

M oderna does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. For the protection of all parties involved in the recruiting process, resumes will only be accepted from recruiters/agencies if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position. Unsolicited resumes sent to Moderna from recruiters/agencies do not constitute any type of relationship between the recruiter/agency and Moderna and do not obligate Moderna to pay fees if we hire from those resumes.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Please inform the company's personnel representative by calling 617-460-9346 or emailing humanresources@modernatx.com if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.