Job Specifications
Overview
WELCOME TO SITA
At SITA, we keep airports moving, airlines flying smoothly, and borders open. Our technology and communication innovations power the success of the global air travel industry.
You'll find us in 95% of international airports, working closely with over 2,500 transportation and government clients. Each partnership brings unique challenges, and we thrive on delivering fresh solutions and cutting-edge tech to keep operations running like clockwork. We don't just move the world forward-we're proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work® by 79% of our employees and certified in most of our growing locations. Here, we feel empowered, supported, and inspired to grow.
Are you ready to love your job?
The adventure begins right here, with you, at SITA.
PURPOSE
SITA Legal
At SITA, we are meeting the new needs of travel ... today. In an international high-performing culture, combining IT, Telecommunications, Air Transport and Critical Infrastructure, where people do great things together. We are the leader in travel tech – cloud, software, SaaS and IT infrastructure. We are trusted by our 2,500 air transport customers and governments worldwide for essential IT and networks, and for global air passenger data transit.
SITA is one of the world’s smallest multi-nationals. Our 5700 people are present across over 120 countries, in which we have more than 350 legal entities. We belong to an industry that is by its nature international, serving the needs of the air transport industry across all four corners of the globe. Our products and services are designed to support more efficient, easier, safer and greener air travel.
Nothing much happens at SITA without the involvement of the Legal function, a key enablement function that ensures SITA has the right to do to business across the globe and helps get deals across the line. We support SITA and our colleagues to “Get to Yes” sustainably, ethically and legally.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Sanctions & Compliance is a pivotal leadership role. It requires a strategic, globally minded lawyer who acts as a sherpa, guiding the business through complex regulatory landscapes — not merely identifying constraints, but enabling safe, ethical paths to “yes.” This role shapes SITA’s global sanctions, export controls, and compliance posture, ensuring the organisation meets (and anticipates) UK, EU, US and other
Key Responsibilities
WHAT YOU WILL DO
This role is responsible for leading the Group’s global sanctions, export controls and business compliance program, ensuring it remains robust, risk‑appropriate, forward‑looking, and fully aligned with international regulatory expectations. The role oversees globally the development, implementation and continuous improvement of frameworks covering Trade Sanctions & Export Controls, Anti‑Bribery & Corruption, Anti Money Laundering, Fraud & Financial Crime and related areas. Depending on the skills and experience of the postholder, this post may include the oversight of SITA’s Ethics Office (focus on ethical leadership and investigations related to personal behaviour). The role encompasses the design of the programs and the execution and implementation within and in collaboration with the entire SITA business.
Main contacts internally: Group General Counsel, CFO, CEO, Internal Audit, Audit & Risk Committee of SITA’s Board, Regional Leadership, Business Unit Heads, Corporate Risk, Enterprise Security, People (HR), Finance.
Main contacts externally: UK, EU, US and other relevant Regulators, External Counsel, Industry bodies and trade compliance organisations.
Grade: Director Legal
Location: Europe (Reading, Barcelona, Prague, Brussels, Rotterdam) – hybrid working
Reports to: Group General Counsel
Direct Reports: 3–4 (two in Reading, one in Barcelona, one shared resource in Mumbai)
Committees: Convenes & acts as Secretary of SITA’s Global Trade Board and Validation Board
Prevention
Lead the design, development and enhancement of the global compliance programs in the areas noted.
Maintain a strong, values‑based compliance culture across all geographies.
Ensure policies, controls and procedures are up‑to‑date, well‑communicated, and globally understood.
Provide expert sanctions and export control guidance to business units and leadership (requiring a comprehensive understanding of SITA’s portfolio of products & services and of its ecosystem).
Oversee systematic Code of Conduct compliance.
Develop tools and frameworks that facilitate responsible, risk‑aligned decision‑making.
Manage the Group’s compliance training strategy and curriculum.
Ensure oversight and governance of third‑party due diligence and screening methodologies.
Collaborate with Investor Relations, Corporate Control and others related to reporting and disclosures.
Detection
Identify emerging risks, vulnerabilities and red flags across jurisdictions.
Coordinate with Internal Audit and Risk Management, as well as external advisewrs, ensurin