Position Title:  Head ITP Operations US

Date:  Jul 8, 2025
Requisition ID:  12522
Work Location: 

Austin, US Washington DC, US


Be a part of a revolutionary change

 

At PMI, we’ve chosen to do something incredible. We’re totally transforming our business and building our future on one clear purpose – to deliver a smoke-free future.

In late 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match and its leading oral nicotine product portfolio.  We can now provide legal age nicotine users who would otherwise continue to smoke, access to a broader range of better alternatives to combustible products.

With huge change, comes huge opportunity. So, wherever you join us, you’ll enjoy the freedom to dream up and deliver better, brighter solutions and the space to move your career forward in endlessly different directions.

Our success depends on people who are committed to our purpose and have an appetite for progress.

Lead Illicit Trade Prevention’s (ITP) operational matters for PMI in the fight against illicit trade, specifically in the United States, to safeguard the Company’s reputation by ensuring that our products are not diverted into illicit channels, to protect the Company’s business and the value of our brands against counterfeiting and unfair competition, and to contribute to positioning the Company as a credible partner for U.S. law enforcement and government authorities, and, beyond, as a reputable Company with our legal-age consumers and the broader society.

The mission of the ITP global team is articulated around three strategic pillars:

  1. Protect the Company’s reputation from legal and reputational risks by eliminating the diversion of PMI’s products from the legitimate supply and distribution chain, with a focus on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities and a view to undertaking concrete measures to disrupt these flows, protect the Company’s brand value and reputation, as well as the integrity of the new product categories.
  2. Secure our global leadership in the Combustible Category (CC) by supporting the fight against illicit trade in CC, including the counterfeiting our brands, and help to accelerate the conversion of tobacco and nicotine users who don’t quit to Smoke-Free Products (SFP). In both CC and SFP categories, protect our business and revenues, brand and PMI’s shareholder value, the integrity of our commercial portfolio and our consumers from illicit trade.
  3. Demonstrate PMI’s firm and long-term commitment in tackling illicit trade, including the counterfeiting of PMI’s brands and the diversion and smuggling of PMI’s own products, by investigating and assisting the authorities and regional/international organizations with data and intelligence, technical assistance and capacity & capability building programs. All of this will be done in full adherence with laws and regulations and in line with the expectations from government and regulators, PMI’s business partners, the civil society, and PMI’s external environment at large.

 

 

Your ‘day to day’:
 

  • Strategy: set and execute ITP Operations’ investigation and law enforcement engagement strategy against illicit trade for PMI in the U.S., in full alignment with the broader ITP objectives globally and in the U.S., and the business objectives of the Regional President and the U.S. management team.
  • Direct, lead and manage activities to protect PMI’s brand value, commercial portfolio, and business interests by minimizing the illicit trade in SFP in the U.S. as a priority while contributing, through U.S. law enforcement stakeholder engagement, to tackling the illicit CC PMI faces abroad. Such activities will focus on investigations into and enforcement against the production, supply and distribution of counterfeit PMI brands, the diversion of genuine PMI brands from their intended market of retail sale, and targeted actions against networks facilitating the illegal sale and distribution of non-PMI brands threatening the integrity of PMI’s business, products and/or categories.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with national and supra-national law enforcement authorities at both the senior and operational levels, so as to obtain support and commitment to fight illicit trade, promote and implement enforcement strategies that deter illicit activities involving nicotine-containing products, in line with our focus on a smoke-free vision, and address derived threats to the integrity of our SFP products, of their supply chain and of their respective categories in the U.S.
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of law enforcement engagement strategies to establish appropriate cooperation frameworks (e.g., through the set-up and implementation of “Technical Assistance Cooperation Framework Agreements”, a.k.a. “MoUs”, technical training and assistance, etc.) to institutionalize cooperation with US law enforcement authorities.
  • As PMI’s anti-illicit trade subject-matter expert and in support of the U.S. EA strategies at federal and state levels, contribute to building and maintaining effective working relationships with external stakeholders, such as academia, third-party consultants, competitors, industry associations, anti-counterfeiting/piracy groups and other brand owners to further advance PMI’s anti-illicit trade objectives and strategies. Through effective investigations and cooperation with law enforcement, further strengthen PMI’s position as a leading company in the fight against illicit trade and its derived crimes, thereby fostering PMI’s credibility and reputation and positioning PMI as a credible partner for governments, the business community and external stakeholders.
  • In line with U.S. EA objectives and strategies, contribute, as subject-matter expert, regulatory frameworks enhancing enforcement and deterrence against illicit trade perpetrators at federal level and in priority states.
  • Support other teams of the Illicit Trade Prevention function, the PMI Law & Compliance department and the business units to fulfil legal and regulatory requirements in relation to illicit trade and ensure full compliance and adherence to the highest ethical standards.  
  • Implement ITP’s Private Investigation Functional Standard, including training programs for relevant ITP personnel and consultants.
  • Internal awareness and capability building programs: raise awareness on anti-illicit trade related risks and opportunities among the U.S. organization (e.g., training, workshops).

 

 

Who we’re looking for:

 

  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • At least 10+ years in brand protection / anti-illicit trade, leading investigations & enforcement programs
  • At least 10+ years in anti-illicit trade
  • Experience in external engagement and/or communications

 

 

 

What we offer  

 

  • We offer a competitive base salary, annual bonus (applicable based on level of position), great medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k with a generous company match, incredible wellness benefits, commuter benefits, pet insurance, generous PTO, and much more! 
  • We have implemented Smart Work, a hybrid model of working that promotes flexibility in the workplace.
  • Seize the freedom to define your future and ours. We’ll empower you to take risks, experiment and explore. 
  • Be part of an inclusive, diverse culture where everyone’s contribution is respected; Collaborate with some of the world’s best people and feel like you belong. 
  • Pursue your ambitions and develop your skills with a global business – our staggering size and scale provides endless opportunities to progress. 
  • Take pride in delivering our promise to society: To improve the lives of a billion smokers. 

 

PMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

PMI Global Services Inc. and PM Global Brands Inc. are a subsidiary of Philip Morris International Inc. Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, its shareholders and its other stakeholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco