Senior Specialist Customs

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

End-to-end customs documentation and clearance execution

- Prepare, review, and submit import and export customs declarations, ensuring correct tariff classification (HS codes), valuation, and origin determination

- Issue and validate preferential and non-preferential origin documents (e.g., commercial invoice, EUR.1, ATR, FTA, Certificates of Origin, Certificate of Analysis, supplier declarations) under applicable trade agreements

- Handle customs documentation for drop shipments, intercompany transfers, and cross-border movements requiring specific treatment

- Execute governmental customs procedures (import, export, transit, special procedures such as bonded warehousing and inward/outward processing)

- Coordinate with carriers, brokers, forwarders, and internal Transport/Fulfillment teams to ensure timely customs release and delivery; escalate issues where needed

- Screen shipments documentations against sanctions, embargoes, and export control regulations (dual-use, denied party lists)

- Manage duties, VAT, and customs guarantees – ensure timely payment, reconcile accounts, and identify duty optimization opportunities

- Submit periodic reports and declarations (e.g., Intrastat, statistical filings) within legal deadlines

- Maintain customs records and master data in line with retention policies and audit requirements

- Manage custo ms claims (damages, losses, delays, penalties) including root cause analysis and corrective actions

- Check if license or permit is required (e.g., food, pharma, dual-use)

- Identify of regulatory requirements per material & country

- Manage required license / permit application process

- Ensure adherence to Omya customs standards, legal compliance requirements and support internal/external audits and inspections

Stakeholder management and communication

- Collaborate closely with Transport and Fulfilment team and other internal stakeholders across different service lines and functions and ensure operational priorities and service commitments are achieved

- Coordinate operations with external stakeholders such as customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, customs authorities, and 3PL providers

- Communicate clearance delays, additional or unplanned costs, documentation gaps, compliance risks, and corrective actions in a timely and transparent manner

- Support customer and stakeholder escalations through effective issue resolution and cross-functional coordination

Team leadership and people development

- Coach, and develop Specialists Customs ensuring effective day-to-day performance and workload management

- Set clear objectives, priorities, and performance expectations for the team, in line with regional logistics targets

- Drive capability building through training, upskilling, and sharing knowledge on customs and trade compliance topics

- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, service orientation, and continuous improvement within the customs organization

- Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and talent development, safeguarding in-country customs expertise

Continuous improvement and digitalization

- Update and share daily, weekly, monthly, and annual reports on clearance status, duty spend, and compliance performance

- Monitor customs execution performance and identify trends, exceptions, claims, and operational improvement opportunities

- Analyze recurring clearance issues and contribute to root-cause investigations and corrective action plans in alignment with logistics process specialists 

- Contribute to customs KPI achievement by proactively addressing clearance bottlenecks and compliance risks

- Support customs audits and regulatory inspections by providing accurate documentation, data, and clarifications

- Support implementation of new customs tools, systems, and process enhancements

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education

- University degree in Logistics / Supply Chain Management / International Trade / Business Administration / Finance or related field or equivalent working experience

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Experience

- 6 or more years of relevant working experience in a related position

- Hands-on experience with import and export customs documentation, clearance execution, duty and tax payment, and statutory reporting

- Experience working with customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, and customs authorities, including SLA follow-up, exception handling, and claims

Knowledge and skills

- Good knowledge of end-to-end customs processes including documentation, import and export clearance, duty and tax settlement, statutory reporting, exception and claims handling, and record retention

- Good knowledge of national and international customs regulations, licenses, permits, and free trade agreements à Senior role good knowledge

- Basic understanding of Incoterms, tariff classification (HS codes), customs valuation, rules of origin, dangerous goods regulations, and customs-related internal controls

- Good know-how in SAP (MM) and customs-related systems (customs portals, etc.) and MS Office

Other requirements

- Proficient command of both oral and written English and additional local language(s)

POSITION SCOPE

Reporting Line(s)

Solid line(s) to: Team Lead Transport