Trade and Customs Manager EMEA

About the Opportunity

The role will be managing the Customs and Trade department, this department will be responsible for trade compliance and customs execution, will also take care of the service providers relation and will take the lead in the road-to-market specially in middle east. Within the service provider relation, the role will also take care of the DHL KPI follow up and review for the transport activities.

The final goal of the position will be to ensure all the import and export flows from/towards the DEMEA region are optimized, aligned with global import/export strategies and functional plans and comply with the trade requirements, in order to achieve our goals reducing leadtimes and delivering “delight”. Focus point for the team will be the export to Middle East and DOTA and the import seasons from Southern Hemisphere and UK

The position leads a team of logistics and trade professionals delivering performance. This position requires an experienced individual with a good balance of technical, business, people development and leadership competencies.

 

Responsibilities

   

Candidate Profile

Customs & International Trade Compliance

• Ensure full legal and ethical compliance with international Customs and Trade regulations across EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), including alignment with local authorities in the UK, Morocco, the EU, and other regions.
• Develop, implement, and maintain internal customs policies, procedures, and documentation to ensure operational adherence and audit readiness.
• Monitor and adapt to evolving customs legislation and trade agreements (e.g., UK-EU TCA, Agadir Agreement, EU-MENA accords), translating these into actionable business processes.
• Building a strong and reliable network of third parties, in fully alignment with rest of BU and global strategy that supports and boosts DEMEA future sizing and targets on reliability and efficiency.
• Manage and coordinate customs brokers and service providers, ensuring compliance, service performance, and cost efficiency.
• Act as the key liaison between customs functions and operational logistics teams to ensure seamless alignment between customs procedures and transportation flows.
• Lead cross-functional alignment and collaboration across sourcing, supply chain, logistics, and commercial teams for smooth import/export operations.
• Supervise the execution of customs formalities, ensuring accurate product classification (HS codes), valuation, and origin management.
• Identify and implement customs optimization opportunities, including simplifications, special procedures (e.g., transit, bonded warehousing), and duty savings schemes.
• Champion continuous improvement using Lean methodologies to reduce inefficiencies and eliminate bottlenecks in customs-related processes.
• Lead contingency planning and risk mitigation efforts related to international trade and customs operations.
• Actively contribute to the design and deployment of European customs initiatives and strategic projects, including systems upgrades or regulatory change implementations.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Support purchasing and supply chain teams in the selection and evaluation of customs brokers and trade compliance service providers, ensuring alignment with business and regulatory requirements.
• Promote customs and international trade awareness across internal stakeholders through training, communication, and strategic input.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

In addition to technical responsibilities, this role carries leadership duties across multiple countries. The candidate will be expected to:

• Develop and lead a multicultural team with direct reports across the UK, Morocco, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Deliver results individually and through others by applying sound people management practices across:
  • Workforce Planning: Align people strategy with business objectives.
  • Recruitment & Onboarding: Hire and integrate new team members across regions.
  • Performance Management: Set objectives and develop team competencies in line with functional goals.
  • Coaching & Development: Drive continuous growth and capability building in the team.
  • Wellbeing & Safety: Ensure a culture of physical, psychological, and food safety in line with company standards.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Foster cooperation between customs, operations, and commercial units.
  • Offboarding: Manage employee transitions with professionalism and integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education & Training

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Law, Economics, or a related field preferred.
• Relevant certifications in Customs Compliance, International Trade, or Export Control are a strong plus.

Experience

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in customs and trade compliance within an international environment.
• Hands-on experience in managing customs operations across EMEA, including regulatory interface, brokerage supervision, and international shipping documentation.
• Familiarity with the food or perishable goods sector is preferred.
• Experience leading teams or managing cross-border operations is desirable.