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