Customs Manager

The Customs Manager will lead and coordinate customs and trade compliance activities across the Africa and Middle East region. The role is responsible for ensuring compliant, efficient and cost-effective import and export operations while minimizing customs risks, delays, penalties and additional costs.

The Customs Manager will also supervise a customs team, ensuring effective task allocation, performance management, capability development and consistent execution across the region.

The role will work closely with Logistics, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, Finance, Tax, Legal, local operations and external service providers.

• Ensure compliance with applicable customs, import, export and international trade regulations across the AME region.
• Lead and supervise the customs team, setting priorities, allocating responsibilities and ensuring effective day-to-day execution.
• Provide coaching, guidance and performance feedback to team members, supporting their professional development.
• Ensure appropriate workload distribution, operational coverage and continuity within the customs function.
• Coordinate and oversee customs clearance activities, acting as the main escalation point for delays, inspections, disputes and complex customs matters.
• Ensure the accuracy of customs declarations, tariff classifications, customs valuation, country of origin and supporting documentation.
• Monitor regulatory changes and translate new requirements into practical procedures and controls.
• Develop, implement and maintain regional customs policies, standard operating procedures and compliance controls.
• Manage relationships with customs brokers, freight forwarders, consultants and customs authorities.
• Monitor service-provider performance, including clearance lead times, declaration accuracy, costs and compliance incidents.
• Identify opportunities to optimize customs duties and costs through free trade agreements, duty exemptions, temporary admission, bonded warehousing and other customs regimes.
• Support customs audits, inspections and investigations, ensuring that corrective actions are implemented on time.
• Provide customs advice for new products, suppliers, customers, routes, contracts and business models.
• Deliver customs training and guidance to Logistics, Supply Chain and other relevant teams.
• Prepare regular reports on customs performance, risks, costs, penalties, audits and improvement initiatives.
• Drive standardization, digitalization and continuous improvement of customs processes across the region.

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• Strong experience in customs, international trade, import/export operations or trade compliance.
• Previous experience in a senior customs or regional coordination role.
• Strong knowledge of tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, free trade agreements, customs documentation and special customs procedures.
• Proven experience working with customs authorities, customs brokers, freight forwarders and logistics service providers.
• Experience supporting customs audits, disputes, compliance reviews and corrective-action plans.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and matrix organization.
• High level of integrity, accuracy, accountability and professional judgement.
• Fluent written and spoken English. Arabic would be an advantage.

• Experience with SAP, ERP systems or customs compliance tools would be beneficial.
• Experience managing customs operations across multiple countries, preferably within Africa and the Middle East.
• Availability to travel within the AME region when required.