Customs Manager – Africa & Middle East

About the role

The Customs Manager will lead customs and trade compliance activities across the Africa and Middle East region. You will ensure efficient, cost‑effective import and export operations while minimizing customs risks and penalties. The role also includes supervising a dedicated customs team and collaborating with multiple internal functions.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all customs, import, export and international trade regulations in the AME region.
• Lead, coach and allocate tasks for the customs team, managing performance and development.
• Oversee customs clearance, acting as escalation point for delays, inspections and disputes.
• Validate customs declarations, tariff classifications, valuation, country of origin and supporting documents.
• Monitor regulatory changes and translate them into practical procedures.
• Develop and maintain regional customs policies, SOPs and compliance controls.
• Manage relationships with brokers, freight forwarders, consultants and customs authorities.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities through free‑trade agreements, duty exemptions and bonded warehousing.
• Support customs audits, inspections and investigations, ensuring timely corrective actions.
• Provide customs advice for new products, suppliers, routes and contracts.
• Deliver training and guidance to logistics, supply‑chain and other relevant teams.
• Prepare regular performance, risk and cost reports and drive continuous improvement.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Customs, Logistics or a related field.
• Proven experience in customs compliance and managing a customs team.
• Strong knowledge of import/export regulations, tariff classification and customs valuation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with Logistics, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal and external partners.

Required skills

• Customs compliance and trade regulation expertise
• Tariff classification and customs valuation
• Country of origin documentation
• Free‑trade agreement utilization and duty optimization
• Customs audit support and investigation handling
• Digitalisation of customs processes