Customs Operations Manager

Purpose:   

• Responsible to lead and assist own customs teams to ensure all customs formalities and entries are handled according to the regulation and Union Customs Code (Unionszollkodex) based on costs and performance 

• Lead cost savings and other change initiatives within own area of responsibility 

• Lead, drive and support business continuity & growth within own area of responsibility 

• Clear focus on customer experience, while working with internal and external stakeholders 

• Close cooperation with the direct Country Customs Operations Manager to drive the operational processes, developments and improvements in the field of responsibility based on the company strategy 

• Providing the highest level of customer satisfaction while complying with regulations of authorities and laws 

• To create and build up team engagement & development of expertise  

Focus: Customs Compliance, Strategic Growth, and Leadership of Customs Operations & VAS activities 

In this role the company’s strategic objectives, focusing on operational excellence, compliance, and growth including Customs Services & Value Added Service logistics procedures. Key focus areas will include: 

• Further strengthening expertise in customs procedures 

• Acting as the primary operational contact for the Value Added Services within Customs Operations 

• Supporting and coordinating customs audits, inspections, and compliance reviews 

• Serving as the key operational interface between internal stakeholder departments 

• Acting as the operational contact person for customs authorities 

• Providing subject matter expertise to all relevant departments and operational interfaces 

• Continuously training, guiding, and raising awareness to operational teams 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Build a good working relationship with your direct reports and with your teams 

• Supervise and develop your direct reports and the teams through learning, development initiatives, coaching, goal setting, periodic feedback and reviews 

• Setting objectives, KPI´s, 1on1s in accordance with the Maersk Strategy, together with your manager 

• Improve constant team´s productivity and efficiency 

• Work closely with other Maersk functional units / stakeholder to ensure the timely and cost-effective customs formalities  

• Gain overall customs knowledge across the team and understand the legal requirements 

• Empower your direct reports and customs team members to take first action when a functional obstacle emerges 

• Escalate critical situations with appropriate recommendations 

• Build a good working relationship with vendors and customers to ensure customer satisfaction 

• Ensure new change initiatives are implemented by the team according to the standard global landscape 

• To have a can-do and cost saving mentality. Drive performance and savings projects using established Business Intelligence methods 

• To create and implement standards of operation with different stakeholders (i.e. internal Maersk stakeholders, Product, Implementation, Transport, CX, etc) 

• Ensure recording and report cost savings, service failures, cost changes and other input towards key measurements - KPI measurement & direct collaboration with Risk & Compliance Management 

• Drive our vendors to deliver highest reliability and performance 

• Drive projects and act as ambassador to support the company’s structure, strategy and results 

• Be part of internal and external meetings, understand needs and provide solutions 

• Understand and drive P&L for own geographic scope  

• To be first line of escalations for internal and external stakeholders 

• Generate high growth through initiatives like: 

• Ensure capacity planning is accurate  

• Focus on regular and extra Customs Services opportunities, on daily basis 

• Implement and adapt cost saving measures according to the strategy 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and/or at least 5 years of experience in Customs Services of practical knowledge or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

• Experience in leading and developing a team 

Technical skills and competencies 

• Strong negotiation skills 

• Ability to lead meetings 

• Strong understanding of Customs Services business, legislation & logistics 

• Articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent communication skills – in German and English language 

• Organizational and time management skills – multi-tasking and prioritizing, planning work activities efficiently to meet deadlines and high-level goals 

• Conflict resolution and negotiation – bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences 

• Drive for results and success, conveys a sense of urgency and drives issues to closure, persist despite obstacles and opposition 

• Team player – works together with others in the business unit to achieve results, fosters teamwork 

• Proven ability to deliver under pressure 

• Working knowledge of MS office products and the ability to quickly adapt to software