Customs - Import/Export Leader
Job Description Summary
As the Customs & Import / Export Leader - you will play a critical role in enabling business performance and customer satisfaction by ensuring cross-border operations are compliant, efficient, and cost-effective in a highly regulated aerospace environment.
As the Customs & Import / Export Leader - you will play a critical role in enabling business performance and customer satisfaction by ensuring cross-border operations are compliant, efficient, and cost-effective in a highly regulated aerospace environment.
You will help safeguard the company's license to operate while enabling market access, protecting on-time delivery, and optimizing total landed cost across the global movement of parts, engines, components, and technical data. As a senior subject matter expert and key decision-maker, you will work in close partnership with the Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) team to align governance, controls, and execution across customs, export controls, and sanctions compliance.
Job Description
Essential Responsibilities
Lead the customs and trade compliance strategy for Avio Aero import and export activities, ensuring alignment with business priorities, supply chain needs, and customer commitments
Provide strong leadership to the customs and trade compliance organization, developing talent, strengthening accountability, and promoting a culture of integrity and continuous improvement
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across Operations, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Legal, helping balance compliance, risk management, and business continuity
Drive strategic initiatives such as AEO authorization, product classification programs, and the digital transformation of customs and trade compliance processes
Oversee end-to-end customs operations for aerospace goods, including raw materials, spare parts, LRUs, engines, modules, and tooling, across both inbound and outbound flows
Ensure robust customs governance through accurate tariff classification, customs valuation, origin determination, and complete supporting documentation
Anticipate and resolve customs holds, clearance issues, and operational disruptions to protect on-time delivery across MRO, production, and customer programs
Ensure compliance with applicable EU and international export control regulations, sanctions, and embargo requirements, including dual-use controls where relevant
Lead export control classification, licensing, screening, and end-use/end-user reviews for products, components, technologies, re-exports, and intangible technology transfers
Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Security, Engineering, Program Management, and Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) to assess high-risk transactions and enable compliant business decisions
Lead or support internal and external audits, ensuring findings are addressed with timely and sustainable corrective actions
Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve customs and trade compliance processes across imports, exports, repairs, returns, and MRO flows
Enhance digitalization, data quality,
and system integration across ERP platforms, broker interfaces, and screening tools to improve visibility, predictability, and efficiency
Establish and monitor key performance indicators
Promote trade compliance awareness by helping design and deliver practical training programs that strengthen organizational capability and reduce avoidable risk
Required Qualifications
Bachelor/Master's degree in International Trade, Economics, Law, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
Additional postgraduate studies or professional certifications in Customs, Trade Compliance, or Export Control are considered a strong plus
Significant experience in customs, trade compliance, and import/export operations within a regulated industrial environment; aerospace or high-tech industry experience is preferred
Proven leadership experience, including team management and/or leading cross-functional compliance initiatives
Demonstrated expertise in export control and licensing for controlled goods and technologies, including classification and interaction with authorities and customs brokers
Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation, HS classification, customs valuation, origin rules, and special customs procedures relevant to aerospace operations.
Solid understanding of export controls, sanctions frameworks, and compliance governance
Strong analytical and reporting skills, including proficiency in Excel
Fluent English, both written and spoken
Work Visa, in accordance with local regulations, is required
Desired Qualifications
High level of integrity, sound judgment, and strong risk awareness
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly in fast-paced operational envir
As the Customs & Import / Export Leader - you will play a critical role in enabling business performance and customer satisfaction by ensuring cross-border operations are compliant, efficient, and cost-effective in a highly regulated aerospace environment.
As the Customs & Import / Export Leader - you will play a critical role in enabling business performance and customer satisfaction by ensuring cross-border operations are compliant, efficient, and cost-effective in a highly regulated aerospace environment.
You will help safeguard the company's license to operate while enabling market access, protecting on-time delivery, and optimizing total landed cost across the global movement of parts, engines, components, and technical data. As a senior subject matter expert and key decision-maker, you will work in close partnership with the Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) team to align governance, controls, and execution across customs, export controls, and sanctions compliance.
Job Description
Essential Responsibilities
Lead the customs and trade compliance strategy for Avio Aero import and export activities, ensuring alignment with business priorities, supply chain needs, and customer commitments
Provide strong leadership to the customs and trade compliance organization, developing talent, strengthening accountability, and promoting a culture of integrity and continuous improvement
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across Operations, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Legal, helping balance compliance, risk management, and business continuity
Drive strategic initiatives such as AEO authorization, product classification programs, and the digital transformation of customs and trade compliance processes
Oversee end-to-end customs operations for aerospace goods, including raw materials, spare parts, LRUs, engines, modules, and tooling, across both inbound and outbound flows
Ensure robust customs governance through accurate tariff classification, customs valuation, origin determination, and complete supporting documentation
Anticipate and resolve customs holds, clearance issues, and operational disruptions to protect on-time delivery across MRO, production, and customer programs
Ensure compliance with applicable EU and international export control regulations, sanctions, and embargo requirements, including dual-use controls where relevant
Lead export control classification, licensing, screening, and end-use/end-user reviews for products, components, technologies, re-exports, and intangible technology transfers
Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Security, Engineering, Program Management, and Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) to assess high-risk transactions and enable compliant business decisions
Lead or support internal and external audits, ensuring findings are addressed with timely and sustainable corrective actions
Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve customs and trade compliance processes across imports, exports, repairs, returns, and MRO flows
Enhance digitalization, data quality,
and system integration across ERP platforms, broker interfaces, and screening tools to improve visibility, predictability, and efficiency
Establish and monitor key performance indicators
Promote trade compliance awareness by helping design and deliver practical training programs that strengthen organizational capability and reduce avoidable risk
Required Qualifications
Bachelor/Master's degree in International Trade, Economics, Law, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
Additional postgraduate studies or professional certifications in Customs, Trade Compliance, or Export Control are considered a strong plus
Significant experience in customs, trade compliance, and import/export operations within a regulated industrial environment; aerospace or high-tech industry experience is preferred
Proven leadership experience, including team management and/or leading cross-functional compliance initiatives
Demonstrated expertise in export control and licensing for controlled goods and technologies, including classification and interaction with authorities and customs brokers
Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation, HS classification, customs valuation, origin rules, and special customs procedures relevant to aerospace operations.
Solid understanding of export controls, sanctions frameworks, and compliance governance
Strong analytical and reporting skills, including proficiency in Excel
Fluent English, both written and spoken
Work Visa, in accordance with local regulations, is required
Desired Qualifications
High level of integrity, sound judgment, and strong risk awareness
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly in fast-paced operational envir