Director, Policy and Standards Directorate

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an independent intergovernmental body, established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs services across the globe. The WCO represents 187 Customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters.

As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between Customs delegates, the WCO offers its Members a range of Conventions and other international instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or with its participation. The Secretariat also actively supports its Members in their endeavours to modernize and build capacity within their Customs administrations, as well as fostering international cooperation among them.

As part of a larger modernization plan for the Organization, the WCO implemented a new structure as of 1 July 2025. The Secretariat currently has two technical Directorates that operate under the broad supervision of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General. One Directorate holds responsibility for developing WCO policy and standards, while the other is responsible for supporting implementation of the said policies and standards through capacity delivery, coordination of international operations and technical assistance.

BACKGROUND AND SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE VACANT POSITION

The Policy and Standards Directorate (PSD) was established to recentre attention and competences around the content of the WCO’s instruments and tools and to be able to produce and maintain WCO tools and instruments in an efficient and coherent manner. The PSD is responsible for the broad majority of WCO working bodies, with a policy development function, managed under the leadership of the Director of Policy and Standards.

The PSD consists of two Sub-Directorates, each managed by a Deputy Director: Nomenclature and Revenue (N&R) and Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology (EFT). N&R develops and maintains the Organization’s key instruments and tools on Nomenclature, Valuation and Origin. EFT focuses on policy development on topics related to Enforcement and Compliance, Facilitation and Data and Technology.

The Director Policy and Standards is charged with overseeing this work and is responsible for ensuring appropriate coordination with the Implementation and Capacity Development Directorate, as well as other relevant areas within the Organization. The Director is also expected to represent the WCO at high-level fora or in meetings with important stakeholders.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Under the supervision and leadership of the Secretary General, the Director of Policy and Standards focuses on the following key activities:

• Overseeing all activities of the Policy and Standards Directorate;
• Assuming direct responsibility and accountability for ensuring the expected quality and the timely completion of activities pertaining to the Strategic Plan portfolios and work stream falling within the area of the Directorate, and doing so within budgetary allocations;
• Supervising and ensuring the implementation of the Organization’s directives in the Directorate and the execution of the work decided upon;
• Safeguarding the WCO’s credibility, integrity, and results;
• Providing leadership, management direction and support to the work of the Directorate in areas of Customs Procedures and Facilitation Instruments related to, for example: Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), SAFE Framework of Standards (SAFE)/Supply Chain Security, WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), E-Commerce Framework of Standards, Coordinated Border Management, Time Release Study;
• Providing leadership, management direction and support in the areas of Customs Compliance and Enforcement, Public Health and Consumer Safety, Intellectual Property Rights;
• Providing leadership, management direction and support in the areas of Nomenclature, Valuation and Origin;
• Enabling and promoting active and consistent coordination between the teams developing policies and standards and the teams supporting Member administrations with implementation of these policies and standards, avoiding duplication and strengthening institutional coherence;
• Ensuring appropriate input for the monthly Management Committee meetings, preparing high-quality reports and proposals, including the identification of issues warranting leadership attention, supporting the development of corporate approaches that ensure coherence and consistency in the Organization’s actions, and executing such approaches consistent with the scope of responsibilities of the Policy and Standards Directorate;
• Representing the WCO at