Director Policy and Standards, Geneva

POLICY AND STANDARDS DIRECTORATEDirector

1. INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTIONThe World Customs Organization (WCO) is an independent intergovernmental body,established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), whose mission is toenhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs services across the globe. The WCOrepresents 187 Customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of worldtrade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only internationalorganization with competence in Customs matters.
As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between Customs delegates, the WCOoffers its Members a range of Conventions and other international instruments, as well astechnical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or withits participation. The Secretariat also actively supports its Members in their endeavours tomodernize and build capacity within their Customs administrations, as well as fosteringinternational cooperation among them.
As part of a larger modernization plan for the Organization, the WCO implemented a newstructure as of 1 July 2025. The Secretariat currently has two technical Directorates thatoperate under the broad supervision of the Secretary General and the Deputy SecretaryGeneral. One Directorate holds responsibility for developing WCO policy and standards, whilethe other is responsible for supporting implementation of the said policies and standardsthrough capacity delivery, coordination of international operations and technical assistance.2. BACKGROUND AND SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE VACANT POSITIONThe Policy and Standards Directorate (PSD) was established to recentre attention andcompetences around the content of the WCO’s instruments and tools and to be able toproduce and maintain WCO tools and instruments in an efficient and coherent manner. ThePSD is responsible for the broad majority of WCO working bodies, with a policy developmentfunction, 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&Rdevelops and maintains the Organization’s key instruments and tools on Nomenclature,Valuation and Origin. EFT focuses on policy development on topics related to Enforcementand Compliance, Facilitation and Data and Technology.

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

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Overseeing all activities of the Policy and Standards Directorate;
• Assuming direct responsibility and accountability for ensuring the expected qualityand the timely completion of activities pertaining to the Strategic Plan portfoliosand work stream falling within the area of the Directorate, and doing so withinbudgetary allocations;
• Supervising and ensuring the implementation of the Organization’s directives inthe 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 theDirectorate in areas of Customs Procedures and Facilitation Instruments relatedto, 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, TimeRelease Study;
• Providing leadership, management direction and support in the areas of CustomsCompliance and Enforcement, Public Health and Consumer Safety, IntellectualProperty Rights;
• Providing leadership, management direction and support in the areas ofNomenclature, Valuation and Origin;
• Enabling and promoting active and consistent coordination between the teamsdeveloping policies and standards and the teams supporting Memberadministrations with implementation of these policies and standards, avoidingduplication and strengthening institutional coherence;
• Ensuring appropriate input for the monthly Management Committee meetings,preparing high-quality reports and proposals, including the identification of issueswarranting leadership attention, supporting the development of corporateapproaches that ensure coherence and consistency in the Organization’s actions,and executing such approaches consistent with the scope of responsibilities of thePolicy and Standards Directorate;
• Representing the WCO at high level fora or in meetings with Members, relevantpartners and stakeholders, to promote the WCO’s mandate and strategicinitiatives; <