Head of Global Customs Compliance

What You Will Be Doing

As Head of Global Customs Compliance, you are the authoritative voice on customs matters across Umicore's global operations. Reporting directly to the Director of Transport & Trade Compliance, you will define, govern, and continuously improve Umicore's global customs compliance framework, spanning classification, valuation, origin, procedures, and duty management. You will provide deep technical expertise to regional teams and ensure that customs compliance is managed consistently, proactively, and efficiently across all regions.

This is a key role in shaping and elevating Umicore's customs capability, strengthening the team, building deep expertise across each customs pillar, and embedding a robust global customs framework that delivers both compliance assurance and tangible cost optimisation.

The role can be based in our office in Brussels or Hoboken in Belgium with regular presence on both locations.

Responsibilities

• Customs Framework Governance & Policy Ownership: Define, maintain, and continuously improve the global customs compliance framework: policies, standard operating procedures, classification databases, valuation standards, and origin determination procedures. Establish and govern global customs standards for each pillar: Classification, Valuation, Origin, Procedures, and Duty Management. Conduct periodic reviews and updates in response to regulatory changes, audit findings, and business evolution. Own the customs risk assessment methodology and ensure the framework serves as the single source of truth for regional execution.
• Technical Customs Expertise & Advisory: Serve as Umicore's primary customs subject matter expert, providing authoritative technical guidance on complex matters such as intercompany valuation (transfer pricing interface), tariff classification, preferential origin calculations, and customs procedure selection. Validate customs positions taken by regional teams and ensure consistency with the global framework. Support authority engagement including Binding Tariff Information (BTI) applications, AEO/trusted trader programmes, and advance rulings.
• Audit Preparedness & Support: Develop global customs audit-readiness standards and self-assessment tools. Provide technical support during customs audits across regions, particularly on valuation methodology, classification defence, and origin documentation. Ensure audit findings and lessons learned are codified, shared across regions, and incorporated into the global framework. Coordinate with the Head of Global Trade Compliance Operations on resource mobilisation during audit periods.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building: Lead and further develop the Global Customs team. Sharpen roles, set performance objectives, and develop the team's technical capabilities across all customs pillars. Deliver customs training programmes for regional teams and Business Units, fostering a culture of customs excellence and continuous professional development.
• Digitalisation, Data & Customs Cost Optimisation: Define customs business requirements for the Global Trade Management (GTM) system, including classification modules, valuation workflows, origin calculations, and reporting. Oversee customs data quality, reporting accuracy, and analytics capability. Drive customs cost optimisation by identifying and quantifying duty savings opportunities across regions through preferential origin, customs procedures (inward/outward processing, bonded warehousing), and correct classification. Develop and track customs KPIs and drive continuous process improvement across regions.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in customs compliance, with deep technical expertise in at least two customs pillars (classification, valuation, origin, procedures, or duty management). Experience gained in a multinational corporate environment and/or a specialised customs or trade compliance consultancy is equally valued.
• Master's degree in Business, Law, International Trade, Supply Chain, or a related discipline.
• In‑depth knowledge of international customs regulations: EU Union Customs Code (UCC), US Harmonised Tariff Schedule / CBP regulations, WTO Customs Valuation Agreement, and relevant APAC customs frameworks.
• Experience with customs audit management and authority engagement (BTI, AEO, advance rulings).
• Experience with customs cost optimisation and duty management strategies.
• Familiarity with trade compliance management systems (e.g., SAP GTS, AEB, or similar).
• Knowledge of customs operations in the context of specialty materials, precious metals, or recycled materials is a strong plus.
• Deep customs subject matter credibility, able to command respect from regional teams, business stakeholders, and external authorities as the authoritative customs voice.
• Strateg