Head of Customs Germany

Freight Appointments Ltd.; Niedersachsen; On-site; EUR 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Annual bonus

Pension scheme

Job summary

Freight Appointments Ltd. in Germany is seeking a senior leader to head the customs organisation with full P&L responsibility and broad strategic authority. The role requires hands-on leadership across multiple sites and a strong commercial mindset.

You will drive compliance, grow external customs services, advise clients, and collaborate with sales and operations while travelling between sites in Germany.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in customs and foreign trade law.
• Proven leadership across multiple sites.
• In-depth knowledge of German customs regulations.
• Commercial mindset; P&L experience advantageous.
• Fluent German and strong English.
• Strong data analytics skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the German customs organisation strategically and operationally, with full P&L responsibility.
• Lead, develop and motivate customs teams across several sites in Germany.
• Ensure a legally sound, fully compliant customs operation.
• Grow customs services for external clients and build new service offerings.
• Ensure reliable customs clearance for the company's own logistics business.
• Advise clients on complex customs and foreign trade questions.
• Develop processes and systems, with a focus on digitalisation and automation.
• Represent the company with the customs authorities, clients and industry associations.
• Work closely with sales and operations to offer clients joined-up solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Customs/Foreign trade

German language

English language

P&L responsibility

Analytical skills

Job description

Location: Germany, with travel between sites | Permanent | Full-time

On behalf of our client, one of the world's leading logistics providers, we are looking for an experienced leader to head their customs organisation in Germany.

This is far more than a compliance role. You will keep the customs business on a sound legal footing, own its results, and actively grow a customs services business for external clients.

What you will do

• Lead the German customs organisation strategically and operationally, with full P&L responsibility
• Lead, develop and motivate customs teams across several sites in Germany
• Ensure a legally sound, fully compliant customs operation
• Grow customs services for external clients and build new service offerings
• Ensure reliable customs clearance for the company's own logistics business
• Advise clients on complex customs and foreign trade questions
• Develop processes and systems, with a focus on digitalisation and automation
• Represent the company with the customs authorities, clients and industry associations
• Work closely with sales and operations to offer clients joined-up solutions

What you will bring

• Extensive experience in customs and foreign trade law, ideally eight years or more
• Proven leadership experience, ideally of teams across several sites
• In-depth knowledge of operational customs processes and German customs regulations
• A commercial mindset; experience of P&L responsibility or selling customs services is a strong advantage
• Fluent German and very good English
• Strong analytical skills and confidence with data

Your background

You do not need to come from freight forwarding. We would be equally pleased to hear from people at customs brokers and agencies, integrators, manufacturers and retailers, consultancies, or the German customs administration.

The package

A base salary of around €120,000, a company car and a 10% annual bonus based on target achievement. For the ideal candidate, there may be flexibility. You will also receive a permanent contract, a company pension scheme and further benefits.