Senior Manager Customs Regulation Specialist (m/f/d)

DHL; Bonn; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

DHL is seeking a Senior Manager Customs Regulation Specialist to lead regulatory enablement within the Global Customs Process organization. You will interpret international, regional, and local customs legislation, translate compliance into data fields, process logic, KPIs, and automation rules, and support audits and regulatory reviews across a global scope.

The role requires a law/trade compliance degree, 5+ years in customs or trade regulation, and strong English proficiency.

Qualifications

• Degree in law, trade compliance, or similar field.
• 5+ years in customs, international trade regulation or customs administration.
• English fluency required; other languages beneficial in a global customs context.
• Deep understanding of EU or multi-regional customs law, import VAT, excise rules, indirect taxation, and customs risk management.
• Knowledge of DHL Ops and ideally Customs processes, procedures and compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical and conceptual ability to translate legislation into implications for process rules.
• Excellent communication & stakeholder management across regions.

Responsibilities

• Validate that global process design and business requirements fully incorporate legal requirements, trade controls and internal control obligations.
• Review process changes and standardization proposals for regulatory compliance before approval.
• Review and approve business capabilities align with compliance & regulatory requirements, participating in UAT.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and derive strategic and process impacts.
• Maintain regulatory watchlists and communicate changes to GPOs, Architects, IT, Automation, and Operations.
• Interpret international and regional customs regulations and enable their translation into end‑to‑end process requirements.
• Identify mandatory checks, data elements, filing requirements, prohibited/controlled goods rules, and documentary obligations.
• Support internal/external customs audits, administrative procedures and regulatory reviews.
• Closely collaborate with the global and regional Compliance & Regulatory Affairs team with regards to requirements and legal changes.
• Act as the customs regulatory expert for Process Owners, Architects, Solution Design, Business Capability team and regional SMEs.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Regulatory horizon scanning

Education

Degree in law or trade compliance

Job description

Are you ready to help transform Customs Operations at DHL Express—Globally?

We are launching one of the most ambitious Customs Transformation programs in our history, and we’re looking for exceptional people who want to make a real, lasting impact. This is a once in a career opportunity to be part of a major, multi-year change program spanning people, processes, and technology—designed to radically elevate our Customs Operations and Quality across DHL Express Globally. We are scaling our Global Operations and IT business teams from fewer than 30 colleagues today to more than 100+ high impact professionals, building new capabilities and strengthening existing ones. This includes establishing a best-in-class Program Management Office (PMO), creating a Global Customs Process team, expanding Business Capability teams (currently CCG), growing our Business IT teams, and significantly increasing investment in IT development and solution capabilities. This is not a short-term initiative. Customs Transformation represents a long-term capability strategy, backed by an investment of over €100 million, to deliver smarter processes, more powerful systems, and a future ready Customs Operations landscape.

It will be complex. It will be demanding. At times, it will be frustrating. But for those who thrive on challenge, impact, scale, and purpose, it will also be deeply rewarding. Your work will directly shape how DHL Express delivers excellence to customers around the world.

If you want to be part of something big and truly transformational—this is your moment.

We are looking for a Senior Manager Customs Regulation Specialist.

Role Location: Whilst this role has been advertised as located in a specific location, we will also be considering locating this role at other GHO locations in Europe, including Bonn, Brussels, Maastricht and Leipzig.

As Senior Manager Customs Regulation Specialist, you will serve as the regulatory enabler within the Global Customs Process organization. This role interprets international, regional and local customs legislation, advises and reviews convergence into clear business process requirements, and ensures that DHL’s global customs processes are legally compliant. The role also supports regulatory horizon scanning, develops group‑wide customs standards, and enables the translation of compliance requirements into data fields, process logic, KPIs, and (indirectly) automation rules.

How will you contribute to the success of DHL?

Ensure Process and Capability Design meets Regulatory Requirements

• Validate that global process design and business requirements fully incorporate legal requirements, trade controls and internal control obligations.
• Review process changes and standardization proposals for regulatory compliance before approval.
• Review and approve business capabilities align with compliance & regulatory requirements, participating in UAT.

Scan & Interpret Regulatory Horizon

• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and derive strategic and process impacts.
• Maintain regulatory watchlists and communicate changes to GPOs, Architects, IT, Automation, and Operations, breaking down legal content for non‑legal audiences in an easy-to-understand and structured format.
• Interpret international and regional customs regulations and enable their translation them into end‑to‑end process requirements, improving compliance clarity for all stakeholders regardless of regulatory expertise.
• Identify mandatory checks, data elements, filing requirements, prohibited/controlled goods rules, and documentary obligations.

Support Audits, Authorities & Compliance Reviews

• Support internal/external customs audits, administrative procedures and regulatory reviews.

Align with Stakeholder Alignment & Expert Leadership

• Closely collaborate with the global and regional Compliance & Regulatory Affairs team with regards to requirements and legal changes.
• Act as the customs regulatory expert for Process Owners, Architects, Solution Design, Business Capability team and regional SMEs.

Do you have what it takes?

• Degree in law, trade compliance, or similar legally‑aligned field (preferred)
• 5+ years of professional experience in customs, international trade regulation, compliance or customs administration, ideally in a global logistics environment
• English fluency required; other languages are beneficial in a global customs context.
• Deep understanding of EU or multi‑regional customs law, import VAT, excise rules, indirect taxation, and customs risk management.
• Knowledge if DHL Ops and ideally Customs processes, procedures and compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical and conceptual ability to translate legislation into implications for process rules.
• Excellent communication & stakeholder management across regions

DHL is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.