Global Customs Strategy Lead

AstraZeneca; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Luton is seeking a Global Customs Strategy Lead to drive their customs strategy and duty optimization across markets. This role requires significant experience in global customs compliance within highly regulated industries and expertise in customs systems like SAP S/4HANA. The successful candidate will engage with stakeholders to enhance processes and mitigate risks in a changing regulatory environment. Join us to make a significant impact in the world of medicine.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in compliance and international trade within the pharmaceutical sector.
• Deep expertise in tariff management and customs procedures.
• Ability to lead projects successfully in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver AstraZeneca’s global customs strategy.
• Act as project lead for customs in SAP S/4HANA transformation.
• Monitor global regulations and provide timely analysis.
• Identify and deliver customs optimization initiatives.

Skills

Global customs compliance

International trade experience

SAP GTS or similar systems

Customs optimization projects

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Job description

Are you ready to make a difference in the world of medicine? At AstraZeneca, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines and improve patient outcomes. As the Global Customs Strategy Lead, you will play a crucial role in ensuring our medicines move efficiently and compliantly across a dynamic global supply network, enabling us to serve patients worldwide swiftly and reliably. Reporting to the Global Head of Customs & International Trade, you will drive AstraZeneca’s customs strategy and duty optimization agenda across all markets. You will be a key partner in our enterprise-wide transformation initiative as AstraZeneca implements SAP S/4HANA, ensuring our customs and international trade processes and systems are aligned and future-ready. Are you ready to lead and innovate in a transforming environment?

Accountabilities:

• Support the Global Head of Customs & International Trade in defining and delivering AstraZeneca’s global customs strategy, policy, and standards.
• Act as a global project lead for customs and international trade within AstraZeneca’s SAP S/4HANA transformation, ensuring that customs processes, data, and compliance requirements are fully represented and delivered in system design and implementation.
• Serve as AstraZeneca’s authority on customs and tariffs, monitoring global regulations and providing timely analysis, guidance, and communication to stakeholders.
• Identify, develop, and deliver global duty recovery and customs optimization initiatives—including FTZ, IPR, customs warehousing, and similar.
• Lead or contribute to change management activities, stakeholder engagement, training, and communications on key global projects.
• Build and sustain strong internal and external relationships, including with customs authorities, internal departments, and industry bodies.
• Continuously assess, report, and mitigate customs-related regulatory and operational risks in a transforming environment.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Significant experience in global customs compliance and international trade, within the pharmaceutical or another highly regulated industry.
• Strong knowledge of customs systems (SAP GTS or similar) and demonstrated experience with large-scale ERP transformations, ideally SAP S/4HANA implementation.
• Deep expertise in global tariff management, classification, valuation, origin, special customs procedures (such as FTZ, IPR, customs warehousing), and the operational and financial impacts of customs on a global supply chain.
• A track record of successfully leading customs and trade optimization projects in multi-country, multi-functional environments.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver projects in changing, complex, and fast-paced environments.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience with cross-functional and multicultural teams.
• Ability to influence at all levels while embodying AstraZeneca’s values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, and a focus on patient impact.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca is where innovation meets dedication. Our Operations team is driven by a commitment to deliver accelerated growth for AstraZeneca while making people's lives better. We thrive in an intense environment that encourages out-of-the-box thinking and supports personal dedication. With cutting-edge science, Lean ways of working, and fast-changing digital technologies at our fingertips, we are constantly evolving how we work. Here, you have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and skills while contributing to a sustainable future. Join us as we turn molecules into medicines through rigorous development processes that positively impact local and global communities.

Ready to take the next step? Apply now to join our team!

Date Posted

24-Jul-2025

Closing Date

07-Aug-2025 Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.