Customs and Trade Manager Mexico

Barry Callebaut; San Pedro Garza García; On-site; MXN 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Iberica SA Mexico is seeking a Customs and Trade Manager to oversee IMMEX operations, regulate imports/exports, and ensure compliance with Annex 24/30, VAT, and related Mexican regulations.

You will lead the local customs and trade team, coordinate with Finance, Tax, Legal, IT, and external brokers, and act as the main liaison with ANAM, SAT, and other authorities during audits and renewals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in International Trade, Customs, Law, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Business or related field.
• Master's degree or customs/trade certification is preferred.
• 8-12+ years of experience in customs and trade with IMMEX/Maquila exposure.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day IMMEX/Maquila operations and compliance activities.
• Manage Annex 24 inventory and Annex 30 VAT reporting and reconciliations.
• Oversee brokers, HS classification, valuation, and origin management.

Skills

Regulatory analysis

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in International Trade

Master's in Customs/Trade (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft 365

SAP/ERP

Customs systems

Job description

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide.We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

About the Role

The Customs and Trade Manager Mexico is responsible for the overall management, governance, and compliance of customs and trade activities across Mexico, with a strong focus on IMMEX (Maquila) operations. This role ensures compliance with customs, tax, foreign trade, and inventory control requirements while supporting business continuity, operational excellence, and cost optimization. The position serves as the key liaison between business functions and Mexican authorities, helping maintain IMMEX benefits, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance across all Mexico sites.

Key Responsibilities Include

Lead day-to-day IMMEX/Maquila operations, including temporary imports and exports, virtual operations, inventory balances, permits, certifications, and compliance calendars.

Ensure accurate and timely Annex 24 inventory control and Annex 30 VAT certification reporting, including reconciliations and discrepancy resolution.

Oversee customs brokers, pedimentos, HS classification, valuation, origin management, documentation quality, KPI monitoring, and corrective actions.

Coordinate with Finance and Tax teams to manage VAT and duty exposure, tax obligations, audit support, accruals, payment tracking, and risk mitigation.

Act as the primary company contact with ANAM, SAT, the Ministry of Economy, and other regulatory agencies during audits, inspections, renewals, and compliance requests.

Translate regulatory requirements into practical processes across Operations, Logistics, Finance, Tax, Legal, IT, and Global Customs & Trade teams.

Maintain customs and trade risk registers, lead internal and external audits, close findings, and strengthen internal controls.

Drive continuous improvement, automation, digitalization, and compliance-enhancing initiatives across customs and trade processes.

Manage and develop the local customs and trade team on a day-to-day basis.

About You

Bachelor's degree in International Trade, Customs, Law, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field is required.

Master's degree or customs/trade certification is preferred.

8-12+ years of experience in customs and trade, with strong exposure to IMMEX/Maquila operations, customs compliance, foreign trade, tax/VAT, or manufacturing supply chains.

3-5+ years of leadership experience managing teams and/or cross-functional programs.

Deep knowledge of Mexican Customs Law, RGCE, IMMEX Decree, Annex 24, Annex 30, VAT certification, pedimentos, HS classification, valuation, origin, and customs audits.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex regulations and data.

Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Fluency in Spanish and English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Experience with Microsoft 365 is required; SAP/ERP and customs systems experience is preferred.

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we've experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong.#oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.