Customs Lead

The Resource; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

PostNL Head office in The Hague seeks a Customs Lead to steer international customs strategy across e-commerce and platform lines, reporting to the Unit Director of PostNL International Network. You will lead global customs initiatives, shaping procedures for 13 countries and 200 destinations, and drive value through compliant cross-border operations.

You will bridge Tax, Legal, Public Affairs and Finance with fast-moving international business units, coaching a team of customs specialists and

Qualifications

• Academic background in Tax economics or Tax law, preferably with strong advisory experience in customs.
• At least 7 years’ experience in customs tax advisory at an advisory firm or in-house.
• Technical understanding of EU and global Customs legislation; experience with international e-commerce is a strong plus.
• Proactive, practical and solution and business-oriented mindset and ability to work in international environment.
• Excellent command of English.
• Strong communication and stakeholder collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a scalable customs strategy across PostNL’s international platforms
• Ensure full compliance with EU and international regulations, including IOSS/OSS schemes
• Lead, coach, and coordinate customs specialists in different countries, fostering collaboration and performance
• Advise senior management and act as PostNL’s representative externally with authorities such as the Dutch Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, PostEurop, IPC, and other industry bodies
• Translate new regulations into practical, business-ready solutions
• Monitor KPIs, audits, and the overall performance of customs operations

Skills

English proficiency

Stakeholder management

Regulatory interpretation

Cross-border e-commerce knowledge

Education

Academic background in Tax economics or Tax law

Job description

At the corporate Head office in The Hague this newly created strategic role for Customs Lead has arisen. You report to the Unit Director of PostNL International Network organisation. The role focusses and engages directly with the international business lines (e-commerce and platform business lines )of PostNL. You will lead their international customs strategy and shape the future of cross-border e-commerce.

At PostNL, customs operations are not new – across 13 countries, sending e-commerce to approximately 200 destinations, our dedicated specialists manage complex customs and VAT processes every day. The Customs Lead operates in the heart of the business and trying to overcome all the customs challenges the business is facing.

This is your opportunity to turn complexity into impact. You will coordinate the international customs operations, unlock value through collaboration, and ensure that every cross-border transaction is compliant and efficient and at the same time enabling the business to help their clients in a cost-efficient way.

You will be the bridge between PostNL Group (Tax, Legal, Public Affairs, Finance) and the fast-paced international businesses like Spring, combining strategic thinking with practical, hands‑on solutions.

• Visible impact: lead the coordination of customs activities across our business models and help our teams work smarter and more efficiently.
• Real challenges: navigate complex international markets, including fast-growing regions like the United States of America, the European Union and Middle East, where regulations and trade rules evolve constantly.
• Collaboration: work closely with senior specialists in Tax, Legal, Public Affairs, Finance, and fast-moving operational and commercial units to solve complex cross-border Customs challenges.
• Autonomy: shape your role, lead a team of customs specialists, and translate strategy into measurable business impact.
• Career growth: take a strategic leadership position, build an international team, and influence PostNL’s global trade operations.

As Customs Lead, you will:

• Develop and implement a scalable customs strategy across PostNL’s international platforms
• Ensure full compliance with EU and international regulations, including IOSS/OSS schemes
• Lead, coach, and coordinate customs specialists in different countries, fostering collaboration and performance
• Advise senior management and act as PostNL’s representative externally with authorities such as the Dutch Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, PostEurop, IPC, and other industry bodies
• Translate new regulations into practical, business-ready solutions
• Monitor KPIs, audits, and the overall performance of customs operations

This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity, turns regulatory challenges into commercial opportunities, and enjoys being at the center of strategy and execution.

At PostNL, we believe in a future where new ways of connecting help people, businesses and the world move forward. We grow our company, create sustainable value, lead through innovation and make impact that truly matters. For more than 225 years, PostNL has been your favourite deliverer.

E-commerce

In the Benelux, we are one of the largest players in e-commerce. As a shaper of a healthy future for e-commerce, we focus on best day delivery and offer customers and consumers more choice and convenience. For example through out-of-home solutions such as parcel lockers and new digital services.

Platforms

With Spring GDS and MyParcel we connect webshops, carriers and consumers worldwide. Our digital, scalable solutions give webshops maximum flexibility, fast access to new markets and a wide range of logistics services. By investing in technology, data and local expertise we support growth from the very first shipment to international scale.

Mail

For more than 225 years we have been delivering mail in the Netherlands. We are transforming into a future-proof postal service that remains accessible and reliable for everyone. That means adapting standard consumer mail delivery to two days, and later

Candidate

• Academic background in Tax economics or Tax law, preferably with strong advisory experience in customs.
• At least 7 years’ experience in customs tax advisory at an advisory firm or in-house.
• Technical understanding of EU and global Customs legislation; experience with international e-commerce is a strong plus.
• Proactive, practical and solution and business-oriented mindset and ability to work in international environment.
• Excellent command of English.
• Strong communication and stakeholder collaboration skills.