Senior Customs Operations Administrator

APM Terminals; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Maersk in Rotterdam seeks a Senior Customs Operations Administrator to coordinate and manage complex import, export, and transit declarations, ensuring compliance and timely clearance. You will guide junior staff, analyze data, and drive improvements across processes and systems.

As a SME, you will build strong relationships with customers and authorities, support new business implementations, and lead continuous improvement initiatives in a fast-paced, international environment.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in customs operations or international trade compliance.
• Knowledge of import, export, transit and customs clearance procedures.
• Experience with perishables, veterinary goods, or controlled goods is an asset.
• Experience handling complex cases, audits and escalations.
• Strong communication in English; Dutch is an advantage.
• VOG background check may be required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage complex import, export, and transit declarations for timely clearance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert; provide guidance and coaching to team members.
• Investigate and resolve customs issues, minimizing risk.
• Ensure compliance with local and international regulations and internal standards.
• Build relationships with customers, authorities, carriers, and stakeholders.
• Analyze data, prepare reports, and advise on efficiency improvements.
• Own customer accounts and support new business implementations.
• Lead or participate in continuous improvement and automation projects.
• Support onboarding, training, and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Contribute to workload planning and achievement of team goals.
• Ensure timely completion of financial activities related to customs brokerage.

Skills

Customs operations expertise

Import/export procedures

Regulatory compliance

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

English communication

Dutch language (advantage)

Tools

Customs declaration systems

Trade compliance software

Job description

The Senior Customs Operations Administrator is responsible for coordinating and managing complex customs operations, ensuring full compliance with local and international customs regulations. Acting as a subject matter expert within the team, this role oversees end-to-end customs processes, supports less experienced colleagues, drives process improvements, and serves as a key point of contact for customers, customs authorities, and internal stakeholders.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee complex import, export, and transit declarations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely clearance of goods.
• Act as a subject matter expert for customs-related queries, providing guidance, coaching, and support to team members.
• Proactively identify, investigate, and resolve customs-related issues, exceptions, and escalations, minimizing operational and financial risk.
• Ensure compliance with all local customs regulations, statutory requirements, and internal compliance standards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, customs authorities, carriers, and internal stakeholders.
• Analyze operational data and prepare reports, providing recommendations to improve efficiency, service quality, and compliance.
• Take ownership of customer accounts and support implementation activities for new business and process changes.
• Lead or actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives, automation projects, and customs-related transformations.
• Support knowledge sharing, onboarding, and training activities within the team.
• Contribute to operational planning, workload distribution, and achievement of team performance objectives.
• Ensure all financial activities related to customs brokerage are completed accurately and within agreed timelines.

Required Skills and Experience

• Several years of experience in customs operations, customs brokerage, or international trade compliance.
• Strong knowledge of import, export, transit, and customs clearance procedures.
• Solid understanding of local customs regulations of fruit, vegetables and Veterinary goods and practical experience working with customs authorities.
• Experience handling complex customs cases, audits, escalations, and compliance-related matters.
• Proven ability to prioritize workload, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience with customs declaration systems and customs-related software.
• Advanced customer-facing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and support colleagues within the team.
• Strong communication skills in English; Dutch is an advantage.
• Experience with perishables, veterinary goods, or controlled goods is considered a strong asset.
• As part of our background check, you could be asked to obtain VOG.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking.

Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process.

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A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated container logistics company working to connect and simplify its customer's supply chains. As the global leader in shipping services, the company operates in 130 countries and employs roughly 100,000 people. With simple end-to-end offering of products and digital services, seamless customer engagement and a superior end-to-end delivery network, Maersk enables its customers to trade and grow by transporting goods anywhere - all over the world.