Customs & Trade Compliance Director

The Customs & Trade Compliance Senior Manager at Autoliv is responsible for ensuring global adherence to international customs laws, export controls, and trade sanctions. This role involves monitoring regulatory changes, optimizing customs processes, leveraging trade agreements, and collaborating across departments to harmonize compliance practices. The position requires strong leadership, cross-functional coordination, and expertise in customs classification, risk mitigation, and international trade regulations.

Job Summary:

• Ensure adherence to international customs laws and regulations as well as export controls and sanctions across all regions of operation.
• Monitor changes in trade regulations and assess their impact on the business.
• Identify and leverage free trade agreements (FTAs) and other preferential trade arrangements globally.
• Steer and coordinate divisional customs & trade experts (e.g. establishing and leading a Customs & Trade Compliance expert forum).
• Support the VP Global Logistics and the regional Customs and Trade compliance teams in ensuring that sanctions and export control regulations are adhered to by Autoliv, including examining red flag indicators in business transactions by functioning as the global logistics contact person for AS304 on export controls.
• Ensure proper classification of goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and support harmonization across regions.
• Continuous improvement with the accurate data (Customs classification, Country and preferential origin…) and operational support to reduce deviations.
• Provide regular updates on financial impacts of changes in tariffs.
• Process owner for customs processes: develop and implement strategies to streamline customs processes and reduce clearance times.
• Macro view on international market developments of international trade.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with customs operations, trade sanctions and export controls, including tariff classifications and valuation.
• Collaborate with Logistics, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, Tax and Compliance to streamline customs & trade compliance (e.g. sanctions, export controls) processes.
• Provide training and guidance to team members on customs & trade compliance regulations and best practices.
• Generate and analyze reports on customs activities, performance metrics, and trade compliance status.

Strategic Context and Challenges:

• Low digital standardization across regions with local ways of working in the plants.
• Aligning various interests across the regions to define global standards and digital solutions that benefit Autoliv as a whole.
• Establish strong collaboration with stakeholders and across management levels.
• Overcoming resistance to change.
• Driving decisions across regions.
• Most critical stakeholders: Divisional Logistics & IT, Purchasing, Compliance, external system providers.

Deliverables:

• Adhere to international customs laws and regulations, including export controls and sanctions.
• Monitor changes in trade regulations and assess business impact, propose and drive action plans.
• Leverage free trade agreements and preferential trade arrangements.
• Classify goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
• Optimize customs and export controls processes and reduce clearance times.
• Identify and mitigate risks in customs operations.
• Collaborate with logistics, purchasing, and supply chain teams.
• Train and guide team members on customs and export controls regulations.
• Generate and analyze reports on customs activities and compliance.
• Ensure global availability of reliable customs related data (e.g. HTS codes, financial impact)

What we are looking for in our ideal candidate:

• Bachelor’s Degree - Preferred fields include logistics, international trade, supply chain management, business administration, or related discipline.
• Advanced Degree (optional): A master's in global trade, customs law, or business management can be an advantage.
• Proactive attitude & self-motivated.
• Growth mindset, collaborative way of working.
• Excellent communication (Fluent English).
• Active listener and good Team Player.
• Quick Learning.
• Able to work with people on different levels of organization.
• Ability to make fact-based decisions.
• Adaptability and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel.
• Willingness to work in a matrix organization.

Certifications/Accreditations:

• Customs Certification: (e.g., Certified Customs Specialist or Certified Customs Compliance Specialist).
• Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) are valuable.
• Knowledge of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and import/export compliance procedures.

Our offer:

• Daily cooperation with global teams on interesting projects.
• Entrepreneurial culture with a possibility to drive innovation.
• 6 weeks paid vacation per year.
• Above average benefits including solid company’s pension plan and healthcare benefits.
• Home office.
• Paid company mobile.

You are a curious and analytical person. You have a desire for continuous improvement, the ability to think E2E and you have strong stakeholder management and communication skills. You are also able to operate and navigate in a global matrix organization and open for frequent travels. This global role is located in Zug (Central Switzerland). All candidates must have a valid work and residence permit, enabling them to legally work in Switzerland. We are excited to receive your application (CV and motivation letter in English) via our Career Talent Tool.