Director Customs Automation - Global Business IT

dhl express (singapore) pte. ltd.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

DHL Express (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. seeks a Director of Customs Automation to lead a global portfolio of automation, BI, and AI-enabled solutions across customs processes. You will shape the strategy, roadmaps, and governance to deliver measurable value at enterprise scale.

As a senior leader, you will collaborate with stakeholders worldwide, translate regulatory requirements into scalable technology, and drive data-driven transformation across diverse teams and markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering/Data Science or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in technology, product management, or analytics.
• Experience leading large-scale digital transformation and automation initiatives.
• 7+ years in data-intensive product development or delivery.
• Strong knowledge of AI, ML, Generative AI, and LLMs.
• Experience with Python or similar data/automation tools.
• Proven ability to manage complex technology products across markets.
• Strong stakeholder-management and leadership skills.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Digital transformation

AI & data technologies

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Global collaboration

Regulatory alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering/Data Science or equivalent

Equivalent professional experience

Tools

Python

Job description

The Director, Customs Automation provides strategic product and technology leadership for Customs Automation Solutions within the business.

The role is accountable for a global portfolio of automation, business intelligence (BI) and AI-enabled solutions supporting end-to-end customs process automation. As a senior leadership , this role is responsible for defining and delivering the global AI, automation and digital transformation strategy for customs processes, from strategy and product roadmap development through implementation and value realisation.

Working closely with various internal stakeholders, the role ensures that solutions are scalable, resilient, data-driven while aligned with enterprise technology and regulatory requirements, to translate business priorities into a coherent automation roadmap, governs delivery and drives measurable business outcomes at global scale.

How You Will Contribute

Strategic Vision and Transformation

• Define and communicate the global Customs Automation vision and strategy, aligned with the business objectives, evolving customer requirements, technology developments and market opportunities.
• Develop long-term, data-driven product roadmaps covering AI, intelligent automation and agentic solutions, balancing near-term business priorities with longer-term transformation objectives.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI, automation and predictive analytics to improve business decision-making, operational efficiency and digital transformation.
• Translate customs and operational requirements into technology strategies and scalable solutions.
• Establish appropriate governance, prioritisation and performance measures for the automation portfolio.

Product Portfolio Management and Delivery

• Lead a global portfolio of complex customs automation products and solutions across varying levels of technical and operational complexity.
• Ensure alignment and cohesion across product roadmaps to optimise customer value and business outcomes.
• Oversee product lifecycles from concept, design and development through deployment, adoption and continuous improvement.
• Identify digitalisation opportunities to improve customs and operational processes.
• Provide governance to support the timely and cost-effective delivery of programmes and product roadmaps.
• Define and monitor relevant KPIs and success measures, including product adoption, customer experience, operational efficiency and business value.
• Apply AI-driven analytics and other technologies to identify opportunities for further process improvement.

People Leadership and Capability Development

• Lead a global Customs Automation organisation, including approximately 4-7 members in Senior Product Manager and Product Manager roles and approximately 20 - 30 indirect resources supporting delivery.
• Build, lead, coach and develop a high-performing global team.
• Assess current and future capability requirements and support the development of relevant technical, product and leadership skills.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, experimentation, accountability and continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build strong partnerships across relevant business and technology functions.
• Align priorities across business and technology teams and facilitate resolution of competing requirements where necessary.
• Strengthen collaboration between business and IT through Agile and DevOps ways of working.
• Champion customer and business-driven product development, ensuring technology solutions contribute to improved operational efficiency, cost effectiveness, risk management and sustainable business growth.
• Translate effectively between technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure technology initiatives address Network Operations requirements.

Financial and Resource Management

• Manage an annual Network Operations IT budget of approximately 10 million, subject to the applicable business planning and governance cycle.
• Manage product build and run investments to support effective use of resources.
• Allocate resources across products and initiatives according to business priorities, capacity and expected value.
• Apply a value-based approach to investment prioritisation and resource allocation.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a senior IT Business Partner for Network Operations Customs Clearance products and platforms.
• Communicate product strategy, priorities and roadmaps to senior stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates on portfolio performance, delivery progress, risks, dependencies and key initiatives.
• Lead functional reviews to align business priorities with technology solutions.
• Build effective relationships with vendors and solution providers and oversee delivery against agreed business and technology requirements.
• Drive alignment across global, regional and cross-divisional stakeholders.

What We Are Looking For

Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate the following job-related qualifications, skills and experience:

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Data Science or another relevant discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in technology, product management, digital transformation, analytics or customer-facing technical roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex digital transformation, automation, analytics or technology initiatives in a large-scale organisational environment.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in data-intensive product development, product management or comparable technology solution delivery.
• Strong knowledge of AI and data technologies, including Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), machine learning and model evaluation approaches.
• Working knowledge of relevant technical and analytical technologies, including Python or comparable data and automation technologies.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex technology products or portfolios across multiple stakeholders, functions or markets.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior business and technology leaders.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including building, coaching and developing teams.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, global and regulated business environments.

Advantageous

The following would be beneficial but are not mandatory unless required for successful performance of the role:

• Experience in customs, logistics, supply chain, network operations or another highly regulated operational environment.
• Experience implementing AI, automation, BI or predictive analytics solutions at enterprise scale.
• Experience with Agile and DevOps delivery methodologies.
• Relevant professional certification in Agile, product management, technology or related disciplines.
• Experience managing sizeable technology budgets and complex vendor relationships.