Customs Clearance Project Manager

Deutsche Post; Erlanger (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical, Dental, Vision

Paid Time Off

Employee discount program

Job summary

DHL is seeking a Customs Project Manager to lead and deliver large-scale digitalization initiatives across U.S. import/export operations.

You will manage programs from concept through full implementation, ensuring on-time, on-scope, and on-budget delivery with strong stakeholder engagement. The role requires senior-level project leadership, collaboration with Operations Digitalization Transformation Team and BIT, and partnership with operations, compliance, and global teams to scale customs

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in Network Operations, Customs Operations, BIT for Operations, or comparable environments.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects from initiation to completion.
• Exposure to customs clearance systems, trade compliance tools, or regulated operational environments strongly preferred.
• PMO or equivalent through experience

Responsibilities

• Apply formal project management methodologies, including scope definition, RAID tracking, milestone planning, governance cadence, and reporting.
• Translate project requirements and stakeholder interests into actionable objectives and tasks with structured, fact-based analysis.
• Manage multiple concurrent initiatives, assess priorities, dependencies, risks, and business impact while adhering to timelines and budgets.
• Track and report performance outcomes, tool adoption, operational improvements, and benefits realization with data-driven decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project management

Change management

Analytical thinking

Detail-oriented

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/CS/IS/Business Administration

Tools

JIRA

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

What makes DHL great?

Our People! We know each employee’s individual contributions make us the #1 Delivery and Logistics Company in the world.

Distinguished as No. 1 World's Best Workplace™ by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine

DHL is committed to maintaining an environment that empowers every team member to make the greatest possible impact on our business. Our culture is about personal commitment – to our business, to each other and to our global communities. DHL is dedicated to being a great place to work. In addition to competitive compensation packages, our employees enjoy a range of programs, services and benefits that bring the best to their personal lives.

Start YOUR career with DHL today…

The Customs Project Manager leads and delivers large-scale, cross functional digitalization initiatives designed to strengthen customs clearance performance, enhance operational efficiency, and elevate the customer experience across U.S. import and export operations. This role oversees complex programs from initial concept through full implementation, ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.

Working in close partnership with the Operations Digitalization Transformation Team and Business IT (BIT), the Senior Project Manager provides clear, consistent, and professional visibility to stakeholders at all levels. Success in this role requires a seasoned project leader with strong operational expertise, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and the ability to influence regional, global, and multi-functional environments. The position collaborates extensively with Operations, BIT, Compliance, Quality, and external providers to design, execute, and scale customs digitalization programs that support both regional growth and global strategic objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Project & Program Management

• Apply formal project management methodologies, including scope definition, RAID tracking, milestone planning, governance cadence, and reporting.
• Translate project requirements and stakeholder interests into actionable objectives and tasks, using structured, fact-based analysis to evaluate trade-offs, clarify priorities, and drive decisions.
• Manage multiple concurrent initiatives, continuously assessing priorities, dependencies, risks, and business impact to maintain focus and adapt plans as conditions change, while adhering to agreed timelines and budgets.
• Track and report performance outcomes, tool adoption, operational improvements, and benefits realization, using data and facts to identify issues, recommend corrective actions, and support prioritization decisions.

Cross-Functional Influence & Communication

• Maintain structured and transparent communication with BIT, USA and Regional OPS leaders, and global stakeholders across all project phases.
• Lead change management efforts to promote adoption of new tools and processes, including development of training materials, communication plans, and targeted country support.
• Work closely with global EGAP program teams to ensure alignment with global standards, effective knowledge sharing, and high-quality deliverables.
• Act as a trusted advisor to operational leaders, proactively addressing concerns, constructively challenging assumptions, navigating resistance, and influencing stakeholders without direct authority to drive alignment and decisions.

Change Management

• Create communication plans, training materials, SOP updates, and operational readiness assessments.
• Drive adoption across multisite and customs operations, proactively identifying resistance, adoption barriers, and stakeholder concerns and developing actions to address them.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in Network Operations, Customs Operations, BIT for Operations, or comparable environments.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects from initiation to completion.
• Exposure to customs clearance systems, trade compliance tools, or regulated operational environments strongly preferred.
• PMO or equivalent through experience

Skills

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into operational language.
• Strong organizational skills with proven ability to manage multiple competing initiatives simultaneously, assess priorities using data and business impact, and maintain focus as priorities and conditions change.
• Analytical and critical-thinking mindset with a strong results orientation and demonstrated ability to bring structure to ambiguity, evaluate trade-offs, and make fact-based recommendations.
• High attention to detail and disciplined execution.
• Fluency in English.

Preferred Qualifications:

Qualifications listed below, while not necessarily a requirement for this position in each circumstance, provide additional depth and value to the role.

• Working knowledge of DHL clearance applications (e.g., GCCP, DCE, PCT) or similar systems.
• Experience with project management tools (e.g., JIRA, MS Project, Smartsheet).
• Experience supporting training programs, SOP development, or structured stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with change management methodology.
• Customs Broker’s License preferred

Employee Benefits & Incentives:

DHL benefits and incentive offerings are designed to reflect a substantial experience for both employees and their dependents during their career and life journey. The specifics will vary, but wherever you join and in whatever role, you'll find our benefits and rewards are among the best in the industry. They include:

• Competitive Pay
• Bonus/Incentive Programs
• Retirement Savings – 401K with company match
• myShares – Voluntary plan to buy discounted company shares
• Medical, Dental, Vision, well-being programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Generous Paid Time Off – Starting at 4 Weeks (PT/FT)
• Paid Leave
• Employee Discount Program
• Employee Assistance & Work Life Program
• Outstanding training opportunities

DHL is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. The job application process includes this application and possibly one or more interviews. If you believe that you might need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail], and include your contact information and the requested accommodation. Only messages related to requests for these types of reasonable accommodations will be returned.

We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic, The EEO is the Law and supplement are available here: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov)