Customs & Trade Compliance Manager

Description Responsibilities include: • Hold full functional and disciplinary responsibility for all Customs, Trade, and Compliance activities for Travel Retail China & China mainland with end-to-end accountability for the Hainan operational Distribution Center and related bonded operations. • Ensure full compliance of imports, exports, border crossings, bonded-to-duty-free, bonded-to-bonded, and domestic transfer flows in accordance with PRC Customs (GACC) regulations and local Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) requirements. • Act as the primary accountable owner for compliance with Chinese Customs authorities (GACC), local Customs offices, and Hainan FTP regulatory bodies, including coordination on inspections, audits, and regulatory inquiries. • Manage and resolve daily operational Customs compliance issues, including Customs holds, inspection findings, HS classification disputes, valuation questions, and documentation discrepancies for both regions • Oversee and monitor all import, bonded warehouse, processing trade (if applicable), and export declarations, ensuring accurate filing via China International Trade “Single Window”, timely clearance, and correct use of supervision codes. • Ensure compliance with Hainan FTP–specific duty-free and bonded policies, including eligibility rules, inventory control, consumer quotas (where applicable), and regulatory reporting requirements. • Develop, update, and maintain China-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering: o Bonded warehouse operations o Duty-free and FTP handling o Customs declaration processes o CIQ-related requirements (where relevant) o Customs inspection and audit readiness • Design, develop, and coordinate internal Customs and Trade Compliance training programs, with a strong focus on: o China Customs regulations o Hainan FTP policy frameworks o Bonded and duty-free operational controls o HS classification and valuation principles specific to China • Plan, implement, and execute internal and external Customs compliance audits, including audits of customs brokers, bonded warehouse operators, and logistics partners, ensuring adherence to PRC regulatory standards. • Stay continuously current on changes in Chinese laws, regulations, and administrative practices impacting Customs, trade compliance, and logistics—proactively assessing business impact and defining mitigation measures. • Provide clear leadership, direction, and technical guidance to Customs compliance staff and key internal stakeholders across Travel Retail China. • Ensure strict compliance with China-specific and international regulatory frameworks, including: o Bonded warehouse and FTP supervision models o Preferential origin and FTA application under China Customs rules o China AEO / Advanced Certified Enterprise requirements o Known Shipper and air security regulations o Dangerous Goods (IATA/ICAO) in conjunction with PRC regulations • Initiate, lead, and implement process improvement and compliance enhancement projects across all Travel Retail Distribution Center and China mainland with special focus on China scalability and regulatory robustness. • Drive close collaboration with TR Customer Service, TR Supply Management, Transportation Management, and International Trade & Customs, ensuring alignment between global governance standards and local China regulatory execution, to optimize: o Capacity utilization o Order fill rates o Clearance speed and service levels • Promote and implement innovative logistics, Customs, and bonded operation solutions tailored to the China and Hainan FTP ecosystem, ensuring state-of-the-art, compliant, and cost-effective processes that support business growth, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or Logistics with specialization in customs • Excellent understanding of international trade, customs, and transportation regulations with a focus on China jurisdiction • Smart negotiator with internal and external Business Partners like (semi-) governmental organizations (e.g., customs, aviation authorities), forwarders, and carriers • Sound knowledge of the international transportation business (air/ocean/truck) and their regulations, as IATA/IMO/ADR and Known shipper • AEO compliance • Extensive knowledge of Chinese and International Customs laws and regulations with profound knowledge of Bonded warehouse regulations and stock-management of a bonded-warehouse plus carrying a preferential status along the system-chain. • Experienced in conducting internal customs audits. • 10 years of work practice in logistics with progressive responsibility. • Ability to liaise and communicate proactively with people of all sorts of backgrounds and levels. • Good language skills in English and Mandarin (verbally, read & write). • Good digital and analytical competencies with an advanced use level of MS Office Package, as SharePoint, MS Excel (i.e.; build Excel models, use macros, pivot tables, formatting, look-up tables, linking, database design skills), with ability to identify and present root/cause findings and apply into business environment • Experienced in administration of transports & operations through best-in-class ERP IT Systems (SAP SD/MM), WMS • Strong Analytical capabilities, familiar with work in a complex and fast-paced environment, process-oriented thinking • Capacity to balance ad-hoc inquiries as well as proactively engaging business-oriented results • Proven record in people and stakeholder management. • Innovative and entrepreneurial attitude, willing to learn and share business experience across several levels in the organization • Solutions-oriented personality and composed attitude to face and solve challenging situations • Able to handle conflicts in a constructive way - strong interpersonal skills • High degree of flexibility, work independently, and take the right decisions under pressure • Training or relevant experience in import/export, customs, compliance, or similar certifications, working experience within customs broker or travel retail environment is highly desirable