Supply Chain Customs & Compliance Leader – Import/Export

On behalf of our client, we are seeking a Supply Chain Customs & Compliance Leader – Import/Export to join their team.

The SUPPLY CHAIN CUSTOMS & COMPLIANCE LEADER - IMPORT/EXPORT drives business performance and customer delivery by ensuring compliant, fast, and cost-effective cross-border flows in a highly regulated environment. The role protects the company’s license to operate while enabling market access, on-time delivery (OTD), and total landed cost optimization across global movements of components, and technical documentation. Acting as senior SME and decision maker, this leader works in strong partnership with the Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) team to align governance, controls, and execution across customs, export controls, and sanctions requirements.

Responsibilities

1) Leadership & Strategy (Value & Growth Enablement)

• Define and own the customs and trade compliance strategy for import and export, aligned with company objectives, supply chain priorities, and program/customer commitments.

• Lead, coach, and develop the customs and trade compliance team (and/or network of focal points), fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Act as the primary advisor to senior leadership (Operations, Program Management, Supply Chain, Legal) on trade compliance risks and options, enabling faster decisions and fewer delivery disruptions.

• Sponsor and drive strategic initiatives such as AEO authorization, classification programs, and digitalization of customs and trade compliance processes.

2) Customs Operations Management (Speed to Customer)

• Oversee end-to-end customs clearance (raw materials, spare parts, components, tooling) for imports and exports.

• Ensure robust HS classification, customs valuation, and origin determination for articles and technologies to secure compliant and optimized customs outcomes.

• Ensure accuracy and completeness of documentation (commercial invoices, packing lists, air waybills, certificates of origin, licenses, end-use statements, and technical documentation where required).

• Proactively resolve customs holds and operational issues to protect OTD for MRO, production, and customer programs.

3) Trade Compliance & Export Control (Customer Access & Business Continuity) • Ensure adherence to EU and applicable non-EU export control laws, sanctions, and embargoes relevant to products and technologies (including dual-use where applicable).

• Lead classification of products, components, and technologies under relevant control lists (e.g., EU Dual Use List and other jurisdictional controls as applicable).

• Establish and maintain screening, licensing, and end-use/end-user controls for exports, re-exports, and technology transfers (including intangible transfers of technology).

• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Security, Engineering, Program Management—and ITC—to assess and manage high-risk transactions and restricted destinations while maintaining business continuity.

• Lead or support internal and external audits related to customs, export control, and trade compliance; drive timely and sustainable closure of findings.

4) Process Excellence & Cost Optimization (Total Landed Cost)

• Identify and implement process improvements and standardization across customs and trade compliance operations (import, export, returns, repairs, and MRO flows).

• Optimize duties, taxes, and logistics costs by leveraging special customs regimes and simplifications (e.g., inward/outward processing, customs warehouse, temporary importation for test/repair, AEO).

• Drive digitalization and data quality in customs and trade compliance (e.g., integration with ERP, customs broker systems, and screening tools) to improve predictability and reduce manual effort.

• Define, track, and communicate KPIs (clearance lead times, duty spend, number of regulatory holds, license on-time performance, audit findings) with regular management reporting.

5) Stakeholder & Partner Management (Internal Trade Compliance Partnership) • Build an operating rhythm with Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) to ensure consistent interpretation, escalation, and decision-making across customs, export control, sanctions, and technology transfer topics.

• Manage relationships with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and advisors, setting clear expectations on service level, aerospace competence, compliance and cycle time. • Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Program Management, Finance, and Legal to support new products, new markets, and customer/tender activities.

• Co-design and deliver training and awareness programs with ITC to increase organizational capability and reduce preventable holds, rework, and compliance risk.

Your Profile

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Engineering, Business Administration, Ecomonics or related field.

• Postgraduate education or certifications in Supply Chain Customs, Trade Compliance, or Export Control are a strong advantage.

Experience : 7+ years of experience in import/export operations and Supply Chain, customs, trade compliance, in a regulated industrial environment

• Proven experience in a leadership role, managing teams and/or leading cross-functional compliance initiatives.

• Solid track record in export control and licensing activities for controlled items/technologies, including classification, licensing, and stakeholder engagement with authorities and brokers.

Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation, HS classification, customs valuation, origin rules, and special customs regimes

• Strong understanding of export control and sanctions requirements and related compliance frameworks.

• Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and trade compliance tools (e.g., screening, classification, customs management systems).

• Proficiency in Excel and reporting tools.

• Fluent English (written and spoken).

Leadership & Soft Skills: Strong leadership and people development skills; ability to build and motivate high-performing teams in an international environment.

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including at senior leadership level and across engineering, operations, and program teams.

• High integrity, confidentiality, and risk awareness.

• Strong problem solving and decision making under time and operational pressure.

• Proactive, results-oriented mindset with focus on compliance, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement.

Location: Turin

#LI-SD5

“Candidates, in compliance with Legislative Decree 198/2006, 215/2003 and 216/2003, are invited to read the privacy notice available below the data request form on the application page (EU Regulation No. 2016/679).
The job offer is open to candidates of all genders, in compliance with Legislative Decree 198/2006 and current regulations on equal opportunities. The company promotes an inclusive work environment and ensures equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender, age, origin, sexual orientation or disability.”