Senior Specialist Transportation & Import​/Export

Job Description

Welcome to Our Team

You’ll be joining a dedicated and forward‑thinking EMEA team that sits at the intersection of Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and our Human Health division. We are a collaborative group of experts who strive to solve complex challenges and support one another. In this role, you will work closely with colleagues from logistics, finance, quality, and legal, building strong partnerships to achieve shared goals.

We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and are excited to welcome a new leader who can guide us toward a future‑ready, best‑in‑class trade compliance model.

As Senior Specialist Trade Compliance (Import/Export), you will play a key role in enabling compliant, reliable, and efficient import/export operations across EMEA. Acting as a trusted subject‑matter expert, you will combine trade compliance expertise with practical operational leadership across customs clearance, documentation, and day‑to‑day import/export activities.

In this role, you will help translate regulatory requirements into clear operational practices, ensuring smooth and compliant clearance processes across manufacturing sites, distribution centres, and external partners.

You will support the execution of our Supply Chain Operations strategy, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to the adoption of digital solutions that enhance transparency, consistency, and efficiency. You will also serve as an escalation point for complex customs and import/export matters, partnering closely with internal stakeholders to resolve challenges and strengthen our trade compliance framework.

This position is planned to report to the Associate Director, Transportation & Import/Export Operations, with a dotted reporting line to the Regional Trade Compliance Lead.

• Act as a trusted subject‑matter expert for customs procedures, origin, classification and related trade compliance topics.
• Translate regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance for sites, brokers, service providers, and internal partners.
• Support new lanes, suppliers, product launches and source changes by ensuring the right licences, permits and customs processes are in place.
• Partner with regional and global trade compliance teams to implement compliance programmes and lead end‑to‑end improvement projects.
• Oversee import and export operations for EMEA Supply Chain Operations, helping ensure compliant and timely movement of goods.
• Manage key service providers that support operational customs activities, documentation, and day‑to‑day execution.
• Work with brokers and freight forwarders to resolve complex clearance issues and maintain reliable delivery performance.
• Coordinate cross‑functional stakeholders across Quality, Legal, Procurement, Finance and site teams to support import/export decisions and corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce costs, and strengthen the overall import/export operating model.
• Monitor exceptions, root causes and corrective actions, including returns, detained shipments and misdeclarations.
• Maintain audit‑ready documentation, support audits, and contribute to KPI, SLA and risk management activities.
• Coach colleagues and partners, act as an escalation point and support digital tools, data quality and automation initiatives.

• You are based in the Netherlands and bring 6–10 years of progressive experience in trade compliance, customs brokerage, transportation or import/export operations within a regulated environment.
• You have strong knowledge of customs topics such as origin, valuation, classification, Incoterms and international transport modes across air, ocean and road.
• You are confident working with brokers, freight forwarders and outsourced providers, and know how to navigate complex customs and clearance cases.
• You bring hands‑on experience with TMS/ERP systems such as SAP and trade compliance tools for classification, screening, documentation and operational follow‑up.
• You combine strong analytical skills with a continuous improvement mindset, using root cause analysis, CAPAs and data‑driven insights to strengthen processes.
• You are a clear…