Senior Manager Customs

Senior Manager Customs at adidas

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

To lead customs operations and compliance for the Netherlands within Europe North, managing internal teams and external brokers to ensure compliance, timely clearance as well as maximizing duty saving opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identifies and resolves customs related delays in goods availability, coordinating communication across business functions.
• Leads the development and execution of the Customs compliance program in alignment with EU Regulations and the Global Customs team.
• Supervises, mentors, and develops customs team members, providing day-to-day guidance and fostering professional growth.
• Maintains a strong partnership with the Customs Broker, ensuring alignment with SOPs and KPIs. Supports tender processes as required, ensuring customs requirements are met.
• Builds and sustains effective relationships with government agencies, including Dutch Customs Authorities, to support compliance and facilitate clear communication.
• Collects, analyzes, and interprets data to support adidas during external audits related to customs processes.
• Owns operational compliance with Dutch Customs regarding Free Trade Agreements, ensuring claims are accurate and KPIs are met.
• Oversees the timely and accurate maintenance of Customs Compliance Manuals, procedures and SOPs.
• Ensures all customs related authorizations and registrations are current and compliant.
• Stays informed on changes in import and export regulations impacting adidas operations.
• Collaborates with Customs Product team to drive system enhancements that improve compliance, analytics, and process efficiency.
• Manages customs optimization analysis and reporting including periodic reports, KPI tracking, and compliance metrics.
• Leads activities related to supply chain accreditation programs and potential simplifications (e.g., AEO), ensuring robust controls and documentation are in place.
• Contributes to global and regional customs initiatives, supporting operational projects.

Key Relationships:

• Customs team in the Netherlands
• Customs Broker / Logistic Service Providers
• Supply Chain Management teams incl. Inbound and Outbound
• Global and Market Customs teams
• Customs Authorities
• Global Tax
• Global and Market IT
• Consultants / Advisors

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of Customs legislation
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with all levels in a cross-cultural environment
• Experience of managing and developing staff
• Ability to work with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access)
• Demonstrated business reasoning, analytical and critical thinking

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Educated to University level or equivalent experience in customs business.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in customs and supply chain management, including leadership roles in international environments.
• Fluency in English, Written and Spoken.

At adidas, we foster the athlete’s mindset through a set of behaviors that we want to enable and develop in our people and that are at the core of our unique company culture: this is how we win while playing fair.

• COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need.
• OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
• INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
• TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
• INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
• RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.