The Head of Customs & International Trade will have overall responsibility for leading AstraZeneca’s new global customs and trade function, which will include setting strategy, direction and delivering on a new global operating model. This is a brand-new role which is the result of expansion, and the strategic decision to consolidate AstraZeneca’s existing regional trade teams into a single global team. This role will report into the Global Head of Indirect Taxes based in the U.K.

• Lead the new global Customs & Trade organisation, ensure its efficiency and effectiveness.
• Advising the business on the constant and relentless change and evolution of customs trade rules and regulations
• Represent Group Tax / Global Specialist Finance and ensure business collaboration and partnership with other departments across AstraZeneca group.
• Design, review, and govern the implementation of Customs & Trade strategies for the AstraZeneca group to ensure continuity of supply of AstraZeneca’s products and materials, in accordance with the relevant legal, fiscal, and regulatory requirements related to Customs & Trade around the world.
• Responsible for the review, update, and governance of relevant standards and policies related to Customs & Trade, ensure effective management of relevant risks and opportunities.
• Managing external auditor’s view of the group’s Customs & Trade positions
• Represent AstraZeneca group when interacting with external agencies, e.g. Customs Authorities, ensuring such interactions, such as disclosures and support with audits, are handled in a manner consistent with AZ’s corporate values.
• Determine and implement future operating model for Customs & Trade e.g. shared service.
• Enforce robust governance for matters related to Customs & Trade.
• Lead and determine any Customs & Trade related automation and duty optimisation strategies.

Knowledge / Education required

• A substantial and in-depth understanding of Customs principles and their application internationally, e.g. customs valuation, rules of origin, classification, customs special procedures, AEO etc.
• The role is expected to have significant interaction with other Tax/Finance teams. A good working knowledge of other taxes (direct and indirect taxes) and their interaction with Customs & Trade is highly desirable.
• The role also involves extensive business partnering and interaction with other departments of the business (e.g. R&D, Clinical, Manufacturing, Logistics, finance, customer services) and requires the candidate to possess a deep understanding of commercial and supply chain operations.

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in strategic roles related to Customs & Trade.
• Proven experience of undertaking senior positions of Customs & Trade in multinational corporations.
• Proven record in driving changes and implementing them on a regional or global scale.
• Experience with global Transformation programmes alongside the implementation and operation of a global trade management systems such as SAP GTS is highly desired.
• Experience with setting up or transforming customs operating models, global processes and controls within multinational and cross-functional environment e.g. setting up shared services centres.
• Experience working in a multi-cultured environment or experience working in multiple geographic jurisdictions is highly desired.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, ideally gained with pharma/life sciences/biotech industryExperience in developing and executing standard Customs processes across an organisation.
• Experience in business strategy and business case development.

Skills:

• Proven leadership capability to inspire teamwork in a time of transformation.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams of cultural diversity.
• Clear, logical thinking, strong analytical skills and excellent judgement.
• Strong capability of clear and impactful communication.
• Flexible and pragmatic in approach.
• Possess a high attention to detail.