Customs - Import/Export Leader

Location: Rivalta di Torino

Job Description Summary

As the Customs & Import / Export Leader – you will play a critical role in enabling business performance and customer satisfaction by ensuring cross-border operations are compliant, efficient, and cost-effective in a highly regulated aerospace environment.

You will help safeguard the company’s license to operate while enabling market access, protecting on-time delivery, and optimizing total landed cost across the global movement of parts, engines, components, and technical data. As a senior subject matter expert and key decision-maker, you will work in close partnership with the Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) team to align governance, controls, and execution across customs, export controls, and sanctions compliance.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead the customs and trade compliance strategy for Avio Aero import and export activities, ensuring alignment with business priorities, supply chain needs, and customer commitments
• Provide strong leadership to the customs and trade compliance organization, developing talent, strengthening accountability, and promoting a culture of integrity and continuous improvement
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across Operations, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Legal, helping balance compliance, risk management, and business continuity
• Drive strategic initiatives such as AEO authorization, product classification programs, and the digital transformation of customs and trade compliance processes
• Oversee end-to-end customs operations for aerospace goods, including raw materials, spare parts, LRUs, engines, modules, and tooling, across both inbound and outbound flows
• Ensure robust customs governance through accurate tariff classification, customs valuation, origin determination, and complete supporting documentation
• Anticipate and resolve customs holds, clearance issues, and operational disruptions to protect on-time delivery across MRO, production, and customer programs
• Ensure compliance with applicable EU and international export control regulations, sanctions, and embargo requirements, including dual-use controls where relevant
• Lead export control classification, licensing, screening, and end-use/end-user reviews for products, components, technologies, re-exports, and intangible technology transfers
• Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Security, Engineering, Program Management, and Internal Trade Compliance (ITC) to assess high-risk transactions and enable compliant business decisions
• Lead or support internal and external audits, ensuring findings are addressed with timely and sustainable corrective actions
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve customs and trade compliance processes across imports, exports, repairs, returns, and MRO flows
• Enhance digitalization, data quality, and system integration across ERP platforms, broker interfaces, and screening tools to improve visibility, predictability, and efficiency
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators
• Promote trade compliance awareness by helping design and deliver practical training programs that strengthen organizational capability and reduce avoidable risk

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master’s degree in International Trade, Economics, Law, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
• Additional postgraduate studies or professional certifications in Customs, Trade Compliance, or Export Control are considered a strong plus
• Significant experience in customs, trade compliance, and import/export operations within a regulated industrial environment; aerospace or high-tech industry experience is preferred
• Proven leadership experience, including team management and/or leading cross-functional compliance initiatives
• Demonstrated expertise in export control and licensing for controlled goods and technologies, including classification and interaction with authorities and customs brokers
• Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation, HS classification, customs valuation, origin rules, and special customs procedures relevant to aerospace operations.
• Solid understanding of export controls, sanctions frameworks, and compliance governance
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, including proficiency in Excel
• Fluent English, both written and spoken
• Work Visa, in accordance with local regulations, is required

Desired Qualifications

• High level of integrity, sound judgment, and strong risk awareness
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly in fast-paced operational environments
• Proactive, results-driven mindset with a clear focus on compliance, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement