Global Director Customs

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world

Responsibilities:

Freudenberg Aftermarket (FAM) is a newly established Business Group bringing together aftermarket activities from across the Freudenberg Group into one focused global organization.
We are looking for a strategic Global Director Customs & Export Control to build and lead our global trade compliance function. Reporting to the CFO, you will define the governance, standards, and capabilities that support a growing international business across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Own the Global CECMS: Lead and continuously evolve FAM’s Customs & Export Control Management System, ensuring policies, procedures, controls, and guidelines remain current with regulatory changes and Freudenberg Group standards.

Drive Global Governance: Roll out consistent customs and export control standards across all regions and legal entities, with clear governance to monitor adherence and compliance maturity.

Enable Process Excellence: Develop global tools, standardized processes, and digital solutions that improve transparency, efficiency, risk management, and operational consistency.

Build Capability: Train and guide local customs experts and business stakeholders, strengthening knowledge sharing, best-practice exchange, and a proactive compliance culture.

Lead Continuous Improvement: Identify risk areas and inefficiencies, implement corrective measures, benchmark against regulatory and industry standards, and track effectiveness.

Ensure Audit Readiness: Monitor audit findings, self-assessments, investigations, and remediation actions, ensuring timely resolution and sustainable implementation.

Use Data to Steer Performance: Establish global KPIs, derive optimization initiatives, support GRC-related projects, and advise Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, and Leadership teams on trade compliance matters.

Qualifications:

University degree in Business Administration, International Trade, Logistics, Law , or a related field.

5+ years of leadership experience in Customs, Export Control, Trade Compliance, or International Trade within a global industrial, manufacturing, distribution, or aftermarket environment .

Strong expertise in export controls, customs regulations, foreign trade law, sanctions, preferential origin, tariff classification, customs valuation, and import/export licensing .

Proven track record of building, transforming, or harmonizing compliance frameworks, processes, and governance structures across regions or business units.

Strategic mindset with the ability to balance regulatory requirements, operational efficiency, supply chain performance, and business growth .

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills , with experience partnering across Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, and Leadership teams .

‎ ‎