Head of Customs in Melbourne

This position is a new addition to the team, established to ensure business continuity for customs operations in Australia and New Zealand. As the Country Head of Customs, the role is critical for leading all trade compliance activities within the Asia‑Pacific & China (AP&CN) customs organization, ensuring seamless and compliant cross‑border movement of goods. To meet this objective, this role definition is structured around four core areas:

• Strategic trade compliance and governance
• Risk management and auditing
• Process optimization and operational management
• Stakeholder collaboration

This framework ensures the role not only maintains regulatory adherence but also drives operational efficiency, manages risk, and provides expert guidance across the business. Given the focus on expert‑level compliance and process leadership, the ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in customs management within a matrix organization, supported by a relevant degree or equivalent professional certification. Key competencies include strategic thinking, process improvement, and the ability to manage complex projects and stakeholder relationships with a high degree of autonomy.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Develop and manage comprehensive internal export and import controls to ensure compliance with Australian and New Zealand regulatory agencies.
• Establish and maintain business processes for obtaining all necessary export/import licenses, permits, and certifications.
• Monitor changes in customs regulations and ensure relevant information is accurately distributed throughout the internal organization.
• Develop, implement, and enforce customs guidelines, solutions, and plans in line with corporate and regional standards.
• Identify, analyze, and document local and global customs-related risks in business processes and support the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.
• Manage and support internal and external customs audits, ensuring timely and effective responses to inquiries.
• Monitor, control, and ensure the implementation of corrective actions derived from reviews and audits.
• Maintain all applicable trade compliance records in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Process Optimization & Operational Management

• Lead broker management activities, including the implementation and monitoring of standard operating procedures with customs agents.
• Design and implement plans to optimize customs processes, leveraging IT systems and automation where possible.
• Generate and analyze performance metrics for import and export processes to drive continuous improvement.
• Develop and deliver customs compliance training to internal stakeholders to guarantee adherence to regulations.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Advisory

• Act as the primary subject matter expert and consultant for internal departments such as procurement, logistics, and sales on customs-related matters.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with appropriate government regulatory agencies in Australia and New Zealand.
• Coach and review the work of lower-level professionals or team members involved in customs activities.
• Enable best practice sharing and contribute to regional and global customs projects and initiatives.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in International Business, Law, Supply Chain, or a related field with a focus on foreign trade and customs.
• Extensive proven experience in international trade compliance and customs management, ideally within a complex matrix organization.
• Demonstrated experience as a subject matter expert managing large compliance projects or processes with a high degree of autonomy.

Skills

• Legal, Regulation and Compliance
• Product Classification
• Internal Controls
• Customs Governance and Regulations
• Project and Process Management
• Process Improvement
• Program Management
• Workflow Management

Cognitive & Behavioral Abilities

• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical Skills

Our Corporate and Global Functions are essential in driving the company's strategic initiatives and ensuring operational excellence across various departments, business areas, and regions. These roles support our vision to become the most valued energy technology company in the world. As part of our team, you contribute to our vision by shaping the global energy transition, partnering with our internal and external stakeholders, and conducting business responsibly and in compliance with legal requirements and regulations.

At Siemens Energy, we are more than just an energy technology company. With ~100,000 dedicated employees in more than 90 countries, we develop the energy systems of the future, ensuring that the growing energy demand of the global community is met reliably and sustainably. The technologies created in our research departments and factories drive the energy transition and provide the base for one sixth of the world's electricity generation. Our global team is committed to making sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy a reality by pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

We uphold a 150-year legacy of innovation that encourages our search for people who will support our focus on decarbonization, new technologies, and energy transformation.

Our Commitment to Diversity: Through diversity we generate power. We run on inclusion and our combined creative energy is fueled by over 130 nationalities. Siemens Energy celebrates character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability. We energize society, all of society, and we do not discriminate based on our differences.

What We Offer: You will join a global energy technology business where HR plays a meaningful role in enabling leaders, supporting transformation and creating positive employee experience. This is an opportunity to contribute to important business outcomes while continuing to grow your HR career in a collaborative and dynamic environment.