Customs Associate Manager

About the role

Kraft Heinz is looking for an experienced Associate Manager to guide its daily customs operations and mentor its growing teams. As the operational anchor of the European Customs & Exports (EC&E) department, you will make sure daily activities are efficient and compliant while overseeing the teams' trade and customs objectives. You report to the EC&E Senior Manager and act as a bridge between strategy and day-to-day delivery. The position is based in Amsterdam.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the daily workflow of the EC&E team, ensuring customs compliance and accurate documentation across existing lanes (UK, NI, ROI, ES, FR, NL, PL) for finished goods, and for Raws and Packaging in the near future.
• Manage customs vendor spend (about €5 million per year) and ensure import taxes, duties and VAT (about €160 million per year) are applied correctly.
• Coach custom analysts on a day-to-day basis, helping them troubleshoot complex matters and supporting team growth.
• Act as the main point of contact for high-priority logistics bottlenecks and complex customs disputes with internal or external partners.
• Enforce SOPs and compliance standards, audit documentation and identify risks early.
• Monitor KPIs such as clearance lead times, broker performance and extra costs, and drive corrective action when targets are missed.
• Work with internal stakeholders to resolve operational friction and act as systems expert for OTM/GTM/SAP issues, including master data and technical blockers.

Required profile

• An EU working permit (Orientation Year Visa not included).
• Masters degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in shipping, transportation or warehouse/logistics operations; CPG or food industry strongly preferred.
• Solid grasp of European trade dynamics and familiarity with customs; knowledge of customs regimes (transits, warehousing, Inward Processing, import/export documentation) is a plus.
• Excellent communication, customer focus and cross-functional collaboration, with strong problem-solving and organisational skills.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency with ERP/TMS/WMS systems (SAP preferred), EDI transactions, carrier portals and appointment scheduling tools.
• Knowledge of export/import processes, Incoterms and shipping documentation.
• Advanced Excel; experience with analytics/reporting tools such as Power BI or Tableau.