Regional Customs Manager

IKEA is one of the world’s leading home furnishing companies. Our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people.  We do this by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.

The Regional Customs and Compliance Manager for Europe and Africa is an important position within the Customs organization with the responsibility to secure the import and export processes are anchored with excellence in operations and to facilitate a culture of compliance within the countries assigned to the region of Europe and Africa. The position is responsible to align the regional organization and operations with the changing needs of the business and global customs action plans, which closely aligns with the IKEA vision, strategies and directives.   

The Regional Customs and Compliance Manager is responsible for development, implementation and management of regional and local strategic partnerships both internally and externally. They will establish the vision and strategies for the Europe and Africa countries assigned to the region in conjunction with global strategies. They should be able to provide leadership for transformation, projects and setting an environment within the region that enables change to support the import and export operations now, while securing the future. They are responsible to lead both business and people together through competence development and education of regional and local co-workers.  Position will be responsible to assign or support with a leadership role in regional and local projects related to customs, compliance and operations.  

The Regional Customs and Compliance Manager will be responsible to secure all import and export declarations are made in compliance with local requirements and regulations as well as with internal controls.  They will support local audits with authorities in countries assigned to the region as well as perform self-review/internal audit to identify potential areas of non-compliance and the need for continual improvements.

This position will be responsible for the development and maintenance of the regional budget for Customs activities. They will also issue regional and local key performance indicators (KPI) designed to manage the business, secure competence and development, as well as enable change.

Overall responsibility of customs and compliance activities within regional organization and the countries of their assigned region
To secure operational excellence and compliance to customs rules and regulations within the countries of their assigned region. This includes having processes that actively monitor for, take action upon deviations and the pursuit of activities that identify and correct systemic or operational conditions the deviations are a consequence of.
Actively identify and manage risk related to Customs operations and compliance. 
Create and maintain the internal framework for import and export operations at the regional and local levels that align with and contribute to the global frameworks. Benchmark customs and compliance processes with other IKEA regional customs organizations to secure best practices and standardization   
Train and educate co-workers, colleagues and key stakeholders on customs regulations for countries within assigned region. Continually review current ways of working in order to develop and maintain optimal setup and processes for import and export operations and compliance within the region and assigned countries to the region.
Secure the regional budget and forecasts in accordance with identified needs and continual process improvements
Develop and maintain the necessary KPI’s to support ISAG global action plans, business direction, decision. KIPs should also monitor and secure local and regional action plans, business objectives, co-worker competence and external service provider competence 
Plan, organize and manage external customs audits in conjunction with ISAG customs management.
Provide leadership by driving the business planning process for import, export and compliance initiates and. Secure follow through on initiatives.
Handle the interface and regional relationship with external service providers for customs and compliance activities as assigned by ISAG.
Maintain regulatory and functional expertise in the customs organization on customs regulations.


The position is permanent and located in Älmhult, Sweden.

If you have any questions regarding the role, please contact Laurie Everill, Customs Manager +41 79-277 96 49. With questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Recruitment Specialist Jakob Bergström at +46 70-147 48 90.

Please note that we will be interviewing continuously, which means that we may close the application process earlier than stated if we find the right candidates.

We look forward to receiving your application in English, at the latest January 3rd, 2021.

IKEA Range & Supply has the responsibility to develop, design, produce and supply IKEA stores with home furnishing solutions available to the many people. Each year IKEA Range & Supply introduce 2,000 new products in the IKEA stores. The total range is almost 10,000 products