Customs Specialist

(Full-time, 38 hours a week)

Customs plays an important role in Action's growth ambitions. The Customs team makes an important contribution to a high-quality, fast and easy customs process for our import containers, which reduces the risk of items being out of stock in our stores. 

Alongside the import process, the Customs team is also responsible for daily exports and imports for deliveries to stores outside the European Union. The team ensures that export and import formalities are completed correctly and on time to make sure that deliveries to stores are not held up.
 

Your daily tasks

As a Customs Specialist, you will be an important cog in the Customs team. You will be responsible for providing support with and carrying out the customs formalities required for the import, transit and export of goods.  You will keep the internal and external parties involved, including Customs, informed of their status and developments in good time. In addition, you will play a key role in applying for (new) customs permits, in project management and in encouraging and improving operational performance in the field of customs.

Below are some examples of the tasks and responsibilities:

• Drawing up, describing and managing customs processes, procedures and work instructions
• Monitoring quality by carrying out, reporting on and discussing internal checks
• Classifying goods and recording said classification
• Coaching, training and developing colleagues in different departments
• Managing internal stakeholders by communicating with the various departments involved with Customs (such as Buying, Commercial Operations, Inbound Logistics, Tax and Finance)
• Claims handling and preparation of requests for refunds, additional payments and objections
• Verifying the payment of customs duties
• As a project team member, participating in long-term improvement projects in the field of customs, such as:
  • Understanding customs requirements and setting up customs processes and procedures for imports into Switzerland
  • Optimisation and contract renewals for external service providers
  • Selection of third-party automation/IT tools for customs
  • Implementation and optimisation of the verification process for customs duties (customs duties vs reserves)
  • Application process for customs permits, including AEO
     

What you offer

• A Bachelor's degree in logistics or financial business economics
• You hold a diploma as a Declarant, Customs Consultant or similar
• Three to five years' work experience in a customs-related environment
• Experience in applying for customs permits and drawing up or adapting customs processes and procedures is an asset   
• An excellent command of English
• Good knowledge of and experience with the implementation of customs laws and regulations in processes
   

What we offer

Quite a lot, actually! If you come to work at Action, you will have an impact on millions of customers across Europe from our bustling headquarters in Zwaagdijk-Oost. Did you know that our 69,000 staff put smiles on the faces of 15.3 million customers in 12 countries every week? And these numbers are still growing week in, week out, because we're not stopping until every prospective customer has an Action store close to home. We share the same level of ambition for you, too, as our growth means you can always take new steps to develop as a professional, whether that means a different position, an interesting innovation project or new skills. And you can do all that in a culture where we truly embrace our shared values: customer focus, teamwork, simplicity, discipline, cost-consciousness and respect.

You can also count on Action for the following:

• A competitive salary based on a 38-hour week
• 24 days' holiday with the option to buy five additional days (based on 38 hours per week) 
• A temporary contract with the intention of offering you a permanent contract in the long term
• A 15% staff discount on your purchases at Action 
• A good pension scheme, collective health insurance and travel expenses allowance. Zwaagdijk-Oost can be reached from Amsterdam by car in just 30 minutes on uncongested roads 
   

How we contribute to society

If you only know Action from our stores, a new world will open up for you when you join us. As an example, we're working hard to make a positive impact on society and the environment. Did you know that we sponsor more than 2,500 children worldwide who are growing up in an SOS Children's Village? Or that our team reflects the diversity of our customers, representing 155 nationalities? Or that 94% of our wood products and 100% of our cotton already come from sustainable sources? Or that almost all of our stores only use energy-efficient LED lighting and do not consume natural gas? Yes, that's Action, too. If you're curious about what else we're doing, take action and see for yourself!
 

Interested?

We're proud to be an inclusive employer, and we warmly invite anyone who sees themselves in the vacancy to apply. So take action and respond to this vacancy now!

What happens next:

1. Response to your application within 14 days (and usually earlier)
2. First meeting with the manager and a colleague
3. Online assessment to get to know you better
4. Second interview with your recruiter, among others
5. Welcome to Action

Throughout the process, your recruiter is your permanent point of contact and is available to answer any questions you may have.
Integrity is very important to us. Pre-employment screening is therefore part of the process for this vacancy. Ask your recruiter for more information.