Director of International Customs Operations

About the role

The Director of International Customs Operations will lead the customs brokerage entry processing teams at DHL Global Forwarding’s Columbia, SC facility. This senior position is responsible for overall operational success, profitability, and strategic direction of the customs function.

Key responsibilities

• Organize, delegate, and plan daily operations to ensure efficient workflow and on‑time shipment processing.
• Monitor entry processing and records, identify issues, and drive timely resolutions.
• Support Customer Service with incident and exception management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners.
• Assess team performance, implement improvement plans, and identify training needs.
• Serve as subject‑matter expert for operational questions and ensure proper customer onboarding.
• Drive continuous improvement across all operational processes, including offshore functions.
• Manage HUB customer accounts receivable and address bad‑debt situations.
• Conduct quarterly business reviews with top clients and maintain customer relationships.
• Stay informed of CBP regulatory changes and lead internal updates, training, and system adjustments.
• Oversee processing of international air/ocean entries and Northern Border truck shipments, maintaining error rates below 1%.
• Directly manage staffing and processes to meet KPIs for centralized, offshore, and vendor teams.
• Achieve budget targets through effective revenue and cost management.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders on cross‑functional issues and contribute to long‑term strategic planning.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Active U.S. Customs Broker License preferred.

Required skills

• Customs brokerage processes.
• CBP regulatory compliance knowledge.