PURPOSE AND SCOPE:
As a Junior Customs and Export Controls Analyst, you will support Fresenius Medical Care's global trade compliance efforts by providing practical guidance on customs and export control matters. You will play a key role in optimizing supply chains, managing import and export processes, and ensuring adherence to international trade regulations. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you will help implement and maintain trade governance procedures, support classification and origin management, and contribute to the automation and simplification of customs operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop specialized expertise in global trade compliance within a dynamic and international healthcare environment.
This position is a role focused on establishing, managing, and overseeing the company's customs and trade compliance framework. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring strategic adherence to all international trade laws and regulations, maintaining key governmental authorizations, and mitigating corporate risk, including oversight of side processes to import and export (namely tariff classification of goods, export controls, origin management and special customs processes requirements and procedures). This is not a day-to-day operational role, but rather one of policy, oversight, and strategic management.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Advisory & Guidance:
Providing practical advice and guidance on the full range of customs and export control matters, including export and import controls, tariff classification, trade taxation, free trade agreements, special customs regimes and related risk management issues;
Support and advise about the potential optimization of supply chains and flows of goods to achieve cost optimization in accordance with global trade requirements (e.g. Free Trade Agreements, Free Trade Zones, duty drawback, inward process relief, temporary imports), including implications for choice of suppliers, product design and content, manufacturing sites, logistical flows and sales processes for Fresenius Medical Care and affiliates;
Supporting the integration and automation of trade governance processes into FME's global operations and processes in close collaboration with stakeholders and other Global Trade governance areas including Trade Taxation, Trade Optimization and Trade defense.
Guidance, support, ongoing review and execution of controls related to:
Special Customs programs and trade benefits used by FME, including but not limited to Inward and Outward Process Reliefs, Temporary Admissions, IMMEX, Authorized Economic Operator, duty drawback programs;
Eligibility for duty exemptions programs and regulation as well as FTAs and select the most appropriate programs, by taking into account supply chains, business needs and regulatory limitations;
Proper implementation of identified trade benefit measures;
Tariff classification of FME items, as the HTS code is the main variable considered in product trade requirements and applicability of potential benefits
Country of origin determination, dual-use classification, customs clearance (import / export), country import / export data reporting requirements (v.g. Intrastat)
Assessment of trade / commercial opportunities that may be available for FME business models.
Import Management:
Coordinate alignment with broker / service provider for originals maintenance and remittance to file, when applicable;
Coordinate compliance with record keeping requirements for trade documentation (invoice, packing list, clearance receipt);
Coordinate any post entry amendments to the entry documentation, if applicable (e.g., Import declaration).
Export Management:
Coordinate alignment with broker / service provider for originals maintenance and remittance to file, when applicable;
Coordinate teams in different countries and brokers for providing Instructions to register Export Declaration;
Coordinate processes for Instructions and filing of export Declaration, or amendments, if applicable;
Coordinate execution of export controls checks (dual-use, de minimis, product license, sanctions) for shipments at a local/country level;
Coordinate shipment authorizations;
Coordinate Export Declaration registration;
Coordinate Customs Clearance activities to respond any Customs challenges or questions;
Coordinate the observance of local record keeping requirements for trade documentation (invoice, packing list, clearance receipt).
Tariff Classification Support:
Coordinate system updates for potential new or updates/reviews of product classification (HTS/Export controls);
Coordinate the monitoring of new items created in FME portfolio (internal and 3rd party suppliers);
Once item is identified, collect technical specifications for HTS and export controls classification;
Coordinate Q&A sessions about the product for consolidating technical spec data;
Perform upload in respective ERP/Foreign Trade systems;
Proceed with product classification based on applicable regulations and rulings;
Provide classified products with audit trail (specify rules applied to classification of a certain product) for upload/use.
Origin Management:
In case of deviations, second level audit and reclassification of HTS codes to be included in preferential origin claims;
In collaboration with the GBS team:
Determination of rule of origin based on the finished good to be exported;
Making information available for the issuance of the COO/inclusion of preferential origin claim on invoice;
Preparation of certificates of origin for goods of commercial origin with collection of preliminary documents and documentation.
Special Customs Regimes Support:
Coordinate application for new authorizations for customs simplifications in order to simplify operations (v.g., IMME requirements in Meio, zugelassener Ausführer in Germany, Authorized economic operator (AEO), Centralized customs clearance and use of Free Trade Zones in different locations);
Manage the use of inward and outward processing and respective reporting if applicable;
Coordinate local support authorities in audits and requests;
Coordinate the update of existing authorizations and communication with the authorities, annually and upon request.
EDUCATION :
Studies or comparable experience background in Foreign Trade and Customs;
EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:
At least 5 years of relevant experience in customs and export controls matters, in a department of an internationally operating and complex corporation;
Ideally, experience in a medical technology, pharmaceuticals or the broader healthcare sector;
Strong practical knowledge of customs and export controls requirements, procedures and stakeholders;
Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of trade taxation, special customs regimes and trade-related benefits, including those associated with import taxation;
Knowledge of relevant commercial, tax and supply chain processes;
Strong and effective communication and client relationship/management skills;
Good comprehension and capacity to communicate complex matters and solutions into simple, guideline-oriented instructions;
Distinct and highly committed team-player;
Ability to deal with ambiguity, complexity and conflicting priorities, whilst keeping a focus on main drivers and game-changers; keeping a constructive attitude and creative mindset even in adverse or deadline-intensive circumstances;
Humor;
Highest professionalism for Fresenius Medical Care combined with self-modesty;
Excellent written and spoken English; additional languages highly welcome;
Willingness to travel, as this role requires certain amount of international travel;
Strong MS Office skills; experience with other relevant software (e.g. SAP GTS, Dow Jones Risk Center), with ability to learn new software applications and programs and translate them to operational staff.
The rate of pay for this position will depend on the successful candidate's work location and qualifications, including relevant education, work experience, skills, and competencies.
If your location allows for pay/benefit transparency, please click the link below to request further information on this position.
Pay Transparency Request Form (https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/c36f09ba8dc54692af34ee3a3dbd3716)
EO/AA Employer: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Fresenius Medical Care North America maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
EOE, disability/veterans
