Job Description
Welcome to Our Team
Youll be joining a dedicated and forward-thinking EMEA team that sits at the intersection of Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and our Human Health division. We are a collaborative group of experts who strive to solve complex challenges and support one another. In this role, you will work closely with colleagues from logistics, finance, quality, and legal, building strong partnerships to achieve shared goals. We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and are excited to welcome a new leader who can guide us toward a future-ready, best-in-class trade compliance model.
Your Role
As Senior Specialist Trade Compliance (Import/Export), you will play a key role in enabling compliant, reliable, and efficient import/export operations across EMEA. Acting as a trusted subject-matter expert, you will combine trade compliance expertise with practical operational leadership across customs clearance, documentation, and day-to-day import/export activities.
In this role, you will help translate regulatory requirements into clear operational practices, ensuring smooth and compliant clearance processes across manufacturing sites, distribution centers, and external partners.
You will support the execution of our Supply Chain Operations strategy, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to the adoption of digital solutions that enhance transparency, consistency, and efficiency. You will also serve as an escalation point for complex customs and import/export matters, partnering closely with internal stakeholders to resolve challenges and strengthen our trade compliance framework.
This position is planned to report to the Associate Director, Transportation Import/Export Operations, with a dotted reporting line to the Regional Trade Compliance Lead.
Primary Responsibilities
You will contribute to compliant, efficient and future-ready import/export operations across EMEA Supply Chain Operations by:
- Acting as a trusted subject-matter expert for customs procedures, origin, classification and related trade compliance topics.
- Translating regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance for sites, brokers, service providers, and internal partners.
- Supporting new lanes, suppliers, product launches and source changes by ensuring the right licenses, permits and customs processes are in place.
- Partnering with regional and global trade compliance teams to implement compliance programs and lead end-to-end improvement projects.
- Overseeing import and export operations for EMEA Supply Chain Operations, helping ensure compliant and timely movement of goods.
- Managing key service providers that support operational customs activities, documentation, and day-to-day execution.
- Working with brokers and freight forwarders to resolve complex clearance issues and maintain reliable delivery performance.
- Coordinating cross-functional stakeholders across Quality, Legal, Procurement, Finance and site teams to support import/export decisions and corrective actions.
- Identifying opportunities to improve processes, reduce costs, and strengthen the overall import/export operating model.
- Monitoring exceptions, root causes and corrective actions, including returns, detained shipments, and misdeclarations.
- Maintaining audit-ready documentation, supporting audits, and contributing to KPI, SLA, and risk management activities.
- Coaching colleagues and partners, acting as an escalation point and supporting digital tools, data quality, and automation initiatives.
Your Profile
- You are based in the Netherlands and bring 6–10 years of progressive experience in trade compliance, customs brokerage, transportation, or import/export operations within a regulated environment.
- You have a strong knowledge of customs topics such as origin, valuation, classification, Incoterms, and international transport modes across air, ocean, and road.
- You are confident working with brokers, freight forwarders, and outsourced providers, and know how to navigate complex customs and clearance cases.
- You bring hands-on experience with TMS/ERP systems such as SAP and trade compliance tools for classification, screening, documentation, and operational follow-up.
- You combine strong analytical skills with a continuous improvement mindset, using root cause analysis, CAPAs, and data-driven insights to strengthen processes.
- You are a clear communicator and trusted partner who can explain complex regulatory topics to different audiences, work independently across matrixed teams, and communicate fluently in English; additional EMEA languages are an advantage.
What we offer
Our benefits are very competitive, and the summary below will give you an idea of what you can expect.
- A competitive salary;
- 35.5 vacation days;
- 8% vacation allowance and 3% year-end bonus;
- Incentive Plan;
- An excellent pension scheme;
- Various training modules.
- On-site sports facilities with classes in boxing, Zumba and Pilates.
- Mental wellbeing support via Lyra Health for you and your family members.
- Access to a dedicated prayer/meditation room.
- A high-quality company restaurant with fresh and healthy options every day.
- Excellent coffee prepared by a professional barista.
- Game room with a pool table and a ping pong table.
- Mental wellbeing support via Lyra Health for you and your family members.
For questions about this vacancy
Please send an email including the vacancy number and job title to the following email address: RecruitmentNLMSD.com
Required Skills:
Budgeting, Change Control Management, Compliance Implementation, Compliance Programs, Corrective Action Management, Customs Brokerage, Customs Clearing, Demand Forecasting, Digital Adoption, Inventory Management, Logistics Management, Order Management, Production Scheduling, Regulatory Change Management, Supply Chain Operations, Supply Change Management, Supply Management, Vendor Management
Preferred Skills:
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Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
07/31/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the dayBEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the dayBEFORE the job posting end date.
Requisition ID: R406672
