Customs and Foreign Trade Manager GAPAC

Job title – GAPAC Customs & Foreign Trade Manager (Animal Nutrition)

Location – Singapore

The role serves as a strategic bridge between Global Trade Compliance, Customs, and regional teams, ensuring alignment in both policy and execution. It involves direct communication and negotiation with regulatory bodies and Customs authorities across APAC, representing the organization’s interests. The position also includes engaging external legal counsel when necessary to defend corporate strategies and initiate legal challenges aimed at securing favorable rulings from Customs agencies.

Drives the adoption of best practices within the GAPAC region and provides expert guidance to in-country teams to ensure compliant importation of goods. This includes advising on shipping documentation, HS code classification, origin determination, and local regulatory requirements. It also focuses on reducing landed costs by leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and offers strategic insights into APAC Customs regulations to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Instil a continuous process improvement mindset.
• Ensure alignment of strategy and implementation of Trade Compliance and Customs initiatives between Global and GAPAC.
• Drive adoption of best practices within GAPAC.
• Identify and implement initiatives that can drive down landed costs in GAPAC.

Trade compliance

• Identify the documents requirements in relation to imported product.
• Identify/Share licensing requirement etc.
• Compliance of trade restrictions, export authorizations, licenses, and government rulings.

Custom

• Identify the requirements to import products.
• Import duties such as tariff classification, free trade agreements.
• Share and educate team in FTA agreement and requirement etc.
• External trade compliance inspections, investigations, audits, voluntary disclosures.
• Support team in relation to customs queries etc.
• Monitor Regional /Local Custom Legislation.
• Support Team during custom audit.
• Review and suggest correct HS code.

We Offer:

• Unique career paths across animal, nutrition and health – explore what drives you and get the support to make it happen.
• A chance to impact millions of consumers every day – sustainability embedded in all we do.
• A science led company, cutting edge research and creativity everywhere – from biotech breakthroughs to sustainability game-changers, you’ll work on what’s next.
• Growth that keeps up with you – you join an industry leader that will develop your expertise and leadership.
• A culture that lifts you up – with collaborative teams, shared wins, and people who cheer each other on.
• A community where your voice matters – it is essential to serve our customers well. 

You Bring:

• College or university graduate, MBA, or supply chain management master preferred. More than 10 years of working experience with a Multi-National Corporation environment.
• Experience presenting compliance findings, cost-saving strategies, and regulatory risks to senior leadership, as well as working with external customs legal counsel.
• Experience in different domains of supply chain management such as sourcing, purchasing, supply chain management or logistics management.
• Knowledge of Free Trade Agreements impacting GAPAC and Customs Requirements in countries whereby DSM-FIRMENICH ANH is the importer of records.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with fast learning ability. Able to work independently and effectively under pressure.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply customs regulations, including experience working with various APAC Customs agencies.
• APICS certification and 6 Sigma certification is a plus.

About dsm-firmenich

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them.

Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future. 

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

Agency statement

We’re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.