Job Purpose
- Lead the in-house customs compliance function, ensuring regulatory oversight, declaration accuracy, and premium advisory services for multinational clients
- Conduct daily regulatory monitoring, impact assessment, and legal advisory across customs, trade, and tax legislation
- Develop and maintain SOPs for declaration processes, HS classification, FTA/C/O utilization, customs valuation, and document management
- Develop pre-filing review frameworks to verify declaration accuracy and establish quality control workflows
- Conduct periodic internal audits and prepare for post-clearance inspections (hậu kiểm) under the 5-year audit window
- Design customs solutions for complex client scenarios (EPE, bonded warehouse, dual-use, dangerous goods, cross-border)
- Deliver training workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions for internal teams and client stakeholders
- Collaborate with IT on process automation and customs legal intelligence tool deployment
- This is a hands-on leadership role: directly perform compliance activities while overseeing the Compliance Team
Reports to: Head of Customs
Main Accountabilities
- Lead daily scanning and analysis of regulatory changes across customs, trade, and tax legislation at national and sub-departmental levels
- Assess operational impact of new and amended regulations on DGF's customs operations, client accounts, and declaration processes
- Provide timely, accurate legal advisory to MNC clients on regulatory changes, compliance obligations, and risk mitigation strategies
- Track enforcement trends and customs audit patterns across sub-departments to anticipate compliance risks
- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve SOPs for declaration processes, HS classification, FTA/C/O utilization, customs valuation, commodity regulations, and document management
- Design and implement compliance checklists, pre-filing verification protocols, and quality control workflows
- Develop pre-filing review frameworks to verify declaration accuracy: HS codes, customs valuation, commodity policy compliance, license/permit requirements, and FTA eligibility
- Establish and enforce a 2-layer verification process for all declarations
- Conduct periodic internal audits of declaration accuracy and document filing, identifying patterns, root causes, and corrective actions
- Manage responses to customs queries, inspections, and post-clearance audit requests in coordination with relevant teams
- Design customs solutions for complex client scenarios across multiple sectors
- Support business development with compliance advisory for prospective clients, regulatory impact assessments, and solution proposals
- Deliver training workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions for internal teams and client stakeholders on regulatory updates and compliance best practices
- Coordinate with the Declaration Manager to embed compliance checkpoints into the operational workflow
- Collaborate with IT on process automation initiatives and deployment of the customs legal intelligence tool
- Report to Head of Customs on compliance status, regulatory risks, and strategic recommendations
Process
- Develop and maintain regulatory monitoring workflows and compliance checklists
- Design and enforce pre-filing verification and 2-layer checking processes
- Establish audit-readiness documentation standards for 5-year post-clearance retention
- Develop client advisory frameworks and templates for regulatory change notifications
- Coordinate cross-functional compliance processes between Declaration Team, Operations, and IT
People Management
- Oversee and mentor the Compliance Team, ensuring consistent quality and professional development
- Identify training needs and develop structured learning programs for compliance and declaration staff
- Build a culture of compliance excellence, regulatory curiosity, and continuous improvement
- Coordinate with Declaration Manager on team cross-training and knowledge sharing
Functional Experience
Requirements for the Job
- Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience in Vietnamese customs operations, with at least 3 years in a compliance, regulatory advisory, or quality assurance role. Demonstrated experience working with complex commodity groups (high-tech electronics, chemicals, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, medical devices).
- Proven track record of handling post-clearance audits, customs disputes, or regulatory investigations.
- Experience serving multinational corporate accounts with high compliance expectations.
Geographical Experience
- Based in Vietnam. Experience working with multinational corporate accounts across diverse industries.
Education / Qualification / Certification Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in International Trade, Law, Customs, Logistics, Economics, or related field
- Advanced degree or professional certifications in trade compliance, customs law, or supply chain management are advantageous
- Valid Customs Agent Certificate issued by the General Department of Vietnam Customs
- Deep, current knowledge of Vietnamese customs law and related regulations
- Strong command of HS classification, customs valuation, FTA/C/O rules of origin, commodity policy regulations
- Proficiency with VNACCS/VCIS electronic customs declaration systems
- Excellent analytical and legal-research skills
- Proficient in English — ability to draft client advisories, SOPs, and compliance reports
- Strong communication skills — able to explain complex regulatory issues to operational staff and senior stakeholders
- Strong automation skills and mindset are advantageous
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