Deputy Director Enforcement, Facilitation & Technology

1. INTRODUCTION

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an independent intergovernmental body, established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs services across the globe. The WCO represents 186 Customs administrations that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters.

As a forum for dialogue and exchange of experiences between national Customs delegates, the WCO offers its Members a wide range of conventions and other international instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or with its participation. The Secretariat also actively supports its Members in their endeavours to modernize and build capacity within their national Customs administrations, as well as fostering international cooperation among them.

In June 2024, WCO Council approved a modernization plan for the Organization, which included a restructuring designed to address challenges identified by Members and the Secretariat. Under the envisaged structure, as of 1 July 2025, two technical Directorates will operate under the broad supervision of the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General. One Directorate (Policy and Standards Directorate) holds responsibility for developing WCO policy and standards, while the other (Implementation and Capacity Development Directorate) is responsible for supporting implementation of the said policies and standards through capacity delivery, coordination of international operations and technical assistance.

2. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE VACANT POSITION

The rationale behind the establishment of a Policy and Standards Directorate (PSD) is to recentre attention and competences around the content of the WCO’s instruments and tools and to be able to produce and maintain WCO tools and instruments in an efficient and coherent manner. The Policy and Standards Directorate will be responsible for the broad majority of WCO working bodies, with a policy development function, managed under the leadership of the Director of Policy and Standards.

The Policy and Standards Directorate will consist of two Sub-Directorates, each managed by a Deputy Director: Nomenclature and Revenue Sub-Directorate and Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology Sub-Directorate. Nomenclature and Revenue Sub-Directorate will develop and maintain the Organization’s key instruments and tools on Nomenclature, Valuation and Origin. Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology Sub-Directorate will focus on policy development on topics related to Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology.

As a member of the Directorate management team and the WCO senior management team, the Deputy Director contributes to ensuring effective, collaborative and coherent leadership across the WCO. They lead the Sub-Directorate management team and oversee all activities within the Sub-Directorate.

The Deputy Director manages three Heads of Unit, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Enforcement Policy Unit, the Facilitation Policy Unit and the Data and Technology Policy Unit.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Under the supervision of the Director Policy & Standards, the Deputy Director Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology will focus on the following key activities:

Leadership:

• As a member of the Directorate management team and the WCO senior management team, contribute to ensuring effective, collaborative and coherent leadership across the WCO.

• Lead the Sub-Directorate management team and oversee all activities within the Sub-Directorate.

• Assume direct responsibility and accountability for the timely completion of the Strategic Plan programmes and key performance indicators (KPIs) falling within the scope of the Sub-Directorate.

• Manage Heads of Unit in accordance with the WCO’s values, Staff Manuals and policies, including management of leave and attendance, recruitment, onboarding, offboarding and associated knowledge transfer, as well as staff welfare, in liaison with the Human Resources (HR) Service and other relevant services, as required.

• Provide guidance and direction to Heads of Unit, ensuring ongoing two-way feedback, setting objectives and development plans, conducting annual performance evaluations, and identifying opportunities for development.

• Ensure effective communication and knowledge-sharing within the Sub-Directorate and in coordination with other Deputy Directors in the WCO.

• Manage and oversee participation in conferences, seminars and events for the Sub-Directorate.

Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology:

• Provide leadership, management direction and support to staff in the Sub-Directorate on:

  • the development and maintenance of WCO instruments and tools;

  • the planning and management of meetings of the WCO working bodies in the Sub-Directorate’s area of responsibility, including the Permanent Technical Committee and Enforcement Committee;

  • Customs data and technology solutions designed to improve efficiency, analytical capability and operational efficacy;

  • the planning and execution of international meetings or events, such as the Technology Conference and Exhibition, relating to the topics of the Sub-Directorate as required;

  • appropriate participation and contribution in relevant meetings and events held by other parties as required; and

  • production of WCO publications relating to Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology.

• Support the Implementation and Capacity Delivery Directorate in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to ensure consistency with the substance of WCO standards, instruments, and tools.

• Offer full support to the sessions of the Council, Policy Commission and Finance Committee regarding questions relating to Enforcement, Facilitation and Technology.

• Represent the WCO at international fora and in meetings with Members, relevant partners and stakeholders.

• Ensure effective coordination between the Sub-Directorate and relevant services in the WCO (e.g., Stakeholder Engagement Office, Project Management Office, Communications Service, Accounting Service, etc.).

• Contribute to effective liaison with Member administrations, other international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

General:

• Deputize for the Director and provide back-up for the other Deputy Director in the Directorate, as required.

• Perform any other tasks, as required, that may be entrusted to the Deputy Director by the Director, or any person acting on their behalf.

The person appointed will also be required to perform such other duties as may be assigned and may be subject to reassignment within the WCO Secretariat.

4. EDUCATION

• A minimum of an undergraduate degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.

5. EXPERIENCE AND ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience with responsibilities equivalent to those carried by the post;

• Experience working for or with international organizations with responsibilities equivalent to those carried by the post;

• Management experience, preferably in middle- to senior-level administrative positions within Customs, and demonstrated ability to use resources effectively to accomplish organizational objectives;

• Technical level experience in one or more areas relevant to trade facilitation, enforcement or digitalization;

• Excellent interpersonal skills;

• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking skills;

• Strong analytical skills and proven experience in working effectively under pressure in a multicultural and cross-institutional environment;

• Good knowledge of the WCO’s policies and priorities, as well as of its administrative practices and procedures;

• Solid knowledge of MS Office; and

• Knowledge of project management principles, proven by a relevant certification, is considered an advantage.

6. LANGUAGES

English and French are the official languages of the WCO. The successful candidate must be fluent in at least one of the official languages. A good working knowledge of the other official language is considered an advantage.

7. CONTRACT AND CONDITIONS

• Staff member under WCO contract of five (5) years (renewable up to a maximum total duration at A-Grade of 10 years);

• Probationary period: six (6) months;

• Full-time employment (thirty-seven (37) hours and forty (40) minutes weekly) at WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium;

• Thirty (30) days of annual paid leave;

• Salary based on the Co-ordinated Organisations’ salary scale, grade A5, step 1; amount of 10,297.91 EUR/month (remuneration exempted from income tax in Belgium);

• The basic salary can be augmented by allowances based on the staff member’s eligibility, and it is subject to the mandatory withholding of terminal allowance (for retirement planning) and medical and life & disability insurance contributions.

This position is subject to the WCO Staff Manual (for permanent staff). If a candidate is related to current WCO staff members (spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister), they are required to specifically indicate this in the application. If an internal applicant is selected, the provisions of Article 10 of the Staff Manual on appointment shall apply.

8. APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate how they meet each of the essential qualifications and requirements. Applicants are encouraged to describe tangible achievements in their CVs and/or in their cover letters, as well as to include references.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an assessment which may include a written test and/or an interview. All short-listed candidates may be requested to provide copies of their original diploma, certificates and proof of relevant experience. Pre-selected candidates may also be subject to reference checks to confirm the information provided in their application. Interested candidates should submit their application for review no later than 6 July 2025 at midnight Central European Time, including a CV and cover letter in English or French. This application should be sent by email to: [email protected].

The subject line of the email sent by each candidate should clearly indicate the job vacancy for which they are applying.

Interested candidates may submit a request for additional information via email, providing their full name and contact details. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application, according to the criteria for the position and the applicable WCO rules.

9. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The WCO is committed to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability, as well as to promoting diversity among its staff members. Accordingly, applications from qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, will receive equal treatment and due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting nationals from WCO Members on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The age limit for employment at the WCO is 65. Please note that the WCO Headquarters building is a non-smoking environment.