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. As of 1 July 2025, two technical Directorates operate under the broad supervision of the Secretary General. The Policy and Standards Directorate holds responsibility for developing WCO policy and standards, while the 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.
Short Description of the Vacant Position
The Implementation and Capacity Development Directorate is led by a Director and is comprised of two Sub-Directorates: Implementation Support and Capacity Delivery, each managed by a Deputy Director. Implementation of WCO instruments, tools and standards is a fundamental part of the Directorate’s work, directly responding to the policy developed by the Policy and Standards Directorate.
The Implementation Support Sub-Directorate is tasked with overseeing the full capacity building lifecycle, from needs assessment to performance measurement and quality assurance. Implementation Support Sub-Directorate is divided into three Units: Needs Assessment & Strategic Support, Expert Mobilization & Curriculum Management and Performance Measurement & Quality Assurance.
The Head of Unit, Needs Assessment & Strategic Support, is responsible for the management of staff in the Unit, leading and delivering the capacity-building planning cycle and providing strategic leadership in maintaining, evolving, and championing the WCO Capacity Building Paradigm.
Main Accountabilities
Managerial responsibilities
- As an integral member of the Sub-Directorate and Directorate management team, contribute to ensuring effective delivery in line with the WCO Strategic Plan.
- Manage staff within the 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, liaising with the Human Resources (HR) Service and other relevant services, as required.
- Assign tasks to staff within the Unit, in consultation with the Deputy Director, ensuring alignment with individual skills and capacities, balancing workloads to the extent possible, and setting deadlines and expectations.
- Provide guidance and direction to staff within the Unit, ensuring ongoing two-way feedback, setting objectives and development plans, conducting performance evaluations, and identifying opportunities for development.
- Ensure effective communication and knowledge-sharing within the Unit and Sub Directorate and in coordination with the other Heads of Unit in the WCO.
Technical responsibilities
- Oversee and contribute to the drafting of guidance and technical documents related to the Unit’s area of responsibility.
- Act as first approver for working body documents and reports prepared by the Unit, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and in a timely manner.
- Manage the Capacity Building Committee and contribute to the management of other relevant WCO working bodies.
- Oversee the preparation of briefings for relevant working body Chairpersons, the Deputy Director and Director, as required.
- Represent the WCO at international fora and in meetings with Members, relevant partners and stakeholders.
- Write and review briefing notes, presentations and speeches to be given by the Secretary General and other senior Secretariat staff.
- In coordination with the Stakeholder Engagement Office, develop and oversee the creation and maintenance of working relations with external entities.
- Ensure collaboration with WCO regional entities to secure support for specified programmes, supporting wider WCO work on regionalisation.
- Ensure effective coordination with the Project Management Office and that project work is managed in line with WCO standards.
- Champion the WCO Capacity Building Paradigm and support its implementation, working with stakeholders to ensure it remains agile, future-ready, and aligned with emerging global priorities, integrating cutting-edge concepts and methodologies that respond to the evolving needs of Members.
- Lead and deliver the capacity-building planning cycle in line with the Standard Operating Procedures, including the annual assessment of Members’ needs and creating the Capacity Delivery Plan, as well as keeping this process under review to ensure optimised use of WCO and Member time and resources.
- Maintain awareness of and respond to ad hoc Member requests related to development needs while maintaining overall coherence with strategic plans and cycles.
- Forge close links with CCF donor countries to ensure funding support for Member needs in the Capacity Delivery Plan.
General
- Deputize for the Deputy Director and provide back-up for the other Heads of Unit in the Sub-Directorate, as required.
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.
Education
- A minimum of an undergraduate degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.
Experience and Essential Qualifications
- Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in a position of responsibility gained in the WCO Secretariat, or a Member’s Customs administration, or with international organizations, or other private sector experience.
- Demonstrable experience and ability to develop initiatives and strategies in the field of Customs strategic development.
- Leadership potential and the motivation to take on day-to-day management of staff in a multi-cultural environment.
- Experience in leading projects and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Demonstrable interest in the strategic objectives and modernization of the WCO and experience in Customs modernization initiatives.
- Strong analytical skills and proven experience in working effectively under pressure.
- Strong inter-personal skills, intercultural awareness and the ability to work effectively with staff and stakeholders.
- Good knowledge of computer applications and information systems, in particular MS Office.
Additional Desirable but Non-Essential Qualifications
- Previous management experience, preferably demonstrated in senior administrative positions in Customs, including a strong corporate approach in leading projects across an organization.
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 and ideally possess good working knowledge of the other official language.
Contract and Conditions
- Staff member under WCO contract of five (5) years (renewable up to a maximum total duration of appointment 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 A4, step 1; amount of 9,402.67 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.
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 9 November 2025, midnight Central European Time (CET), 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.
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.
