What you'll do

Get the documents right. Collect and verify supplier declarations, certificates of origin, ATIGA Form D records and RCEP declarations. Check that they actually support the claim being made — correct issuing party, valid period, matching product description and HS code. Track expiry and chase renewals before they lapse.

Keep the data clean. Maintain product classification records and flag where an Asian export classification diverges from our European import position. Run restricted-party and destination screening to defined procedures. Gather CBAM and supply-chain due diligence data from producers across the region.

Spend real time on the phone. Expect two to four hours a day on outbound calls — to brokers, agents, forwarders and client site staff across ASEAN, Greater China, Japan, Korea, India and Australia, and to customs enquiry desks where the question is general or where we hold a mandate. You will align on process, resolve discrepancies in filings, work through rejected declarations and chase documents that have gone quiet. Over your first year you will build working relationships with twenty to forty named counterparts across the region.

Know what an answer is worth. A verbal indication from a customs officer is a working steer, not authority. Recognising the difference — and confirming anything material in writing — is one of the most important things you will do here.

Write it down. Log every call: who, when, what was asked, what was said. Keep dossiers in a state where a European auditor can follow them three years from now without local context.

Escalate early. Compliance positions are set by our specialist in the Netherlands. Your job is to surface the facts and flag the problems — at hour two, not day five.

Who we're looking for

Essential

• Three or more years in trade compliance, customs brokerage, freight forwarding compliance, or a multinational global trade services centre.
• Working familiarity with rules of origin and FTA documentation in an Asian context — you can read a certificate of origin and see what's wrong with it.
• HS classification literacy at 6–8 digit level.
• Confident, clear spoken business English, and genuine willingness to pick up the phone. You are comfortable calling a government office or a senior person at another company, and being transferred four times without losing your patience or your thread.
• Written English clear enough for a Dutch auditor to read without friction.
• Careful documentation habits and reliable follow-through.
• A stable home working setup: reliable fibre, backup connectivity or power, and a quiet environment for calls.
• Legal right to work in the Philippines.

Strong advantages

• Regional or global trade compliance experience, rather than purely domestic Philippine customs work.
• Mandarin. This meaningfully widens what you can reach, and we value it accordingly. Any other regional language is welcome.
• Prior dealings with Bureau of Customs, Singapore Customs, Indian ICEGATE or DGFT, or Malaysian or Australian customs.
• Background in semiconductor, electronics, life sciences or high-tech supply chains.
• Familiarity with SAP GTS or a comparable trade compliance platform.
• Experience reporting into a European or US head office.

Not needed

• European customs knowledge. We will teach you the EU import side.
• Any coding ability.

What we offer

• Competitive salary, set against your experience and language capability.
• 13th-month pay and full statutory contributions.
• HMO coverage after 6 months.
• Laptop, headset, VoIP line with regional numbers, and an internet allowance.
• Remote-first / Hybrid role / Dayshift. No commute, and working hours of 09:00–18:00 PHT with a fixed afternoon overlap into the Netherlands.
• A training budget, including support toward professional trade compliance certification.
• Direct working contact with our compliance lead in Europe and visibility to the Managing Director. Twelve people — you will not be a ticket number in a service tower.
• First hire in the region, with a clear route toward a senior regional role as the function grows.

How to apply

Send your CV and a short note explaining why this role interests you.

One thing to know in advance: our process begins with a live telephone assessment rather than ending with one. We would rather see how you handle a difficult call early than put you through several rounds first. If being on the phone is the part of this advert that appeals to you, we would like to hear from you.