We are a leading chemical company, with the best teams developing intelligent solutions for our customers, and for a sustainable future.

We connect and develop people with diverse talents all over the world. For you, this means a variety of ways to progress. 

Not only your performance but also your personality matter to us, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, orientation, and background.  At BASF, careers develop from opportunities . 

Objectives of the Position

The Global Customs Strategy & Compliance Management is globally accountable for defining, steering, and ensuring adherence to customs policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks across BASF Group. The role ensures that global, regional, and national customs requirements are consistently translated into binding policies, guidelines, and operational procedures, and that these are correctly documented within the BASF Customs Internal Control System (ICS) / Rule Base.

The position acts as a key interface between Global Customs Steering, Audit & Legal Advisory, Risk Management, Process Design Teams, and regional Customs units, ensuring compliance with customs and foreign trade regulations while supporting business continuity and efficiency. This role also requires close monitoring of legal, political, and economic developments, translation into end‑to‑end customs processes, and deep‑dive data analytics to support risk assessments, audits, and management reporting.

Main Tasks

Customs Governance, Policies & Procedures

• Define, maintain, and govern global customs policies, guidelines, and standard procedures covering import, export, bonded warehouse, special customs regimes (e.g. inward processing, duty drawback), FTAs, Free Trade Zones, and excise management
• Ensure global availability, accuracy, and validity of customs documentation in the GB Rule Base and Customs ICS
• Initiate and control implementation of regional and national deviations to reflect specific legal requirements while maintaining global consistency

Audit, Risk & Compliance Management

• Initiate, coordinate, and perform process‑oriented risk assessments including documentation and annual follow‑up within the BASF Customs Internal Control System
• Conduct spot checks, compliance reviews, and follow‑ups on deviations jointly with Customs Audit & Legal Advisory teams
• Monitor court decisions, new laws, regulations, and customs agreements, translating impacts into policies, procedures, and business guidance

Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Actively engage and align with Customs Communities of Practice, SDU Heads, Country Leads, and Custodians to ensure global process adherence
• Closely align with Process Design Teams to implement required changes in the customs process landscape
• Serve as the central global contact for customs‑relevant M&A activities, ensuring consistent, structured, and legally compliant customs input across projects

Data Analytics, Reporting & Training

• Perform deep‑dive analysis of internal and external customs data and present results in standardized visual formats (e.g. dashboards)
• Conduct global and regional knowledge transfer and training for Customs Custodians, regional units, and hubs
• Act as project coordinator for global customs initiatives and improvements

Requirements

• Strong BASF business and Supply Chain Operations knowledge across regions (Asia, EMEA, Americas)
• Expert knowledge of Customs & Foreign Trade regulations, including audit and compliance processes
• Experience working with customs authorities, brokers, and external advisory partners
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and argumentation skills
• Excellent analytical thinking and structured working methodology
• Strong teamwork competence and project management capability
• Very good knowledge of SAP master data systems and SAP GTS will be an advantage
• English (fluent in spoken and written)

The BASF Service Hub Kuala Lumpur (BASF Asia-Pacific Service Centre Sdn Bhd) is strategically located in the capital city of Malaysia. Since its inception in 2005, the hub has expanded from 130 employees to over 1,300 employees currently and is expected to keep growing. As an ISO 9001:2005 certified organization, the Service Hub Kuala Lumpur is committed to delivering high quality expertise and services in finance, people, supply chain, EHSQ (environment, health, safety, quality), product safety and digital.

We take pride in providing our business services to BASF companies and affiliates across 20 markets in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Moreover, we offer our services in 8 different languages to cater to the diverse needs of our stakeholders. Our focus on competency and technology-driven solutions allows us to consistently deliver exceptional services, thereby contributing to the success of our businesses. BASF also has two other regional hubs located in Berlin, Germany, and Montevideo, Uruguay, which cover the European and American regions.

BASF Service Hub Kuala Lumpur was recognized with nine prestigious awards in 2024, reflecting its commitment to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and empowering workplace. These awards include winning the title of Operational Excellence in HR at the GBS Asia Awards 2024, multiple accolades at the Life at Work Awards 2024, where the hub was recognized as First Runner-up for Workplace Excellence (International Organization) and CEO Champion (International Organization), as well as Second Runner-up for Best International Organization. The hub also won the title for Excellence in Learning Tech Advancement System and a Certificate of Excellence in Talent Management and Leadership at the HRD Awards 2024. Furthermore, the hub secured a Bronze Award for Excellence in Digital Transformation at the HR Excellence Awards 2024 and received a Bronze Award for Human Resources Impact and an Honorary Award for Creative Talent Management Impact at the SSON Impact Awards Asia 2024.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.