Director of Research and Innovation – Customs and Border Security Projects

The Cross-border Research Association (CBRA) is seeking a visionary and experienced Director of Research and Innovation to lead the research strategy and scientific coordination across four major European research and innovation projects: MELCHIOR, PARSEC, CONNECTOR, and BORDERLINK. This senior role involves overseeing the design and execution of technical and policy-oriented research, ensuring scientific excellence, and fostering synergies between project activities. The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record in customs and border research, innovation leadership, and stakeholder engagement across the EU and international institutions.

Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Research Leadership
• Define and implement the overarching research and innovation strategy across CBRA’s customs-related project portfolio.
• Ensure coherence and alignment of research goals, methodologies, and impact indicators across all projects.
• Lead the integration of cross-cutting topics such as Green Customs, Artificial Intelligence, and Gender/Social Impact into the research framework.
2. Project-Specific Contributions
• MELCHIOR: Guide the evaluation of scanning technologies' social and gender impacts; oversee standardization and commercialization research.
• PARSEC: Lead research on data-driven customs risk management, simulation environments, and illicit trade methodologies.
• CONNECTOR: Supervise the design of interoperability and information-sharing frameworks; contribute to policy recommendations and adoption pathways.
• BORDERLINK: Direct the development of the knowledge Observatory and educational games; coordinate analysis on illicit cigarette trade and Raman spectroscopy applications.
3. Scientific Quality Assurance
• Review and validate all scientific deliverables before submission to the European Commission and SERI.
• Ensure robust and innovative research methodologies are employed and documented across CBRA-led work packages.
• Supervise academic publication strategy and knowledge dissemination activities.
4. External Relations and Dissemination
• Represent CBRA at international conferences, workshops, and high-level policy dialogues with stakeholders such as the WCO, OECD, and EC DG TAXUD.
• Lead stakeholder engagement to ensure research results are impactful and adopted by customs administrations and other users.
• Oversee the preparation of policy briefs, technical papers, and strategic recommendations.
5. Internal Coordination and Mentorship
• Mentor research staff and junior experts within CBRA.
• Ensure effective collaboration between the Senior Project Manager, project coordinators, and technical teams.
• Identify opportunities for future project proposals and partnerships.

Requirements
Qualifications:
• Ph.D. in Technology Management, Customs Policy, Security Studies, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Industrial Engineering, International Trade, or Public Administration.

Experience:
• Minimum 10 years of experience in international customs and border-related research and innovation.
• Leadership in at least five EU-funded multi-stakeholder projects.
• Proven expertise in coordinating cross-national research teams and managing scientific deliverables.
• Strong background in customs risk management, detection technologies, anti-illicit trade strategies, and policy development.

Key Skills:
• Demonstrated excellence in academic writing and scientific dissemination.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken); other languages are a plus.
• Strong strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Deep understanding of EU customs innovation ecosystems and international policy frameworks.

Publication Requirements:
• A robust record of peer-reviewed publications in the field of customs and border security, including technical reports, conference papers, and journal articles such as:
o Artificial Intelligence in Customs Enforcement
o Illicit Trade Estimation Methods
o Green Customs Initiatives
o Supply Chain Security Innovations
• A minimum of 30 publications is preferred, reflecting a sustained contribution to the field.