Technical Manager for Research & Operations in Customs and Border Security

Overview

The Cross-Border Research Association (CBRA) is seeking an experienced Technical Manager for Research & Operations to oversee technical tasks within a diverse portfolio of European research and innovation projects. This position will focus, but not limited to, the MELCHIOR, PARSEC, CONNECTOR, and BORDERLINK projects, which aim to enhance technological security solutions for customs, supply chain security, risk management, and cross-border cooperation.

The successful candidate will work closely with customs administrations, academic institutions, technology providers, and other stakeholders on a global scale. The Technical Manager will lead tasks and work packages, ensure timely achievement of project objectives, and uphold compliance with the guidelines of EU Horizon and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Responsibilities include conducting hands-on research, managing technical writing and deliverables, overseeing research IT tools and platforms, and contributing to international standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project-Specific Responsibilities

1.1. MELCHIOR Project (Horizon Europe co-funded with SERI)

Assist the MELCHIOR Project Manager in overseeing technical tasks to meet project timelines and deliverables. Contribute to the analysis of past projects and state-of-the-art technologies applicable to concealed and hidden objects interrogation, including detection of chemical vapors and biological agents. Define and quantify targeted items and participate in the creation of a mechanical-acoustic model and equipment selection for the test bench. Conduct assessments on social impacts and gender dimensions in cooperation with project partners. Contribute to market prospective analysis and business plan development for MELCHIOR outcomes.

• Collaborate with project stakeholders on technical tasks to produce technical reports, conference papers and journal publications.
• Participate in project dissemination activities, paying particular attention to technical aspects.

Develop training modules in Canvas LMS for non-intrusive, sound and mm-wave-based detection technologies.

1.2. PARSEC Project (Horizon Europe co-funded with SERI)

Perform technical project coordination, collaborating with customs, police, and postal operators on collecting user requirements and defining functional specifications. Develop and execute data and ethics management plans. Create and refine flow simulation models using InControl software and specific task models using Python. Participate in the development of threat assessment models and inspection solutions. · Participate in statistical exploration and preparation of data sets. Contribute to the technical specifications and interaction between systems in the "system of systems" demo.

• Support multi-stakeholder collaboration for enhancing information exchange and meeting project objectives.
• Participate in the development of an emulator for the second inspection line.
• Produce content for project deliverables and participate in dissemination activities.

Develop training modules in Canvas LMS for X-ray transmission-based threat assessment and contribute to project dissemination activities.

1.3. CONNECTOR Project (Horizon Europe co-funded with SERI)

Support the development of advanced security tools to enhance information sharing and cooperation between customs and border authorities. Contribute to the design of decision support and control systems for border and customs domains. Create synthetic datasets and simulated databases using standard customs data structures. Develop algorithms and risk assessment tools, incorporating statistical methods, natural language processing (NLP) techniques, and data fusion principles. · Contribute to the design of data fusion principles and algorithms using digital twin features, data analytics and data lakes, Develop training modules in Canvas LMS focusing on interoperability frameworks for customs and border management.

1.4. BORDERLINK Project (Horizon Europe co-funded with SERI)

Collaborate with customs and technical partners to gather user requirements and align BORDERLINK solutions with operational needs. Lead the development of the BORDERLINK Observatory, including defining platform functionalities and prioritizing themes like blockchain, Green Customs, and waste management. Collect user requirements for building intelligence database of seized cigarettes. Develop a cloud-based library for reference Raman spectra, leveraging knowledge of non-intrusive detection technologies and commodity HS code groups. · Produce the technical blueprints of the cloud library. Participate in standardization activities on X-ray images, Raman spectra, and information sharing among authorities.

• Collaborate with project partners to align BORDERLINK’s technical outputs with EU and global customs standards, such as the WCO Data Model and EU Customs Data Model.
• Participate in the development of educational games on Green Customs.

Develop training courses and educational games on X-ray images & threat recognition training course in Canvas LMS. Further develop educational online platform & training standardization, Green Customs and other project themes.

2. Other Responsibilities

Participate in hands-on research activities, including: Collection and analysis of data and requirements Development of concepts, models, and theories Writing high-quality research papers for academic journals, practitioner journals, and web-magazines Conduct analysis of state-of-the-art security technologies and other relevant advancements. Manage research data analysis tasks and oversee IT tools and infrastructure, including: Web-platforms management Cloud-based solutions management Identify and explore new research funding opportunities. Write project funding proposals, typically in collaboration with consortium partners. Create educational packages focused on supply chain security (SCS), customs, and related topics. Address additional management and operational tasks as they arise. Provide technical expertise across all four projects (MELCHIOR, PARSEC, CONNECTOR, and BORDERLINK). Lead multiple parallel tasks, ensuring collaboration with customs authorities, technology providers, and academic institutions. Monitor task progress, conduct regular meetings, produce reports, and communicate updates to the project manager. Ensure compliance with SERI funding requirements, including financial and technical reporting. Contribute to advancements in standardization for customs domains, including X-ray, Raman, and CISE interfaces. Develop training materials and educational platforms in Canvas LMS and AWS cloud environments. Represent CBRA at international conferences, workshops, and events related to customs and border security.

Qualifications and Experience

Education: Master’s degree (or higher) in Engineering, Management Sciences, or related fields. Experience: At least 5 years in task leadership roles within international research projects focused on security innovations for customs or border management. 3 years of proven experience in logistics, cross-border operations, trade facilitation, risk management, or in customs management. At least 3 projects with multi-stakeholder with public and private partners, especially with custom administrations, 3 years of proven experience in developing e-learning materials and deploying/configuring/managing cloud-based services (e.g., AWS). 5 years of proven experience in projects related to customs control technologies (X-ray scanning, Raman spectroscopy), and customs risk management. At least 2 projects involving utilization of software tools for simulation in logistics, data and business process modeling (e.g., InControl, MySQL Workbench, Enterprise Architect etc.) At least 2 projects in developing decision support tools using various data sources, statistical methods of data analysis, machine learning methods, NLP techniques, and data fusion principles (e.g. development of software modules in Python using the corresponding libraries).

Key Skills and Expertise

Leadership & Coordination: Proven ability to lead technical tasks and work packages, and collaborate effectively with diverse international stakeholders. Technical Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of customs control devices and instruments, including X-ray scanners and Raman spectrometers. Solid understanding of customs procedures, including handling and recycling seized illicit goods. Project Management: Proficient in planning, resource allocation, and task management, with experience in tracking deliverables and adhering to strict project timelines. Software Proficiency: Skilled in the use of project-specific simulation software and modeling tools, such as InControl and Python. Familiarity with learning management systems (Canvas LMS). Data Analysis & Development: Strong grasp of statistical analysis, data modeling, and data visualization techniques. Experience with APIs for external data sources and developing risk assessment tools. Cloud Computing & IT Management: Knowledgeable in deploying and configuring cloud services in the AWS environment, including managing Linux-based images, servers, and databases. Competent in integrating platforms with external applications. Software Development: Understanding of software engineering processes and web development fundamentals. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, SQL, and RDF query languages. Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with a demonstrated history