Customs & Trade Operations Lead (Contractors)

Your role will involve coordinating import and export activities, ensuring adherence to trade regulations, and optimizing operational costs.

By efficiently managing these tasks, you will support business growth and maintain strong relationships with trade partners (e.g., Customs Brokers, LSPs, Vendors) and cross-functional teams (IBL, OBL).

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage import and export processes, ensuring full compliance with customs regulations, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Oversee customs compliance with outsourced customs brokers, ensuring all documentation for customs declarations is planned and executed correctly for goods movement to and from the distribution centres.
• Stay updated on changing regulations, manage necessary documentation, and ensure proper classification, valuation, and duty payments.
• Support ongoing projects and new business initiatives within the trade team's portfolio to achieve set objectives.
• Work closely with customs brokers and other partners to ensure smooth customs processes and timely clearance of goods.
• Manage contracts, fee structures, and maintain strong relationships to ensure smooth operations.
• Identify opportunities to reduce customs-related costs, evaluate alternative transportation routes, and leverage FTA programs to minimize duties and taxes legally.
• Mitigate potential risks associated with customs compliance, conduct transactional monitoring, regular audits, and implement internal control measures.
• Enhance efficiency and streamline trade operations by identifying areas for improvement, such as automating manual processes and leveraging technology solutions.
• Work effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including procurement, logistics, and finance teams.
• Maintain open communication with customs authorities and government agencies, and provide regular reports on customs brokerage and duty costs to finance teams.
• Assist with domestic and international shipments, track shipments, and communicate with carriers, freight forwarders, and 3PL partners.
• Support the compliant shipment of one-off goods movements according to UK and EU customs rules and regulations.
• Maintain all customs files and records to ensure proper record-keeping and avoid penalties or delays.
• Ensure all import transactions meet compliance standards set by UK and EU customs regulations.
• Resolve exceptions encountered during the import/export clearance process by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Degree in business, international supply chain management, or trade-related disciplines preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in customs operations.
• Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving, budgeting, project management, and planning skills.
• Proficiency in English (verbal and written).
• Expert knowledge of UK and EU customs rules and regulations.
• Familiarity with global trade management platforms and customs filing systems is a plus.
• Experience with textile and apparel importers is advantageous.
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external teams and partners.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Outlook, and Internet applications.
• Understanding of WMS and CMS systems; experience with SAP/SAP GTS is ideal but similar experience is acceptable.

The Leonid Group Corporate Governance is a talent acquisition consultancy that specialises in the placement of Legal, Compliance, Trade Compliance & Ethics professionals on an international scale across the Americas, EMEA and APAC. Legal and compliance are both global, with teams worldwide, and our network reflects this. We work with multinational corporations to help structure their departments with the best people, from the Global Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel to the Compliance Analyst and Trade Compliance Specialist.

Apply HERE.