International Trade Compliance Lead

• Lead end-to-end customs compliance and day-to-day import/export operations across all international movements.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC, CDS and relevant international customs requirements, maintaining accurate, auditable records.
• Act as the subject matter expert for tariff classification, customs valuation, origin, preference and customs procedures.
• Oversee operational controls from product/order set-up through documentation, declarations, shipment release and post-entry assurance.
• Manage customs brokers and external trade partners, ensuring declaration accuracy, clear accountability and effective escalation.
• Identify and manage customs, operational and financial risk, implementing corrective and preventative actions where required.
• Optimise duty and preference opportunities through appropriate use of trade agreements, reliefs and customs procedures.
• Develop compliance KPIs, reporting and audit controls to provide clear visibility of performance, risk and corrective actions.
• Partner across Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Finance, Procurement and Technical/Quality to embed compliant end-to-end ways of working.
• Maintain SOPs, deliver training and drive continuous improvement towards a robust, scalable and audit-ready international trade operation.

Key Skills & Experience

· Strong experience in UK, EU & ROW customs compliance, including CDS and authorisations (EIDR/SDP or equivalents)
· Proven background in multinational import/export operations
· Deep understanding of:
· Tariff classification (HS codes)
· Origin rules and FTA application
· Customs valuation methods
· Experience managing customs brokers and external partners
· Highly analytical with focus on:
· Risk identification
· Financial exposure
· Data-driven decisions
· Confident with IT systems and various software applications