Customs Operations Manager

DFDS; Immingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance cover

Contributory pension scheme

Holiday Purchase Scheme

Free ferry travel between Dover- Calai

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

DFDS in the United Kingdom is seeking a Customs Operations Manager to lead a team of customs clerks, oversee daily declarations, ensure HMRC compliance, and drive continuous improvements in freight movements.

You will use operational data and KPIs to optimise performance, manage shift coverage, and act as the escalation point for customs issues with customers and authorities. This role requires strong leadership in a fast-paced logistics environment.

Qualifications

• Seasoned customs professional with operational management experience.
• Strong understanding of UK customs regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading a busy team in logistics or freight forwarding.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of customs clerks and manage workloads.
• Oversee daily customs declarations and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor KPIs and implement performance improvements.
• Act as escalation point for customs issues with customers and authorities.

Skills

Team leadership

Customs brokerage

Regulatory compliance

Data-driven decision making

Tools

HMRC regulations

Job description

Do you want to be a valued part of the critical infrastructure that serves communities across Europe and beyond? Are you looking for a position in which you can set direction and help shape our company? If so, then you could be the newest addition to our team as a Customs Operations Manager.

Be part of the movement - and play your part.

About The Role

A Customs Operations Manager at DFDS plays a key role in ensuring the smooth and compliant movement of freight through customs processes, while leading a team of customs clerks in a fast-paced logistics environment. This position is responsible for overseeing daily customs operations, managing team performance and shift coverage, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing operational reporting to support service delivery and customer satisfaction.

• Leading, coaching and supporting a team of customs clerks, ensuring workloads are effectively managed and service standards are consistently achieved.
• Managing shift schedules, resource planning and holiday cover to maintain operational continuity across extended office hours.
• Overseeing the accurate completion and submission of customs declarations, ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations and DFDS procedures.
• Monitoring operational performance through regular reporting, analysing KPIs, productivity, service levels and compliance metrics, and implementing improvements where required.
• Acting as the primary escalation point for customs-related issues, liaising with customers, port authorities, HMRC and internal stakeholders to resolve queries and minimise delays to freight movements.

About You

You are an experienced Customs professional with a strong background in customs brokerage and operational management, ideally gained within logistics, freight forwarding, or transport. You have a thorough understanding of UK customs regulations and compliance requirements and are confident leading a busy operation while maintaining high standards of service and accuracy.

You are a people-focused leader with experience managing and developing teams in a fast-paced environment. Able to adapt your management style to suit different individuals and situations, you will be comfortable leading a predominantly young workforce, providing coaching, support, and motivation to drive engagement and performance. Organised, proactive, and commercially aware, you use operational data and reporting to make informed decisions, resolve challenges, and continuously improve team performance.

We think the strongest teams are built on diversity and inclusivity. Contrasting opinions, varied skills and strong characters bring out the best in us all. And we cannot wait for you to join.

Working at DFDS

Join the movement and grow with us.

Now about what we can give you. You’ll be able to access some fantastic benefits such as:

• Life assurance cover
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Free ferry travel for up to 4 guests between Dover and Calais / Newcastle and Amsterdam with no limit on trips
• Full employee assistance programme including:
• Proactive financial, emotional, mental, and physical health care support including face to face counselling, fast 24/7 access to a GP, a second medical opinion and legal support for colleagues and their family.
• Huge range of retail discounts from high street and online retailers
• Cashback on health care including dental, optical, physiotherapy, prescriptions, specialist consultations and much more.
• Access to myStrength, our Wellbeing platform, which has plenty of content to support and improve your mental wellness needs.
• Access to mental health first aid and opportunity to join support webinars with a focus on all areas of positive wellbeing.

While you’re with us, we want you to develop. At DFDS, we believe that development happens first and foremost through activities in the workplace. We will also offer training courses that can support you in your role, if needed.

We look forward to hearing from you.