Customs Team Lead

Kühne + Nagel; Dale Abbey; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Route 2 Rewards scheme

Employee assistance programme

Forces-friendly employer

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel is seeking a Customs Specialist to optimise logistics and lead a dedicated customs team in the UK. You will manage import/export declarations, ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, and drive service excellence for a portfolio of customers.

The Team Lead will coach staff, monitor KPIs, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver accurate, timely customs processing while supporting strategic initiatives and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in customs brokerage.
• Experience in leading or supervising a team.
• Strong knowledge of UK customs regulations and licensing.
• Proficient with customs systems and reporting tools (CDS, JSM, Excel, Cargowise).
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of customs specialists.
• Oversee accurate and timely processing of import/export declarations.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations and licensing requirements.
• Monitor KPIs and SLAs and drive continuous improvement.
• Act as main contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support internal and external audits with documentation.

Skills

Team leadership

Customs brokerage

UK customs regulations

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Tools

CDS

JSM

Excel

Cargowise Customs

Job description

It's more than a jobAs a Customs Specialist at Kuehne+Nagel, your job is to optimise logistics to keep our global supply chains running smoothly. But the impact of your work goes beyond that. In fact, your expertise makes both special and ordinary moments possible for people around the world. For example, your work could ensure that a global product launch happens on time‑such as ethically sourced beauty and bath products stocked at local stores for your loved one's valued self‑care routine. It's import and export work, but it's also so much more than we imagine. Kuehne + Nagel are currently looking to recruit for the above vacancy within the Customs Team. The involves the leading and managing of a dedicated customs team responsible for delivering compliant, efficient, and customer‑focused customs brokerage services for a portfolio of specialised customers. The role requires operational excellence, regulatory adherence, and high service standards across all customs clearance activities, while fostering strong customer relationships and supporting strategic initiatives.

The Team Lead will drive performance, support team development, and act as a key liaison between internal stakeholders and customers to ensure timely and accurate processing customs declarations.

How you create impact

• Lead, motivate, and support a team of customs specialists to ensure high performance and engagement.
• Manage resource allocation to meet workload demands and service levels.
• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of import/export customs declarations in compliance with HMRC regulations.
• Monitor adherence to HMRC and other regulatory requirements, including special procedures and licensing.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring a high level of customer service is maintained, resolving queries and escalations promptly.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to customs operations, including audit readiness and documentation accuracy.
• Support internal and external audits, providing necessary documentation and explanations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience.
• Monitor and report on team performance against KPIs and SLAs.
• Provide coaching and development opportunities for team members.

What we would like you to bring

• Proven experience in customs brokerage.
• Prior experience in a team leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong understanding of UK customs regulations, including special procedures and licensing requirements.
• Comfortable using customs systems, ticketing platforms, and reporting tools (e.g. CDS, JSM, Excel, Cargowise Customs software / or similar.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team in a fast‑paced, compliance‑driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage customer relationships and resolve issues effectively.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication, both internally and externally.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving operational and compliance issues.

What's in it for you

If you would like to become a valued member of our team, we will make sure that you're rewarded for your commitment and expertise.

• You can join the contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension plan and enjoy our Route 2 Rewards scheme, which offers everything from discounts, benefit information, recognition and its own wellbeing centre.
• We care for our colleagues (and their immediate family) with our employee assistance programme providing access to 24/7 GP, legal and financial advice along with mental health counselling.
• As proud holders of the Gold Covenant, we are a forces‑friendly employer who recognise the skills, expertise and value service leavers bring to our organisation.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world. As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life‑saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.