Customs Team Lead

Kuehne + Nagel; Hemington; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holidays

Bank holidays

Volunteering days

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Personal development program

Flexible working

Refer a friend scheme

Job summary

Kuehne + Nagel are recruiting for the Customs Team Lead to manage a dedicated customs team responsible for delivering compliant, efficient, and customer-focused brokerage services. You will drive performance and act as a liaison between internal stakeholders and customers to ensure timely processing of declarations.

The role emphasizes regulatory adherence, operational excellence, and strong customer relationships, with a focus on risk mitigation and continuous improvement in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Proven experience in customs brokerage.
• Strong understanding of UK customs regulations, including special procedures and licensing requirements.
• Experience leading a team in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment.
• Comfortable using customs systems, ticketing platforms, and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a customs team delivering compliant brokerage services.
• Oversee import/export declarations in HMRC compliance.
• Monitor KPIs and service levels; drive continuous improvement.
• Coach and develop team members; liaise with internal/stakeholders and customers.

Skills

Customs brokerage

Team leadership

UK customs regulations

Interpersonal skills

Tools

CDS

JSM

Excel

Cargowise Customs

Job description

Job description

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 specialized 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.
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• 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

As well as our competitive pay rates and superb training opportunities, we also offer a great working environment. You will be respected and valued if you work for us and have genuine opportunities to progress and develop. 26 days holidays plus bank holidays 2 volunteering days per year 3 x Life Assurance Option if you join the KN Route2 pension scheme A tailored personal development and training programme. Trusted and empowered to deliver and be your best. We are happy to talk about flexible working. Please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview. Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave Childcare Vouchers Cycle to work scheme Discount on high street stores and local supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys & more) Refer a friend scheme 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 TPBN1_UKTJ