Customs Team leader (SSPS)

Baker Hughes Inc.; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker Hughes Inc. is seeking an experienced Customs Team Leader to drive customs governance, international trade compliance, and regulatory strategy across our global operations.

This leadership role acts as the SME for customs, enabling compliant movement of goods while supporting cost optimisation and business continuity. You will collaborate with supply chain, manufacturing, procurement, and engineering to implement policies, manage authorisations, and improve processes in a complex,

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading customs operations in manufacturing, energy, or project environments.
• Extensive knowledge of UK customs regulations and trade compliance requirements.
• Experience administering customs procedures and HMRC audits or compliance reviews.
• Strong understanding of tariff classification, valuation, and rules of origin.

Responsibilities

• Lead customs governance activities across imports, exports, and project cargo.
• Act as SME for customs and international trade compliance internally.
• Develop and maintain customs policies, controls, and procedures.
• Manage authorisations and regulatory obligations; liaise with HMRC.
• Oversee brokers, freight forwarders, and 3PL performance using KPIs.
• Ensure accurate declarations, classifications, and CBAM compliance.

Skills

Customs compliance

International trade governance

UK customs regulations

Stakeholder engagement

Process improvement

Leadership

Education

Degree in International Trade / Logistics / Business

Customs Practitioner qualification

Tools

Oracle ERP

SAP ERP

Job description

Customs Team Leader (SSPS)

Are you an experienced customs professional with deep knowledge of international trade compliance and UK customs regulations?

Do you have the expertise to lead customs governance, optimise duty programmes, and ensure compliance across a global manufacturing and project-based environment?

Partner with the Best

At Baker Hughes, we are transforming the future of energy. We are looking for an experienced Customs Team Leader to lead customs compliance, international trade governance, and regulatory strategy across our global operations.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you will act as the business Subject Matter Expert for customs and international trade compliance, helping ensure the compliant movement of goods worldwide while supporting operational excellence, cost optimisation, and business continuity.

Working closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement, Engineering, Finance, Sustainability, Project Management, and external customs partners, you will drive customs strategy, manage regulatory relationships, and support critical business initiatives across multiple international markets.

As Customs Team Leader , you will be responsible for leading customs governance activities, maintaining customs authorisations, supporting regulatory compliance, and identifying opportunities to enhance process efficiency and reduce customs-related risk.

To be successful n this role, you will:

• Lead customs compliance activities covering imports, exports, temporary movements, project cargo, rental assets, and service operations.

• Act as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for customs and international trade compliance across the business.

• Develop, implement, and maintain customs policies, governance frameworks, internal controls, and compliance procedures.

• Manage customs authorisations, regulatory obligations, and relationships with HMRC and other relevant authorities.

• Oversee customs brokers and third-party logistics providers, monitoring service quality and compliance performance through key performance indicators.

• Ensure accurate customs declarations, tariff classifications, customs valuation methodologies, and rules of origin are correctly applied.

• Administer customs special procedures including Inward Processing Relief, Returned Goods Relief, Temporary Admission, Customs Warehousing, Transit Procedures, and other duty optimisation programmes.

• Support Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) compliance and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Lead CBAM compliance activities and collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to meet reporting requirements.

• Manage quota utilisation, trade controls, licensing requirements, and compliance with sanctions and regulatory restrictions.

• Provide customs expertise for complex international projects, including oversized cargo, heavy lift movements, rental equipment, and temporary exports.

• Drive continuous improvement, customs optimisation, automation initiatives, and customs data quality improvements across the organisation.

• Demonstrate extensive customs and international trade expertise alongside the ability to influence stakeholders and lead compliance initiatives within a complex operational environment.

Fuel your passion

To be successful, you will have:

• Significant experience leading customs operations within manufacturing, energy, engineering, aerospace, defence, logistics, or project-based environments.

• Extensive knowledge of UK customs regulations, customs governance, and trade compliance requirements.

• Experience administering customs special procedures, including Inward Processing Relief (IPR), Returned Goods Relief (RGR), Temporary Admission, Customs Warehousing, and Transit Procedures.

• Experience managing HMRC audits, assurance visits, compliance reviews, disclosures, and customs authorisations.

• Excellent knowledge of tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, and Free Trade Agreements.

• Understanding of CBAM requirements, tariff rate quotas, licensing requirements, and customs duty optimisation programmes.

• Experience supporting complex international logistics projects involving oversized cargo, heavy lift movements, chartered transport, rental equipment, and temporary imports and exports.

• Experience managing customs brokers, freight forwarders, and logistics service providers using performance and compliance metrics.

• Confident in stakeholder engagement, communication, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Previous experience leading and developing customs or trade compliance teams.

Desired qualifications:

• Have a Degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or a related discipline.

• Institute of Export & International Trade qualification or equivalent.

• Hold a Customs Practitioner qualification or similar professional certification.

• Experience using Oracle, SAP, or other enterprise resource planning systems.

• Knowledge of export controls, sanctions compliance, and strategic trade management requirements.

• Experience working within a global manufacturing or project-focused organisation.

Work in a way that works for you

We recognise that everyone is different and that the way people want to work and deliver at their best varies. At Baker Hughes, we support flexible approaches where operationally appropriate and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Working with us

Our people are at the heart of what we do. We value collaboration, integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement. We invest in our teams and provide opportunities to develop careers across a truly global organisation.

Working for you

Our inventions have revolutionised energy for over a century. But to keep going forward tomorrow, we know we have to push the boundaries today. We prioritise rewarding those who embrace challenge, develop new skills, and contribute to making energy safer, cleaner, and more efficient.

The Baker Hughes internal title for this role is: Logistics Team leader - Customs Operations About Us:

We are an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet.

Join Us:

Are you seeking an opportunity to make a real difference in a company that values innovation and progress? Join us and become part of a team of people who will challenge and inspire you! Let’s come together and take energy forward.

Baker Hughes Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.