Global Customs Operations Manager

Kuehne+Nagel; Greater London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel is seeking a senior operational leader to shape the future of our customs business across 40+ countries, with location flexibility in Europe and a preference for the UK. You will lead large-scale change initiatives, drive productivity, and build high-performing teams to deliver measurable results.

In this role you will collaborate with operations, technology, sales, and compliance to optimise processes, automate where possible, and centralise standardized activities with shared

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in logistics, freight forwarding, customs, shipping, or related operational environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing international teams and driving organizational transformation.
• Strong business and commercial acumen, including budget, cost, or P&L responsibilities.
• Demonstrated success delivering productivity improvements or large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical capabilities with data-driven decision making.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional projects in an international matrix organization.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with ability to influence at all levels.
• Fluent English is essential; additional European languages are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve customs operations across a global network, driving consistency, quality, and operational excellence.
• Deliver productivity and efficiency gains through process optimization, automation, and technology-enabled transformation.
• Drive outsourcing and centralization of standardized customs activities with shared service teams.
• Identify, develop, and implement innovative operational solutions that support growth and scalability.
• Support onboarding of new customs business opportunities, ensuring smooth operational implementation.
• Build strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to understand business needs and deliver value-added solutions.
• Lead cross-functional projects across operations, technology, sales, business development, and compliance functions.
• Inspire and develop teams while fostering accountability and a culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder management

Analytical capabilities

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Fluent English

Job description

It’s more than a job

As a member of the Freight Forwarding team Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in transporting goods, optimising processes, and fulfilling our customers' promises. And by transporting medicines, toys and important machine parts, you are not only delivering goods, you are making small and big moments possible for people all around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, our contribution counts in more ways than we imagine.

Drive the transformation of a global customs operation.

We are looking for a senior operational leader to shape the future of our customs business across more than 40 countries. This is a highly visible role focused on operational excellence, productivity, technology adoption, outsourcing, and sustainable growth. Working with stakeholders across operations, technology, sales and compliance, you will lead large-scale change initiatives while building high-performing teams and delivering measurable business results.

Job location available around Europe, preferred location in the UK.

How you create impact

• Lead and continuously improve customs operations across a global network, driving consistency, quality, and operational excellence.
• Deliver productivity and efficiency gains through process optimization, automation, and technology-enabled transformation.
• Drive the outsourcing and centralization of standardized customs activities in partnership with internal shared service teams.
• Identify, develop, and implement innovative operational solutions that support business growth and scalability.
• Support the onboarding of new customs business opportunities, ensuring smooth and efficient operational implementation.
• Build strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to understand business needs and deliver value-added solutions.
• Lead cross-functional projects across operations, technology, sales, business development, and compliance functions.
• Inspire and develop teams while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

What we would like you to bring

• 15+ years of experience in logistics, freight forwarding, customs, shipping, supply chain, or a related operational environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing international teams and driving organizational transformation.
• Strong business and commercial acumen, including experience managing budgets, costs, or P&L responsibilities.
• Demonstrated success delivering productivity improvements, operational efficiency programs, or large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to convert data and insights into business decisions.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects in an international matrix organization.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Fluent English is essential; additional European languages are an advantage.

What's in it for you

This is a unique opportunity to join a growing global business at a pivotal stage of its transformation journey. You will have the mandate to shape how customs operations are delivered across a large international network, lead impactful change initiatives, and influence strategic decisions at a senior level. If you are energized by building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and creating tangible business value in a complex global environment, this role offers the visibility, autonomy, and challenge to make a lasting impact.

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.