EMEA Trade Compliance Lead – Brexit & FTAs

Quaker Houghton; Netherlands; Hybrid; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension and wellbeing initiatives

Global Giving volunteer leave

QH University learning and development

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Quaker Houghton is seeking an EMEA Trade Compliance Specialist to join its Global Trade Compliance team. The role focuses on guiding customs and trade compliance across Europe, supporting global projects, and embedding proactive, risk-based compliance within our processes.

You will work with multiple functions – Supply Chain, Procurement, Customer Service, and Legal – to harmonize and improve trade controls, origin determinations, and data management in ERP systems across Europe and beyond.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in customs, international trade or trade compliance within a multinational environment.
• Strong experience with European customs regulations and cross-border trade within the EU.
• Demonstrated experience managing trade compliance activities impacted by Brexit, including customs procedures, origin considerations and UK-EU trade requirements.
• Hands-on experience with preferential and non-preferential origin, FTAs and Rules of Origin.
• Import and export compliance, customs regulations and procedures, export controls and broader trade compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and support on customs, import/export and trade compliance matters across the business.
• Lead and support initiatives that strengthen, simplify and modernize trade compliance processes, controls and ways of working.
• Act as a subject matter expert on European customs regulations, including post-Brexit trade requirements.
• Manage and maintain trade compliance data within ERP systems.
• Support origin determinations, supplier declarations and FTA analyses.
• Collaborate with customs brokers, suppliers, customers and authorities to ensure compliant cross-border trade.
• Monitor regulatory developments and translate requirements into practical solutions.
• Analyze data to identify compliance risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, Customer Service, Operations, Finance, Legal and R&D to embed trade requirements.
• Contribute to regional/global trade compliance projects and harmonization.
• Shift organization to a proactive risk-based compliance approach.

Skills

Customs regulations

Trade compliance

Brexit experience

Data analysis

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in International Trade, Supply Chain, Business or related field

Tools

JD Edwards

Oracle GTM

Job description

Quaker Houghton is seeking an EMEA Trade Compliance Specialist to join its Global Trade Compliance team. The role focuses on guiding customs and trade compliance across Europe, supporting global projects, and embedding proactive, risk-based compliance within our processes.

You will work with multiple functions – Supply Chain, Procurement, Customer Service, and Legal – to harmonize and improve trade controls, origin determinations, and data management in ERP systems across Europe and beyond.