Customs & Trade Compliance Specialist - UK and Ireland

About the Company
Our client is a global manufacturer of industrial equipment with operations across EMEA and beyond. They design and build machinery, technology and solutions that help customers work more productively and sustainably, and they foster a collaborative culture where innovation thrives and every employee has the opportunity to grow.

Job Purpose
The UK Trade Compliance & Preferential Origin Specialist ensures customs and trade compliance across the United Kingdom and supports EMEA preferential origin programs.

The role is the primary interface with customs authorities, business stakeholders and external service providers. It maintains compliance with customs regulations, manages customs authorizations, supports strategic trade initiatives and mitigates customs-related risk.

The position also helps maximize duty savings through effective management of Trade Agreements and preferential origin requirements across the EMEA region.

Key Responsibilities

UK Trade Compliance

• Serve as the primary Trade Compliance focal point for the United Kingdom.
• Manage UK customs authorizations, including Inward Processing Relief (IPR) and other customs simplifications.
• Act as the main interface with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on customs compliance matters, audits and inquiries.
• Support manufacturing, logistics, spare parts and finished goods operations from a Trade Compliance perspective.
• Maintain customs compliance programs and support customs audits, including AEO-related activities.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on business operations.
• Manage relationships with customs brokers and external service providers.
• Support customs activities related to Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland trade flows.

Preferential Origin & Free Trade Agreements

• Support EMEA preferential origin compliance programs and Trade Agreement implementation.
• Manage preferential origin qualification activities and origin calculation processes.
• Support customs audits and reviews related to preferential origin requirements.
• Coordinate supplier solicitation activities and origin data collection.
• Collaborate with manufacturing plants, supplier compliance teams and sales administration stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to maximize duty savings through preferential trade programs.
• Support continuous improvement of origin-related processes, controls and systems.

Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Business Administration, Economics, Law, Supply Chain Management or a related field.
• 5–7+ years’ experience in Trade Compliance, Customs, International Trade or a related function.
• Strong knowledge of customs regulations, compliance requirements and operational processes.
• Experience managing customs authorizations and special procedures, and working with customs authorities.
• Knowledge of preferential origin rules and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
• Experience supporting customs audits, compliance reviews and regulatory inspections.
• Proven ability to work across Manufacturing, Logistics, Finance, Procurement and external service providers.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with HMRC or other customs authorities.
• Knowledge of UK customs legislation and post-Brexit customs requirements.
• Experience with Inward Processing Relief (IPR) or similar special procedures.
• Experience with preferential origin qualification projects and FTA implementation.
• Familiarity with SAP, Power BI or equivalent ERP and analytics systems.
• Experience in manufacturing, automotive, heavy equipment or other industrial sectors.

The Leonid Group is an international, specialist search and consultancy firm focused on corporate governance and professional services, that specialises in the placement of Legal, Compliance, Trade Compliance & Ethics professionals on an international scale across the Americas, EMEA and APAC. Legal and compliance are both global, with teams worldwide, and our network reflects this. We work with multinational corporations to help structure their departments with the best people, from the Global Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel to the Compliance Analyst and Trade Compliance Specialist.