Global Customs Systems Head in Uxbridge

As a Customs Specialist at Kuehne+Nagel, your job is to optimise logistics to keep our global supply chains running smoothly. Your expertise makes both special and ordinary moments possible for people around the world. This is a unique leadership opportunity at the heart of Kuehne+Nagel’s customs technology transformation. As we redefine our global customs systems strategy, we are creating a new leadership role to build and steer this critical function. The Global Customs Systems Head will establish and lead a team of Systems Managers across a country cluster, ensuring corporate-level oversight, technical governance, and integration capability across a diverse and evolving customs technology landscape.

As the Global Customs Systems Head, you will build and lead a new sub-group within our Global Customs Technology organization. Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead and develop a team of Systems Managers responsible for clusters of national customs systems, organized by geography, language, or technology alignment.
• Establish corporate-level access and governance over national customs applications, ensuring Kuehne+Nagel maintains administration rights and integration capability across all key markets.
• Act as the primary corporate technology stakeholder in relationships with national customs software vendors, ensuring alignment on roadmaps, service levels, and integration standards.
• Define and govern integration architectures between our corporate systems and national customs platforms, including data pipelines, message flows, and API/EDI interfaces.
• Drive standardization of integration patterns, tooling, and operational practices across the country cluster model.
• Coordinate with other stakeholders and development teams to ensure integrations are technically sound, scalable, and aligned with the broader customs technology strategy.

We are looking for a seasoned technology leader with both hands-on integration expertise and the leadership presence to build a new function from the ground up. You will bring:

• A strong background in IT systems, integration, or infrastructure, with a proven track record of delivering results in complex, large-scale environments (Minimum 10 years or more).
• Demonstrated experience leading small to medium-sized teams, with the ability to recruit, develop, and retain technical talent in a distributed organization.
• Deep hands-on knowledge of systems integration disciplines, including network protocols, scripting (e.g., Python, Groovy, Bash), XSLT transformations, messaging/queueing systems (e.g., RabbitMQ, Kafka, ActiveMQ), and SQL-based data management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with external software vendors, negotiate service levels, and represent corporate technology interests in commercial discussions.
• Experience with data pipeline and integration platforms such as Apache NiFi is highly valued. Familiarity with EDI platforms (e.g., Sterling, Seeburger) or similar is a plus.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a matrix organizational structure with distributed and cross-functional stakeholders across multiple geographies and business units.
• Ability to translate complex operational realities into clear technology roadmaps and governance frameworks, balancing short-term pragmatism with long-term strategic vision.
• Prior experience in the logistics, freight forwarding, or customs brokerage sector is highly valued, particularly familiarity with customs clearance processes and trade compliance.
• Excellent written and spoken English is essential. Proficiency in additional European languages is a significant advantage given the global scope of the role.

This is a rare opportunity to build something new within one of the world’s leading logistics companies. You will have direct influence over the direction of customs technology globally, with the backing of senior leadership and a clear mandate. We offer:

• Individual career development planning with access to global mobility and leadership programs.
• Flexible and mobile working arrangements to support work-life balance.
• Comprehensive benefits package including supplementary health insurance and additional well-being offerings.
• A diverse, international environment where initiative, collaboration, and continuous learning are rewarded.

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.