Trade Compliance Specialist EMEA in Reading

Our client, a global biotechnology company that researches, develops, manufactures, and markets biotherapies and vaccines to treat serious medical conditions, is looking for a Trade Compliance Specialist EMEA to join their team and offices in the Maidenhead, Berkshire area.

Main Purpose of the Role: As the Trade Compliance Specialist EMEA within the Global Trade Compliance Team, you will play a pivotal role in driving the execution and continuous enhancement of the company's world-class import and export compliance program across the EMEA region.

On Offer:

• Two specialist roles offering real ownership: one focused on Export Control, one focused on Customs Compliance & Classification.
• Standalone positions with direct visibility and influence, reporting straight to the Head of Department.
• Hybrid balance with structure: work 3 days per week on-site in Maidenhead, with flexibility as long as one day is a Monday or Friday.
• Strong salary potential: £50K–£70K DOE, with the upper range reserved for high-calibre specialists.
• Immediate start for candidates ready to step into a pivotal compliance function.
• Opportunity to shape processes in a growing, compliance-focused environment.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Trade Compliance Specialist:

• Implementing company Global Trade Compliance policies, guidelines, develop and deploy regional and local procedures.
• Overseeing day-to-day EMEA import and export operations to ensure compliance with customs regulations, export controls, free trade agreements, and pharmaceutical-specific government requirements.
• Monitoring regional key industry developments, legislative and regulatory changes affecting company businesses, assessing impact, and translating into processes and controls.
• Developing and managing import/export data, duty spend and savings metric monthly reports.
• Managing customs brokers and other outsourcing vendors in the region, including KPIs, broker SOPs, adherence to contract obligations, performance, reporting of export and import data as per company requirements, POAs.
• Leading transition and implementation to new selected brokers.
• Supporting origin and preference determination, including LTSD process, customs value, duties and VAT for imports and duty program utilization as per company Policies.
• Supporting non-commercial shipments import and export process, including HS classification, customs valuations determination and license/permit determination/application.
• Supporting government audits and Customs certifications, Internal Corporate audits.
• Identifying duty and VAT cross-border mitigation opportunities, analysing cost benefits, and leading the implementation of duty savings initiatives.
• Managing SAP GTS and master data activities including denied party screening, trade embargo blocks, and other GTS-related upgrades and projects.

To Be Considered:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in pharmaceutical industry or other highly regulated, multi-location environments such as Aerospace, Healthcare, FMCG.
• Experience in SAP GTS System.
• Proven experience in managing complex Customs and trade operations.
• Experience with special Customs programs (inc. FTAs, Value Reconciliation, IPR, OPR, Tariff Suspensions, bonded Warehouse etc.).
• Strong knowledge of Customs and Export controls regulations, HS and Explanatory Notes, binding rulings, and Customs Valuation rules, as well as a thorough knowledge of entry processing, international freight industry standards and practices, and INCOTERMS.
• Excellent skills in organization, prioritization, and negotiation; able to perform under pressure.
• Self-motivated, goal oriented, and able to work independently in delivering results.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions and priorities.
• Excellent communication skills and able to influence and challenge senior leaders and peer groups.

For more details, please contact Willis Global – a leading Recruitment Consultancy for the Supply chain & Logistics industry.