Head of Customs in London

Company description: XPO TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS EUROPE

Logistics done differently. XPO Global Forwarding is a growing international freight forwarding and customs business, delivering air, ocean, customs brokerage, and supply chain solutions to customers across multiple industry sectors. The Customs function plays a critical role in supporting customers' international trade activities, ensuring regulatory compliance while delivering efficient, high-quality service. With increasing customer demand, regulatory complexity, and opportunities to leverage automation and digital technologies, the Customs department is central to the company's future growth strategy.

We are currently recruiting for a Head of Customs, based in either Crick, Northamptonshire or Heathrow. You will be responsible for leading the UK & IE Customs function with a team of 23 people, providing strategic direction and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of compliant, efficient, and customer-focused customs services. As a member of the UK leadership team, the role will be responsible for developing people, driving continuous improvement, enhancing productivity through technology and automation, and ensuring the department achieves its operational and financial objectives.

Pay, benefits and more: We're looking to offer a competitive salary plus company car / car allowance and a 15% bonus. In addition, we offer 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), as well as the option to buy additional days. You'll have access to a variety of high street discounts as well as a cycle to work scheme, a workplace pension and many other perks.

What you'll do on a typical day: Working closely with customers, sales teams, operations, technology, and external stakeholders, the Head of Customs will play a key role in supporting customer retention, winning new business, implementing new customers, and developing innovative customs solutions. The role carries responsibility for business performance, budget management, compliance standards, employee engagement, and the execution of the customs growth strategy, ensuring the function remains scalable and aligned with the wider business objectives.

What you need to succeed at XPO:

• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Minimum 10 years' experience within customs brokerage, international trade, freight forwarding, supply chain, or a related logistics environment, including significant senior leadership experience.
• Proven experience leading customs operations across multiple locations, with responsibility for operational performance, customer service, compliance, and team development.
• Strong knowledge of UK and Ireland customs regulations, HMRC procedures, CDS, Customs Special Procedures, AEO requirements, Border Force processes, and international trade compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing operational performance, service quality, productivity, cost control, and compliance within a customs or logistics environment.
• Proven ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, employee engagement, and performance management.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing departmental budgets, P&L performance, resource planning, productivity targets, and profitability improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing strategic customer relationships, supporting customer retention, conducting business reviews, resolving escalations, and identifying opportunities for revenue growth.
• Proven ability to support Sales, Business Development, and Account Management teams through customer engagements, RFQs, tenders, solution design, pricing discussions, and commercial proposals.
• Demonstrated success in leading customer implementations, operational transitions, and onboarding projects within a customs or freight forwarding environment.
• Strong track record of driving continuous improvement through process optimisation, automation, standardisation, technology adoption, and change management initiatives.
• Excellent understanding of freight forwarding operations, customs brokerage services, international supply chains, and end-to-end border compliance requirements.
• Experience building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, including customers, regulatory authorities, industry bodies, and internal leadership teams.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills with the ability to utilise operational, commercial, and financial data to support strategic decision-making.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all organisational levels.
• Experience managing regulatory change programmes and implementing new customs, border, and trade compliance requirements within a business environment.
• Proficiency in customs declaration systems, freight forwarding platforms, Microsoft Office applications, reporting tools, and operational technologies.
• Experience of CargoWise and customs brokerage systems would be advantageous.
• Relevant customs, international trade, logistics, supply chain, or leadership qualifications are desirable.
• Professional customs and trade compliance certifications would be advantageous.

Be part of something big. We strive to create an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, where everyone feels welcomed, empowered and where you can bring your true self to work. You may not feel you tick all of the boxes we have written above, so even if your experience doesn't precisely match the job description but you feel you have the skills needed, please feel free to reach out to our recruitment team for an initial discussion. Your skills and passion set you apart and we welcome diverse people and perspectives at XPO. We encourage applications from people of all different backgrounds and identities. To empower you to do as well as possible during the recruitment process, if you require any changes or amendments to our application and interviews, please don't hesitate to let us know.