Interim Custom & Trade Manager in Birmingham, West Midlands

Gleeson Recruitment Group is proud to be partnering with a leading logistics and supply chain organisation to appoint an experienced Interim Customs & Trade Manager.

This business-critical role will lead customs compliance and international trade activities across a complex supply chain and bonded warehouse operation. With a strong focus on governance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence, you will provide expert leadership across import, export, and customs processes while ensuring the business remains fully compliant with evolving HMRC and international trade requirements.

A key priority will be driving and maintaining Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Certification, whilst enhancing customs controls, processes, and trade compliance frameworks to support future growth.

This opportunity would suit an experienced customs professional with a strong background in compliance, AEO accreditation, stakeholder management, and HMRC engagement within logistics, freight forwarding, manufacturing, or supply chain environments.

• Job Title: Interim Customs & Trade Manager
• Contract Type: Interim Day Rate
• Location: Midlands / Hybrid Working

Reporting into senior leadership, you will take ownership of the organisation's customs and trade function, ensuring robust compliance, minimising risk, and supporting strategic business objectives. Acting as the subject matter expert, you will lead customs operations, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and support the business through AEO accreditation and wider trade compliance programmes.

• Lead customs and international trade compliance activities across the business.
• Drive AEO certification and ongoing compliance programmes.
• Manage import, export, transit, and bonded warehouse customs operations.
• Develop and maintain customs policies, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure accurate customs declarations, classifications, origin management, and duty processes.
• Act as the key contact for HMRC, customs authorities, customers, brokers, and logistics providers.
• Conduct compliance audits, risk reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Monitor regulatory changes and provide guidance to stakeholders.
• Lead customs-related projects, new customer onboarding, and process improvements.
• Review third-party customs compliance and supplier performance.
• Deliver customs training and support across the business.
• Provide leadership and technical guidance to customs teams where required.

• Extensive experience in Customs Compliance, International Trade, or Customs Operations.
• Proven success delivering or supporting AEO Certification.
• Strong knowledge of HMRC regulations, CDS, imports, exports, transit procedures, and bonded warehousing.
• Experience managing customs audits, compliance reviews, and HMRC engagement.
• Expertise in tariff classification, customs valuation, origin management, and duty optimisation.
• Background within logistics, freight forwarding, supply chain, manufacturing, or retail environments.
• Strong stakeholder management, project management, and change leadership skills.
• Experience with customs systems such as CDS, SAP GTS, iCustoms, Descartes, or similar.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Relevant customs, trade compliance, or supply chain qualifications desirable.

At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.

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