Who is DHL Global Forwarding?
DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) is part of the DHL Group. While the DHL Group employs more than 580,000 people globally, DGF has around 31,000 freight forwarding experts in more than 190 countries around the world, with around 1,000 of us based in the UK across 15 Sites. As the experts in Freight Forwarding since 1815, we are the global specialists in Air, Ocean and Rail Freight.
You name it, we’ve shipped it - from brown bears to aircraft engines, to lifesaving medicines and luxury cars! We are also proud to partner with some of the well-known global sporting series, movie franchises and music tours.
Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we’re committed to helping our Forwarders to realise their full potential, supported by our own development journey - Certified International Forwarder
(CIF).
Our Values
Every day we are guided by our values: Passion, Entrepreneurship, Excellence and Teamwork.
We are extremely passionate about our people and what we do, which is why DHL Global Forwarding is recognised as a Top Employer and a Great Place to Work, because we are specialists in providing Excellence, Simply Delivered.
In addition to our values, we promote an open and honest feedback culture based on Respect & Results, whereby our employees embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while ensuring that we never compromise our integrity and compliance.
Role Overview
The Regional Customs Manager – North is responsible for ensuring all import and export activities within the region are fully compliant with applicable customs laws and trade regulations, while optimising efficiency and cost. The role oversees the accurate preparation and submission of customs documentation, manages duties and taxes, and leverages trade agreements to minimise financial exposure. Acting as a key point of contact for customs authorities, brokers, and internal stakeholders, the role drives collaboration across functions and ensures smooth cross-border operations. It also focuses on identifying and mitigating risk, leading audits and compliance reporting, and continuously improving processes and controls. In addition, the role provides leadership and development for the customs team, ensuring high performance, strong technical capability, and a culture of compliance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensure full compliance with all applicable customs legislation, international trade regulations, and internal company policies across the Northern region.
- Monitor regulatory changes (e.g., HMRC guidance, EU/ROW trade rules, sanctions regimes) and proactively assess their impact on operations.
- Provide expert guidance and interpretation of customs laws to internal stakeholders, ensuring consistent and compliant application across all sites.
- Maintain and promote a strong compliance culture, embedding best practices across the region.
Documentation & Declarations
- Oversee the accurate and timely preparation, validation, and submission of all customs documentation, including import/export declarations, commercial invoices, packing lists, and transit documents.
- Ensure correct tariff classification (HS codes), customs valuation, and origin determination in line with global trade requirements.
- Implement standardised processes and documentation controls to minimise errors and ensure audit readiness.
- Act as the escalation point for complex or high-risk declarations.
Duty & Cost Management
- Manage customs duties, VAT, and other import/export costs, ensuring accuracy and identifying opportunities for cost optimisation.
- Leverage preferential trade agreements, duty relief programmes (e.g., inward/outward processing relief, bonded warehousing), and tariff engineering where applicable.
- Monitor duty spend and provide insight and reporting to finance and senior leadership.
- Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams to optimise trade flows and minimise landed costs.
Risk Management
- Identify, assess, and mitigate customs-related risks, including non-compliance, shipment delays, financial penalties, and reputational impact.
- Develop and maintain robust internal controls and risk frameworks to safeguard operations.
- Lead investigations and root cause analysis for customs incidents or discrepancies, implementing corrective and preventative actions.
- Ensure preparedness for customs audits and inspections, maintaining comprehensive documentation and records.
Stakeholder Coordination
- Serve as the key point of contact for customs authorities, external brokers, freight forwarders, and trade partners.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including logistics, finance, legal, and compliance teams.
- Provide clear communication and guidance on customs requirements and operational impacts.
- Represent the organisation in external forums, industry groups, and regulatory consultations where required.
Process Improvement
- Continuously review and optimise customs processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
- Drive standardisation and automation initiatives, including the implementation of customs systems and digital solutions.
- Identify bottlenecks in cross-border operations and implement solutions to improve clearance times and reduce operational disruption.
- Promote best practice sharing across sites and regions.
Team Leadership
- Lead, develop, and manage a regional customs/compliance team, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
- Provide coaching, training, and technical development to ensure team capability remains current with evolving regulations.
- Set clear objectives, monitor performance, and support career development within the team.
- Act as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex customs issues.
Audit & Reporting
- Plan and conduct regular internal audits and compliance reviews to ensure adherence to customs regulations and internal standards.
- Prepare detailed reports on compliance performance, risks, and improvement initiatives for senior management.
- Ensure readiness for external audits by customs authorities and manage audit processes end-to-end.
- Track KPIs and compliance metrics, using data insights to drive continuous improvement.
- Ensures that all interactions are compliant with DPDHL Code of Conduct and other compliance requirements e.g. anti-corruption
- Contribute to the First Choice continuous improvement program
Skills and Experience:
- Proven experience in customs management within logistics, supply chain, or freight forwarding
- Experience with air and/or ocean freight operations preferred
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability
- Continuous improvement mindset – with a focus on streamlining processes
- Success in this position relies on a balance of compliance focus, commercial awareness, clear communication, and strategic thinking.
Benefits:
- A competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Pension scheme which includes life assurance
- Access to professional employee assistance and wellbeing programme
- A competitive package of voluntary benefits including retail, entertainment, gym membership, cycle to work scheme, contribution to eye care costs, and many more discounts
- Training and Development opportunities with a strong focus on internal promotion
HOURS/SHIFT PATTERN: 37.5 hours per week
REPORTS TO: Head of Customs UK DGF & Freight
Please note: Due to the nature of our business we are regulated by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), therefore it is compulsory for all applicants once offered employment to provide a full 5 year employment history. Additional to this we are required to carry out a Criminal Record Check.
What’s Next?
If you would like to be considered for this position, then please apply via our careers website with a copy of your CV outlining your experience to date and suitability for the role.
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows.
Our culture is focused on personal commitment – to our customers, to each other, to our communities and to the environment. We reward excellent work and we nurture the talents of our employees. This enables you as an employee to develop your expertise and your career in different areas or divisions – and even in other countries.
We are committed to creating a workplace that ensures mutual respect and is focused on results. We hire talented people from all backgrounds – irrespective of gender, disability, nationality, ethnicity, social background, religion and beliefs, age or sexual orientation and identity. Diversity enriches our workplace, drives our success, and helps us deliver excellence.
