International Trade Compliance Lead

The International Trade Compliance Lead is responsible for ensuring that all import and export activities undertaken by Walker's Shortbread Ltd are fully compliant with UK, EU, and international customs regulations.

The role safeguards the business against regulatory risk, financial exposure, and reputational impact, while supporting efficient, compliant global distribution of food products. This is a hybrid role with the expectation to be in Aberlour 3 days per week

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end customs compliance and day-to-day import/export operations across all international movements.

• Ensure compliance with HMRC, CDS and relevant international customs requirements, maintaining accurate, auditable records.

• Act as the subject matter expert for tariff classification, customs valuation, origin, preference and customs procedures.

• Oversee operational controls from product/order set-up through documentation, declarations, shipment release and post-entry assurance.

• Manage customs brokers and external trade partners, ensuring declaration accuracy, clear accountability and effective escalation.

• Identify and manage customs, operational and financial risk, implementing corrective and preventative actions where required.

• Optimise duty and preference opportunities through appropriate use of trade agreements, reliefs and customs procedures.

• Develop compliance KPIs, reporting and audit controls to provide clear visibility of performance, risk and corrective actions.

• Partner across Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Finance, Procurement and Technical/Quality to embed compliant end-to-end ways of working.

• Maintain SOPs, deliver training and drive continuous improvement towards a robust, scalable and audit-ready international trade operation.

Key Skills & Experience

· Strong experience in UK, EU & ROW customs compliance, including CDS and authorisations (EIDR/SDP or equivalents)
· Proven background in multinational import/export operations
· Deep understanding of:
· Tariff classification (HS codes)
· Origin rules and FTA application
· Customs valuation methods
· Experience managing customs brokers and external partners
· Highly analytical with focus on:
· Risk identification
· Financial exposure
· Data-driven decisions
· Confident with IT systems and various software applications