Customs and Trade Compliance Specialist

Salary: £45,000 plus car/car allowance, plus 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), pension, bonus, life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support, and flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme

£45,000 plus car/car allowance, plus 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), pension, bonus, life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support, and flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme

Unipart Manufacturing is launching a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing project in Coventry, combining advanced electrification assembly with complex injection moulding inputs. We are seeking a technical Customs and Trade Compliance Specialist to manage day-to-day import/export operations, strategic export licensing, and HMRC special procedures. Reporting to the Senior Compliance Manager, you will serve as the operational subject matter expert for Inward Processing Relief (IPR), CDS clearances, and export controls to guarantee zero-delay supply chain throughput.

As part of your key responsibilities you’ll focus on:

Customs Operations and Auditing
- Manage end-to-end import/export clearance processes via CDS, auditing declarations (>98% accuracy KPI) against commercial invoices, packing lists, and HS classification databases

Special Procedures and IPR Governance
- Act as operational lead for Inward Processing Relief (IPR) authorisations, maintaining meticulous stock records and submitting Bills of Discharge (BOD) to HMRC within statutory deadlines

Export Controls and Licensing
- Manage Strategic Export Licensing requirements (SIELs, OGELs) in full compliance with ECJU regulations, military/dual-use classifications, and end-user undertakings

VAT Compliance and Audit Readiness
- Ensure strict adherence to HMRC VAT Notice 703 by securing and validating official Proof of Export (PoE) documentation within zero-rating time frames

Culture and Continuous Improvement
- Embed Unipart Way tools, standard work, and structured audit routines across all trade compliance, shipping, and logistics workflows

We’d love you to have the following skills and experience, but please apply if you think you’d be able to perform well in this role!

• Trade Compliance Expertise
  - Practical experience in international trade, customs clearance, or trade compliance within a manufacturing or logistics environment
• Special Procedures Mastery
  - Deep operational knowledge of Inward Processing Relief (IPR) administration, BOD preparation, and HMRC VAT Notice 703 rules
• Systems and Portals
  - Hands-on experience operating CDS (Customs Declaration Service) and UK export licensing portals (SPIRE/LITE)
• Export Licensing Knowledge
  - Strong operational grasp of UK export controls, dual-use/military tariff classifications, SIELs, and OGELs

We are a supply chain performance improvement partner. We Design, Make, Move, and Improve components in our customers’ supply chains, keeping their operations and assets moving and working better, for longer. Through our commitment to continuously driving operational efficiencies, we improve performance - saving time, cost, and carbon. Our ambition is to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

We believe that a great workplace is one where you can bring your whole self to work. Our recruitment process is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and based entirely on merit. We define merit through a combination of technical skills and the core behaviours that help our people thrive  welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background or circumstances. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity that exceeds our statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and…