Customs Operations Manager

Life on the Team

As a Customs Operations Manager, you will be a key stakeholder within our international Trade Compliance function. You will ensure that customs-relevant operations in India, including SEZ flows, are efficient, accurate, and compliant with applicable laws and company policies.

You will act as a trusted partner and central point of contact for customs-related processes, collaborating with OEMs, internal teams (IT, Finance, Logistics), customs brokers, forwarders, and regulatory authorities. The role combines day-to-day operational oversight with targeted improvements, giving you a clear opportunity to drive measurable gains in compliance, efficiency, and service.

Reporting & alignment

You report directly to local management in India, with a dotted functional line to the Head of Compliance EMEA for technical guidance and prioritization on customs matters. You will be closely aligned with the Group Compliance function, participate in team cadences, and follow Group policies and controls.

What You Will Do

• Manage end to end customs clearance operations for imports and exports, in line with India Customs law and global trade rules.
• Oversee and coordinate SEZ operations, liaising with SEZ authorities when required, to maintain adherence to regulatory frameworks including record integrity
• Act as the central point of contact for all customs and trade compliance activities across the business in India and SPOC for interactions with Customs authorities
• Govern customs broker and forwarders performance including service quality and lead corrective actions and root-cause analysis.
• Identify gaps and improvement opportunities within customs operations, leading process enhancement and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with organizational policies, while supporting cross-border projects and flows
• Maintain a robust post clearance compliant environment, including HS classification notes, customs valuation guidance. Run reports and dashboards to ensure documentation completeness, auditability and prepare evidence for internal audits or authority queries.
• Provide timely updates and effective guidance on evolving local customs laws, trade compliance practices, and SEZ-related requirements.
• Build importer and exporter readiness
• Provide occasional overlap with UK/EU Standard Time; travel domestically as needed for port/SEZ or vendor engagements.

What You Will Need

• 8 - 15 years of professional experience with at least 5 years in India customs operations and trade compliance, including hands on experience with local Customs digital systems Strong knowledge of Indian customs laws, regulations, and procedures, with proven expertise and experience in SEZ operations.
• Demonstrated experience working with broker and vendor management, ideally in the IT sector.
• Ability to interpret and implement complex customs requirements with clear written SOP and practical controls.
• Proven track record of driving operational efficiency and process improvements in customs and trade compliance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence across levels within Operations, Finance, IT, Legal and Group Compliance.

Flexibility for occasional UK and EU time overlap and limited domestic travel.