GRADUATE - Customs Team

This 2-year graduate programme develops skills in customs, compliance, and international trade while rotating across logistics functions and working on real import/export operations.

It's more than a job

As a Customs Specialist at Kuehne+Nagel, your job is to optimise logistics to keep our global supply chains running smoothly. But the impact of your work goes beyond that. In fact, your expertise makes both special and ordinary moments possible for people around the world.

For example, your work could ensure that a global product launch happens on time—such as ethically sourced beauty and bath products stocked at local stores for your loved one's valued self-care routine. It's import and export work, but it's also so much more than we imagine.

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We're looking for our future leaders. If you’re ambitious, proactive, and eager to show what you can do, this is a great way to launch your career. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to work with some of the best in the business and gain valuable insights into the industry.

Our Graduate Programme is a 2-year programme, where you'll rotate around your chosen business area. You'll get a professional development qualification relevant to your business area, as well as a mentor and buddy to help you throughout your programme. You will also take part in fun and engaging development workshops building the skills for your future career at Kuehne+Nagel.  

Our Customs team at Kuehne+Nagel plays a vital role in keeping international trade moving by ensuring goods flow smoothly and compliantly across borders. We provide specialist expertise in customs regulations, end‑to‑end declaration processing, compliance management, and advisory support.

You’ll learn from experienced customs professionals who handle complex regulatory requirements every day, giving you exposure to a wide range of import and export processes across multiple business units. Working in Customs means joining a fast‑paced, detail‑driven environment with continuous learning opportunities and meaningful responsibility from day one.

We support our customers by ensuring accurate declarations, minimising risks, optimising duty and VAT outcomes, and navigating ever‑changing legislation to keep global supply chains running efficiently.

How you create impact

As part of the programme, you’ll follow a structured development pathway covering the core areas of the Customs function, including compliance, operations, business process management, and commercial advisory work. Alongside this technical training, you’ll build essential skills in communication, people management, project delivery, problem‑solving, and continuous improvement.

You’ll take part in monthly coaching, interactive workshops, and real Customs projects that allow you to apply your learning directly to live import/export processes and customer‑facing scenarios. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop a professional portfolio showcasing your technical expertise and leadership growth.

You may also have the opportunity to undertake an international placement, gaining valuable global exposure to Customs operations. This programme is designed to give you the knowledge, confidence, and behaviours needed to become an effective customs professional and future leader within Kuehne+Nagel.

We will engage with you during your programme to discuss the different routes available after completion of your programme, and where your strengths are well suited. Your progression will be led by business demand, the area you have specialised in and the skills and competencies you have developed.

Different career routes depend entirely on you as an individual and where your interests lie. Graduates from this programme will typically move into a roles such as customs team lead, customs business process specialist, customs compliance  expert.

What we would like you to bring

Customs is a complex and fast-paced environment, so people who enjoy challenge and problem-solving would thrive in this environment. You need to be able to work well with others, be confident to deal with customers and other third parties, but also have an eye for detail and organisation skills.

We’re looking for raw talent rather than prior knowledge, but we want to see that you’re interested in the customs and international trade sector and where it could take you.   

In addition, we value candidates who are passionate about providing excellent customer service, have a strong work ethic, and are able to communicate effectively with others. Good planning and organization skills is important and you will need the ability to multitask and be a self-starter.

• A 2:2 degree qualification (achieved or expected) and 5 GCSEs Grade A-C including Maths & English 

• You must be able to relocate/travel for placements 

• A full UK driving licence (or will have one by start date) & access to transport

Please be aware that this vacancy does not meet the minimum requirements for skilled worker visa sponsorship.

Key Information:

• Graduate Contract:  September 2026 Start date for a duration of 2 years

• Working hours: Monday – Friday, 7.5 hours per day 9am to 5pm with 30min lunch

• Place of work: Will be expected onsite full time until performance expectations met & initial training completed.  If approved, opportunity to work from home 2 days a week is available.

We have lots to offer at Kuehne+Nagel; we’re market leading with colleagues all over the world. But we know it’s our people that make a real difference to how our customers feel. So come and join us on our journey.

We’ll offer you: 

• £28,500 starting salary plus a £1,000 joining bonus 

• Salary increase after 12 months 

• Opportunity to undertake a funded 3 month International placement 

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays and a holiday purchase scheme 

• Life assurance, private medical insurance, pension plan, and benefits portal 

• A flexible and understanding workplace where you’re empowered and treated as an individual  

• A professional qualification linked to your graduate programme 

And more than that – you’ll get a career. This isn’t just a two-year programme, it’s a step up into the world of Logistics. You’ll get back what you put in, and we’ve our previous graduates have risen to senior leadership roles, travelled the globe and much more.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Apply now and take the first step towards a bright future.

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world.

As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life-saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.

We kindly advise that placement agencies refrain from submitting unsolicited profiles. Any submissions of candidates without prior signed agreement will be considered our property and no fees will be paid.