Imports & Customs Specialist

Key Responsibilities: Customs clearance and compliance Own the HS classification and customs-value position on every import, and review and approve the licensed clearing agent's draft declaration for accuracy before it is lodged in KRA iCMS Catch and resolve mis-classifications and valuation errors before entries are lodged, and clear customs queries and holds quickly once they arise Manage pre-shipment conformity (KEBS PVoC / Certificate of Conformity) and secure all commodity-specific approvals and permits required for clearance (e.g. KEBS, radiation, KEPHIS, fisheries or veterinary permits) Keep the business fully compliant with Kenyan customs and trade regulations, and current with changing KRA and regulatory requirements Import documentation and process ownership Own the country import documentation process end to end - from supplier PO through clearance to delivery on site - as a controlled, repeatable, fully documented workflow Prepare, verify, and manage the full documentation pack for every consignment: Import Declaration Form (IDF), commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading / airway bill, certificate of origin, and permits and licences Maintain an audit-ready import records archive and keep the standard operating procedure for the import process current Landed cost and duty management Compute and verify import duty, VAT, excise, IDF fee, and Railway Development Levy accurately on every entry Maintain the landed-cost model for key imports (e.g. feed), and flag duty, tax, or exemption opportunities to Procurement and Finance Ensure duty and tax funding is arranged and released in time so it never delays clearance Clearing agents, port, and demurrage control Manage licensed clearing agents to agreed cost, accuracy, and turnaround SLAs, against a simple performance scorecard Run an import control tower: track every in-transit consignment by ETA, document status, and free-time / demurrage-clock expiry Proactively drive down demurrage, storage, and detention costs through documentation readiness and disciplined clearance planning Coordinate inland transport and delivery of cleared cargo to sites with the Logistics team Optional strategic mandate, if VF elects to pursue it: assess and, once approved, drive self-clearing / in-house licensed-agent status and AEO accreditation to reduce reliance on third-party agents and speed up clearance Skills and qualifications: Must have 5+ years of hands-on imports and customs experience in Kenya - on the importer side or with a clearing and forwarding agent - clearing consignments through Mombasa port and JKIA Deep, practical command of the Kenyan customs declaration and KRA iCMS - enough to set classification and valuation and to direct and check a licensed clearing agent - spanning IDF, HS classification, duty and tax computation, and KEBS / PVoC conformity A proven track record of controlling demurrage, detention, and clearance lead times The ability to manage and hold accountable licensed clearing agents to cost and turnaround standards A solid grasp of Kenyan customs and trade compliance, including permits and exemptions relevant to imported goods Nice to have A recognised customs or clearing qualification or licence (e.g. EAC / KRA customs, KIFWA, or licensed clearing agent status) Experience importing feed, agricultural inputs, perishables, or capital equipment Familiarity with ERP-based procurement and import tracking (ERPNext an advantage) Attributes Meticulous and document-obsessed - nothing moves without a complete, correct pack Calm and decisive under time pressure, with free-time clocks always running Commercially sharp on duty and landed cost, not just on process High integrity, and comfortable operating in a compliance-sensitive function Field-oriented - as comfortable at the port and with agents as at a desk