Customs Clearance Supervisor

. Key Responsibilities

• EAC Cross-Border Export and Transit Clearance: Manage cross-border export and transit customs clearance for shipments from Kenya to Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, covering road, lake, and sea transport. Ensure compliance with the customs regulations of destination and transit countries.
• Export and Transit Documentation: Prepare, review, and validate Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Certificates of Origin, and other supporting clearance documents. Ensure consistency and accuracy in cargo descriptions, HS codes, quantities, weights, declared values, and origin details.
• Export Documentation and Transport Planning: Issue Export Delivery Notes DN and coordinate the preparation and submission of EXIT and C2 Movement declarations, working closely with the Planning, Warehouse, and Transport teams to align truck loading schedules with export clearance requirements.
• Customs Clearance and Border Release Tracking: Monitor customs entry registration, cargo loading, vehicle dispatch, border arrival, customs inspections, and final release. Identify delays and operational exceptions and coordinate corrective actions to ensure timely border clearance.
• Cross-Border Coordination and Exception Handling: Coordinate with ICDs, border customs offices, transport teams, clearing agents, and relevant regulatory authorities to resolve documentation discrepancies, inspection issues, system declaration problems, vehicle-related incidents, and border clearance exceptions.
• Transit Lead Time and Compliance Management: Analyze clearance lead times, border waiting periods, and operational exceptions across export and transit routes. Improve clearance efficiency while ensuring compliance with East African Community EAC regulations and applicable national customs and transit control requirements.
• KRA Temporary Import and Export Applications: Prepare and submit applications to the Kenya Revenue Authority KRA for temporary import, temporary export, and other applicable special cargo movements. Follow up on approvals, obtain authorization letters, and ensure that cargo movements and subsequent re-export or re-import procedures comply with approved conditions.
• Customs Seal Exemption Applications: Prepare and follow up on applications for customs seal exemptions for transit cargo transported using open-body trucks. Coordinate with KRA and relevant authorities, obtain approvals, and ensure transport arrangements comply with the approved exemption conditions and applicable customs controls.
• KRA Certificate of Origin System Management: Handle KRA Certificate of Origin system processes, including raw material and finished goods registration, origin rule verification, origin qualification assessment, maintenance of supporting records, and coordination of KRA factory verification and inspections.
• EAC Trade Research and Clearance Solutions: Conduct research on EAC import, export, and transit operations. Analyze clearance requirements, transport routes, service quotations, and operational costs across different countries, and prepare quotations, clearance solutions, and business analysis reports to support operational decisions.
• Customs File Management and Finance Audit: Compile, review, and archive export and transit clearance files. Ensure that documents carry the required customs endorsements, release records, and transport evidence, and submit complete files to Finance for audit, payment processing, and record retention.
• Supplier Invoice Verification and Payments: Verify supplier invoices relating to EAC export and transit operations, including customs clearing fees, transportation charges, and other operational expenses. Validate charges against supporting records and agreed rates, submit payment requests through the OA system, and follow up on approvals and payments.
• Operational Data and Performance Reporting: Consolidate EAC import, export, and transit operational data and prepare reports covering clearance progress, border release lead times, transportation status, operational exceptions, costs, and supplier performance. Provide reliable data to support departmental management and process improvement.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Diploma or bachelor's degree in International Trade, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Customs Administration, or a related field preferred.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience in EAC export customs clearance, cross-border transportation, or transit clearance operations.
• In-depth knowledge of major regional trade and transport corridors, particularly Tanzania–Kenya, Kenya–Uganda, and Zambia–Tanzania, including customs procedures, regulatory requirements, and transit control regimes.
• Good knowledge of EAC export and transit documentation, with the ability to independently review Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Certificates of Origin, and other export clearance documents.
• Proven hands-on experience handling lake transport exports from Kisumu to Uganda, including customs clearance, border procedures, and transport coordination.
• Experience in coal import clearance and related regulatory procedures is an advantage.
• Experience with KRA temporary import/export applications, approval letters, customs seal exemption applications, and Certificate of Origin system processes is preferred.
• Familiarity with Export Delivery Notes, EXIT and C2 Movement declarations, and related transport coordination procedures.
• Proficiency in OA systems for document processing, payment workflows, and operational approvals, together with good Excel and reporting skills.
• Strong English communication, coordination, exception-handling, and cost-control skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage cross-border clearance operations independently.
• Preferred candidate backgrounds: Kenyan customs clearing agents, cross-border freight forwarders, lake and road transport operators, EAC logistics providers, and manufacturing companies engaged in regional export operations.