Imports & Customs Specialist

Victory Farms is the world's fastest-growing aquaculture company, focused on sustainable fish farming in Kenya.

The Imports & Customs Specialist will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of importing goods, including feed, capital equipment, and spare parts, into Kenya. This involves managing import documentation, accurately classifying goods for customs, processing customs entries, and coordinating with clearing agents. A key focus will be on minimizing demurrage and detention costs while ensuring the lowest possible landed cost for all imports. The specialist will report to the Head of Supply Chain, Kenya, and contribute significantly to maintaining efficient, compliant, and cost-effective import operations. This hands-on position requires meticulous attention to detail, commercial awareness, and a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.

1. Manage customs clearance and ensure compliance by owning HS classification and customs valuation for all imports.
2. Review and approve draft declarations from licensed clearing agents for accuracy before submission to KRA iCMS.
3. Address and resolve misclassifications or valuation errors promptly and efficiently handle customs queries or holds.
4. Oversee pre-shipment conformity (KEBS PVoC / Certificate of Conformity) and secure all necessary commodity-specific approvals and permits.
5. Ensure the business remains fully compliant with Kenyan customs and trade regulations, staying updated on KRA and regulatory changes.
6. Manage the entire import documentation process from purchase order to site delivery, establishing a controlled and documented workflow.
7. Prepare, verify, and manage comprehensive documentation packs for each consignment, including IDF, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/airway bill, certificate of origin, and permits.
8. Maintain an audit-ready archive of import records and keep the standard operating procedure for imports current.
9. Accurately compute and verify import duty, VAT, excise, IDF fees, and Railway Development Levy for every entry.
10. Maintain the landed-cost model for key imports and identify opportunities for duty, tax, or exemption to Procurement and Finance.
11. Ensure timely arrangement and release of duty and tax funding to prevent clearance delays.
12. Manage licensed clearing agents to agreed cost, accuracy, and turnaround service level agreements, using a performance scorecard.
13. Operate an import control tower to track in-transit consignments by ETA, document status, and free-time/demurrage expiry.
14. Proactively reduce demurrage, storage, and detention costs through efficient documentation and disciplined clearance planning.
15. Coordinate inland transport and delivery of cleared cargo to sites with the Logistics team.
16. Potentially assess and drive self-clearing/in-house licensed-agent status and AEO accreditation to reduce reliance on third-party agents and speed up clearance.

1. Possess 5+ years of practical imports and customs experience in Kenya, either from an importer or a clearing and forwarding agent, specifically clearing consignments through Mombasa port and JKIA.
2. Demonstrate deep, practical command of Kenyan customs declaration and KRA iCMS, including setting classification and valuation, and directing/checking licensed clearing agents.
3. Have a proven track record in controlling demurrage, detention, and clearance lead times.
4. Be capable of managing and holding licensed clearing agents accountable to cost and turnaround standards.
5. Exhibit a solid understanding of Kenyan customs and trade compliance, including relevant permits and exemptions for imported goods.
6. A recognized customs or clearing qualification or license (e.g., EAC/KRA customs, KIFWA, or licensed clearing agent status) is a plus.
7. Experience importing feed, agricultural inputs, perishables, or capital equipment is beneficial.
8. Familiarity with ERP-based procurement and import tracking, with ERPNext being an advantage.
9. Be meticulous and detail-oriented, ensuring complete and correct documentation for all movements.
10. Remain calm and decisive under time pressure, especially with free-time clocks running.
11. Possess commercial acumen regarding duty and landed cost, beyond just process.
12. Demonstrate high integrity and comfort operating in a compliance-sensitive function.
13. Be field-oriented, comfortable interacting at the port and with agents as well as in an office setting.