Lead – Customs Transit & Bond Operations

Role Overview

You will lead the launch and day-to-day operation of our new cross-border transit division, with full responsibility for customs bonds, regulatory compliance, and client billing. Your work will directly determine whether cargo moves through the Northern and Central corridors without delays, penalties, or lost revenue, so you will need to balance commercial drive with meticulous operational discipline. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives on ownership and can build systems from the ground up while keeping every shipment compliant and profitable.

Key Responsibilities

• Take end-to- end ownership of transit bond products, including national CB8, COMESA RCTG, and EAC bonds, managing everything from initial setup and activation to ongoing monitoring and final closure with the relevant revenue authority.
• Negotiate terms with financial partners, insurers, and underwriters to secure competitive premium rates, adequate credit limits, and workable counter-indemnity arrangements that protect both the company and its clients.
• Process bond cancellations and discharges systematically, ensuring every bond is acquitted within the statutory 30-day period after goods are dispatched, using proof of export to trigger immediate system updates and avoid KRA penalties or security forfeiture.
• Validate all transport and customs paperwork, including manifests, T1s, Carnets, and border entry/exit stamps, and lodge transit declarations directly on KRA ICMS, ASYCUDA World, and regional single-window platforms to maintain full East African customs compliance.
• Watch for and respond to system alerts on open bonds, delayed trucks, and unconfirmed arrivals, coordinating with the tracking team to investigate RECTS signals such as route deviations, breakdowns, or tampered seals.
• Coordinate daily with clearing agents, transporters, internal logistics staff, and resident customs officers, building a dependable network at major border crossings including Malaba, Busia, Namanga, and Isebania for smooth cargo handoffs.
• Calculate client pricing for bond utilisation, transit fees, premiums, border charges, and escort services, and oversee accurate invoicing so that every direct and indirect transit cost is captured and billed with zero revenue leakage.
• Maintain healthy working relationships with KRA officials, border stations, and surety underwriters, using those connections to resolve operational bottlenecks before they become compliance failures.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Hold the East African Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) or an equivalent diploma from the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) – this is a mandatory requirement.
• Bring 5–7 years of hands-on experience in customs clearing, transit operations, and bond execution within the East African logistics market, with a clear understanding of corridor-level challenges.
• Demonstrate functional mastery of KRA ICMS, SIMBA, the COMESA RCTG system, and logistics or ERP billing software, with the ability to navigate these tools confidently and resolve data discrepancies.
• Show evidence of established relationships with KRA personnel, regional border stations, and surety/insurance underwriters, plus the interpersonal skill to leverage those relationships for faster clearances and better terms.
• Have a verifiable track record of zero bond defaults, near-perfect on-time discharge of bonds, and accurate revenue capture in previous roles, backed by a strong sense of urgency around statutory deadlines.