Senior Import Officer

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Senior Import Officer to manage the company’s end-to-end import operations, ranging from supplier coordination and banking to shipping, customs clearance, regulatory compliance, dry-port operations, and final warehouse delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee import planning and direct supplier coordination.
• Manage import payments, letters of credit (L/C), cash against documents (CAD), advance payments, and foreign-exchange processes with commercial banks.
• Ensure accurate import documentation and timely payment processing.
• Manage customs clearance, HS classification, valuation, duties, taxes, EFDA requirements, and other regulatory government approvals.
• Coordinate with shipping lines, freight forwarders, and clearing agents to monitor shipments and container movements.
• Control and minimize demurrage, detention, and overall logistics costs.
• Monitor landed costs, import lead times, and supplier performance while preparing regular operational reports.
• Maintain complete import files, establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and supervise import staff.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Business, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 or more years of relevant import and logistics experience, preferably within Ethiopia.
• Preferred Qualifications: Prior experience working with the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA).

Required Skills

• Technical Skills: Ethiopian import and customs procedures, banking processes, Letter of Credit (L/C) and CAD handling, Incoterms, HS code classification, and import documentation.
• Core Skill Tags: Communication, attention to detail, analytical problem-solving, strong Excel proficiency, negotiation, and reporting.