Clearance Officer

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. For more information, visit website: https://www.icrc.org/ 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Ethiopia is looking to hire an experienced, highly motivated and qualified person for the position of Clearance Officer  based in Addis Ababa.

Terms of Employment: 1 year fixed term contract with possibility of extension based on budget availability

PURPOSE

The Clearance Officer is responsible for overseeing all import, export, in-transit goods, and domestic transport arrangements are managed in compliance with established standards and best practices.

GENERAL DUTIES

• Understands and adheres to the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Understands and adheres to the ICRC Code of Conduct
• Understands the roles of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Respects and observes staff regulations and security rules at all times
• Represents the ICRC in a professional manner at all times
• Develops and maintains a pleasant and conducive working environment with colleagues and line managers
• Performs all duties with the highest level of confidentiality in the interest of the employees and the ICRC
• May be asked to perform tasks not covered in this job description and to provide support to other departments when necessary

RELATIONSHIPS 

• Internally, collaborates with the supply chain team, Transport Clearance & Freight Solutions staff from various delegations (globally), as well as Pharmacy and other departments, to secure the necessary importation permits.
• Externally, establishes and maintains relationships with key contacts, including national and regional authorities responsible for issuing permits and authorizations, customs clearing agents, freight forwarders, and transport service providers.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES 

Import-Export duties and responsibilities 

• Regularly contact upstream suppliers (e.g., GVA/LSC Nairobi or other delegations) to obtain and prepare the necessary documents for the import and reception of goods.
• Handles correspondence with Ministries (MoFA, EFDA, MoTL, Customs Commission and other authorities) to obtain the clearance and process import permit/exemption of ICRC shipments. 
• Carries out all the required customs formalities for Import and Export goods.
• Receive goods at the entry port and arrange transportation to either the ICRC warehouse or directly to the final user, as deemed necessary.
• Receives different international pouches and deliver to IM/Reception as per the ICRC procedure.
• Prepare all the required export documents and facilitate export permits from concerned authorities.
• Handle all export shipments as per the export procedures and requirements in collaboration with concerned authorities and freight forwarding companies-
• Schedule export cargo according to the shipment plan and promptly notify and communicate with the recipient delegation.
• Adhere to the recipient delegation's import procedures and green light requirements during the export process!
• Maintains and updates JDE ImpEx database and follow-up sheet on regularly for all mode of transports (Road, Sea, Air and transit shipments)
• Manage orders (SR’s) about transport, cargo handling and storage, and ensures the validation and recording according to ICRC processes.
• Maintain and keep up to date the SRs within the range of responsibility (JDE) 

Transport - Organising and monitoring. 

• Sends regular updates on the status of goods under clearance, alert on delays and problems or irregularities.
• Travels to different points of entry or exit to facilitate import and export of shipments. 
• Organizes and monitor the reception/shipment of incoming and outgoing cargo, by any necessary commercial or ICRC internal transport means (road, air, sea)
• Implement and enforces all general and transport-related ICRC rules and regulations.
• Implement and enforces all local customs and transport related laws and procedures for import, export and transit goods.
• Implement and enforces IATA dangerous goods regulations (IATA-DGR) for air shipments.
• Ensures that the latest customs regulations are communicated and applied.

Administration 

• Organizes and monitors reception, up to date filing, follow-up and communication/ general correspondence of Shipment Advice (SAs), (waybills, air waybills, bills of lading, customs-related documents, MoFA import permits etc.)

• Provides adequate reporting about all import-export activities.

• Evaluate, Checks and processes invoice issued from the clearing agent, provides all supporting documents, place Supply Request (SR) for all executed services and submits for signatures and payment to finance timely.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Follow up on all work-related messages and correspondence with the relevant contacts and departments.

• Understands the delegation’s objectives and acquire comprehensive knowledge of the Movement and other relevant contacts pertinent to the position.

• Collects and shares information to improve the ICRC’s understanding of the environment and humanitarian trends and responses

• Takes responsibility for his/her own professional learning and development.

• Contributes to the analysis of the security, socio-economic, cultural, and political environment relevant to the ICRC and share relevant information with colleagues.

• Reports events and changes within the region that could have an impact on ICRC's activities and hence provides sound elements to the Delegation that allow to establish objectives and priorities.

• University degree in logistics and supply chain management or related field.

• A minimum of three years’ experience working in clearing and forwarding or Import and Export positions.

• Proven knowledge of customs and import-export procedures.

• Excellent command (spoken and written) of English and Amharic. Good command (spoken and written) of French is an added advantage.

• Computer skills (especially in logistics software).

• Certification in clearing and forwarding is an asset.

• Valid IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations certification is an asset.

• Third grade driving license (mandatory).

How To Apply

Applicants shall submit their electronic CVs and cover letter through the ethiojobs.net website. Clearance Officer | Ethiojobs

Women applicants and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

The ICRC has zero tolerance for fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. Therefore, ICRC Ethiopia will maintain the right to conduct background and reference checks on the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer to this position. All ICRC staff should uphold the standards of ICRC’s Code of Conduct.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted at all stages of the selection process.