Manager (Level 7) [Montego Bay]

Manager (Level 7) [1 post]   salary: $7,716, 512 annually. 

JOB PURPOSE

Under the direct supervision of the Director, Customs House Montego Bay, the Manager, Entry Processing Unit (Montego Bay) is responsible: 

• To oversee and manage entry documentation processing for commercial cargo shipments arriving by all modes of transportation in accordance with Customs Acts, its regulations and other relevant legislation; 

• To ensure the provision of adequate systems and measures to consolidate and appropriately apply information on duty waivers and exemption authorizations related to specified goods importation in compliance with the Customs Act, its regulations and related legislation; 

• To oversee and monitor customs administrative and border security activities for importation and/or exportation of goods through parcel post that support the enforcement of the Customs Act and Regulations, and, other relevant legislation; 

• To optimize revenue by ensuring adequate systems and measures are in place that facilitate the declaration and/or application and payment of correct duties and taxes on goods and other items imported and exported; and, 

• To protect Jamaica’s borders and her society by providing direction and collaboration on activities aimed at detecting and seizing illegally imported goods and other items. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Technical/ Professional Responsibilities 

• Manages the commercial entry documentation process to ensure compliance of the Customs Act and Regulations and other legislation by ensuring that adequate systems are in place to: 

• Ensure cross-referencing and verification of values on merchandise and, where necessary, re-computation for additional customs duties, levies and related taxes; 

•  Enable pre-arrival clearance of goods for eligible importers; 

•  Cross-reference and verify grants of waivers and exemptions to importers and/or brokers with Agency documentation/records; and, 

• Accept and route/reroute entries received electronically and in print in keeping with risk assessment processing; 

• Allow importers and/or brokers to track entries online, thereby facilitating trade and economic activity; 

• Ensures that all import entry records are stored, updated and maintained; and, 

• Ensure appropriate follow-up action is taken, where necessary. 

• Provides technical advice on entry processing and resolves to problems experienced by the broker/importer and/or members of staff through discussions to ascertain causes and take corrective measures. 

• Ensures that corrections/amendments to the Customs Laws and other related laws and regulations, ministerial orders and internal circulars or decisions pertaining to rates of duty, taxes or the examination of entries are made known and understood by the staff of the Unit for their guidance. 

• Assists with processing of the Entries when the workload is too heavy for the Customs Officers to manage, to ensure the timely delivery to the Broker/Agent/Importer. 

• Scrutinizes Import Entries and Invoices processed by the Customs Officer to ensure that proper Tariff classifications, valuations, rates of duties and Taxes are entered on the Entries and that other import requirements such as Import Licences, Duty Permits, Meat Permits, Firearm Permits are met, Tax Compliance Certificate is valid and noted, and the Invoice is genuine. 

• Guides the Customs Officers through on-the-job training sessions on specific procedures and policies to enable them to perform their duties in an effective and efficient manner. 

• Monitors searches for Entries reported overdue or lost in the system, investigates the causes, expedites the processing if the Entry is with the Officer and takes remedial action. 

• Guides the Brokers/Agent/Importers (whose Entries were incorrectly made up) in correctly completing the Entry(ies), as well as completing the returned (amended) work in the absence of the Officer. 

• Ensures that each Entries for goods at the CARICOM rate of duty are covered by a Certificate rate of duty are covered by a Certificate of Origin and that a declaration of value is given on From C70 (a:b) unless the goods are free under the First Schedule of Customs Harmonized Tariff. 

•  Ensures that the import control is tightly maintained by: 

• Interpreting the various Incentive Laws such as Hotel, Industrial, Motion Picture Industry, Export Industry, Encouragement Law, Bauxite and Alumina, Petroleum and Oil Refinery, 807 and CMT Operations, joint Ministerial Committee or Incentives Duty Waiver and exemption approvals from the Minister of Finance; 

• Ensuring the maintenance of records showing key information such as; Name of persons/firms claiming exemptions under the various laws, dates or approval, date of operation as well as approvals of various industries, companies and firms to operating under the acts. 

• Refusing entry if importer does not qualify for exemptions. 

•  Ensures that good customer service relationship is maintained between staff clients. 

• Polices prohibitions and restrictions by maintaining records of signature of persons authorized to sign invoices and licences and documents for imports from certain countries; advising the Customs Officers regarding such persons. 

• Performs other related duties. 

• Oversees the smooth collaborative operations with postal services (and other government entities as required) to ensure the processing of parcel post shipments designated for importation and/or exportation to ensure adherence to the Customs Act and Regulations and other relevant legislation, and, to ensure revenue collection on dutiable parcels. 

• Ensures that changes in policies and procedures resulting from changes in governmental trends or originating from the implementation of the computerization programme. 

• Participates in the development, implementation and review of strategic and operational plans for Entry Processing Unit. 

• Liaises with the public, importers, brokers and stakeholders on customs administration, customer service and programme delivery issues. 

Management/Administrative Responsibilities 

• Creates an effective team within the Entry Processing operational unit to achieve the Agency’s objectives and targets by: 

• Monitoring and reviewing the performance of the sub-division to ensure its agreed performance targets are met; 

• Ensuring that the staffing needs of the sub-division are met through appointments, promotions and staff development and training and discipline in accordance with agency policies and procedures; 

• Ensuring the management and continuous performance of staff within the sub-division through the implementation of the performance management system; and, 

• Ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources. 

• Provides day-to-day leadership and direction in the development and continual performance improvement of the unit and oversees and manages the unit’s activities and operations. 

• Ensures that all required processes, systems and controls are in place within the unit to enable achievement of its objectives effectively and efficiently. 

• Ensures that the work of the Unit is properly documented to facilitate the development of operational manuals, outlining applicable policies and procedures for the operational activities, with the view to amalgamating them into a single Operations Handbook for Jamaica Customs. 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES 

Core 

• Excellent observational skills, particularly with the ability to review documents for evidence of fraud and/or manipulation 

• Excellent analytical, decision making, planning and organizing skills and ability to think strategically 

• Excellent human relations and staff management skills 

• Strong accounting and auditing skills 

• High confidentiality, integrity and honesty 

• Ability and capacity to execute arrest and restraint to apprehend a suspect when necessary. 

• Ability to communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively with all people including those from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds. 

   Technical 

• Expert knowledge and understanding of Customs Act and other tax laws and their impact on business, international trade and economics. 

• Expert knowledge and understanding of Customs Operations. 

• Comprehensive technical knowledge of classification and valuation systems and procedures. 

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of applied risk assessment. 

• Sound understanding and experience in the management of limited resources in order to achieve challenging output targets. 

• Understanding of the fundamentals of financial and general management. 

• Understanding of the application of information technology solutions to organizational problems and the fundamentals of ICT based analytical tools. 

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• First degree in Management Studies or equivalent qualification in the Social Sciences 

• Five (5) years’ experience in an operational management position, including experience in the application of the Customs Act and related legislation. 

• Supervisory management training and/or experience. 

• Specialized training and knowledge of customs administration and operations and classification and valuation systems 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB 

• Work will be conducted in various office outfitted with standard office equipment and specialized software.  

• Involves working in a fast-paced environment with on-going interactions with critical stakeholders. 

• May be required to travel to represent JCA on matters locally and internationally. 

Applications, including résumés, should be submitted no later than Friday, May 29, 2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by HRMD 

Email us at helpdesk@jca.gov.jm, if you have any technical difficulties.