Key Responsibilities
1. Team Management
• Lead and supervise all customs clearance, inspection, documentation and examination personnel.
• Allocate daily declaration workloads, shifts and inspection escort responsibilities.
• Establish and monitor team KPIs, including:• Customs clearance efficiency
• Inspection rates
• Declaration error rates
• Customer complaints
• Amendments
• Customs fines and penalties

• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching and development to team members.
• Train new customs staff on customs procedures, declaration standards, HS classification, customs valuation and communication with customs officials.
• Drive improvements in declaration accuracy and reduce errors, amendments, delays and penalties.
• Coordinate local field staff, trucking and warehouse personnel with overseas teams.
• Manage staff leave, overtime and operational scheduling.

2. Customs Clearance Management
• Oversee the quality and accuracy of customs declarations for:• FCL and LCL cargo
• Reefer containers
• Dangerous Goods
• Machinery and equipment
• Food products
• Cosmetics
• Used equipment

• Conduct advance documentation reviews to identify potential clearance issues before cargo arrival.
• Liaise with Customs, quarantine authorities, terminals, container yards and bonded warehouses.
• Monitor the complete customs clearance process from cargo arrival through to final release.
• Manage processes including:• Delivery Order exchange
• Customs declaration
• Customs review
• Inspections
• Duty payments
• Cargo release

• Proactively identify and resolve delays to minimise demurrage and storage costs.
• Manage complex customs inspections involving sampling, valuation, origin verification, label rectification and additional documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and support on complex or high-risk declarations.

3. Risk, Compliance & Cost Control
• Standardise and maintain accurate HS classification and tariff codes.
• Monitor updates to tariff schedules and ensure relevant changes are implemented.
• Review contracts, payment records, invoices and freight documentation required for customs valuation.
• Ensure imports comply with all applicable permits and supporting documentation.
• Monitor requirements relating to Certificates of Origin (COO), health certificates, CCC, CCIC and other import documentation.
• Control and minimise:• Customs amendment fees
• Port storage costs
• Inspection costs
• Customs penalties
• Demurrage

• Ensure appropriate procedures are followed for hazardous cargo, cold-chain shipments and oversized equipment.

4. Customer & Business Coordination
• Provide customers and internal operations teams with regular updates regarding customs clearance progress.
• Proactively communicate delays, exceptions and potential clearance risks.
• Resolve customer queries, complaints and claims professionally and efficiently.
• Accompany key customers during customs inspections where required.
• Develop practical and standardised customs clearance solutions for complex or difficult cargo.
• Maintain strong working relationships with customers, customs authorities, service providers and internal stakeholders.
• Compile and report operational KPIs to senior management/head office.

5. Policy, Documentation & Systems
• Monitor changes to customs legislation, regulations, port policies and operational requirements.
• Ensure new requirements are communicated to relevant staff and incorporated into operating procedures.
• Maintain accurate customs declaration archives and electronic records.
• Ensure customs documentation is complete, accurate and readily accessible.
• Manage and maintain access to relevant customs declaration systems, EDI and Single Window platforms.
• Prepare accurate monthly customs clearance and operational reports.
• Maintain and update SOPs where required.

6. Emergency & Exception Management
• Take the lead in resolving significant customs and port-related operational issues, including:• Customs enforcement actions
• Port congestion
• Cargo detention
• Anti-smuggling enquiries
• Cargo damage
• Labelling issues

• Coordinate urgent or expedited clearance solutions, including priority inspections and bonded transfers where appropriate.
• Ensure appropriate communication with customers and relevant authorities during critical incidents.
• Investigate operational incidents and identify root causes.
• Implement corrective actions and update SOPs to prevent recurring issues.

Minimum Requirements
• Proven experience in customs clearance and freight forwarding.
• Strong knowledge of customs declaration procedures and port operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing or supervising customs clearance teams.
• Strong knowledge of HS classification, customs valuation and tariff schedules.
• Experience dealing directly with Customs and other relevant regulatory authorities.
• Experience handling customs inspections and complex clearance issues.
• Strong understanding of import documentation and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with customs declaration systems, EDI and Single Window platforms.
• Experience handling a variety of cargo types, including FCL, LCL, reefer, Dangerous Goods, machinery and other specialised cargo.
• Strong understanding of customs compliance, penalties, amendments and cost control.
• Excellent organisational and coordination skills.
• Strong communication and customer relationship management abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple urgent clearance matters simultaneously.