Lead Senior Lead Customs Clearance

Job Description

Lead / Senior Lead Customs Clearance

Location: Lagos, Nigeria Head Office
Number of Positions: 2
Employment Type: Full-Time | Fully Sponsored International Assignment
Reporting To: Head Logistics / Supply Chain / International Trade

About the Role

We are looking for experienced and highly competent Customs Clearance professionals to join our team as Lead Customs Clearance in Lagos, Nigeria.

The successful candidates will be responsible for managing and overseeing end-to-end import and export customs clearance activities, ensuring timely cargo clearance, regulatory compliance, accurate customs documentation, duty/tax assessment, and effective coordination with customs authorities, shipping lines, freight forwarders, port operators, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders.

This is a fully sponsored international assignment based at our Head Office in Lagos, located in a prime and highly secure business location.

The position requires an individual with strong practical knowledge of Nigeria customs procedures, international trade documentation, HS classification, customs valuation, duty/tax calculations, port processes, electronic customs filing, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Customs Clearance & Regulatory Compliance

• Manage and oversee end-to-end customs clearance activities for import and export shipments.
• Act as the primary point of contact between the shipper/importer, freight forwarder/customs agent, shipping line, port authorities, customs officials, and relevant regulatory agencies.
• Ensure all shipments comply with applicable Nigerian customs laws, import/export regulations, tariff requirements, excise requirements, and other applicable statutory provisions.
• Monitor changes in customs regulations, tariff structures, import restrictions, documentation requirements, and trade procedures and advise management accordingly.
• Ensure customs declarations are accurate, complete, timely, and supported by appropriate documentation.
• Identify potential compliance risks and take corrective action before they result in delays, penalties, additional duties, or regulatory issues.

2. Customs Documentation & Electronic Filing

• Prepare, review, verify, and process customs declarations and supporting documentation through applicable electronic customs/trade platforms.
• Review and validate:
• Commercial invoices
• Packing lists
• Bills of Lading / Airway Bills
• Certificates of Origin
• Import permits
• Insurance documents
• Purchase orders
• Letters of Credit (LC)
• Form M and other applicable trade/customs documentation
• Customs declarations and assessment documents
• Ensure consistency of product descriptions, quantities, values, country of origin, HS codes, Incoterms, and other shipment particulars across all documents.
• Maintain accurate electronic and physical records of customs declarations and supporting documents.
• Ensure all customs documentation is properly filed and readily available for internal and external audits.

3. HS Classification, Valuation & Duty Management

• Classify imported and exported goods accurately under the applicable Harmonized System (HS) codes and tariff classifications.
• Review product specifications, technical descriptions, and supporting information to determine the appropriate tariff classification.
• Determine applicable customs duties, taxes, levies, excise duties, and other statutory charges.
• Verify customs valuation and declared transaction values to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Identify opportunities for legitimate duty optimization through correct tariff classification, valuation, exemptions, concessions, or applicable trade provisions.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between declared values, customs assessments, invoices, and supporting documents.
• Ensure duties and taxes are calculated, approved, paid, and recorded accurately and within prescribed timelines.

4. Shipment & Port Coordination

• Monitor shipments from pre-arrival documentation through vessel arrival/discharge, customs declaration, assessment, examination, release, and final delivery.
• Coordinate with customs officials and relevant authorities for examination, assessment, queries, valuation issues, classification matters, and cargo release.
• Coordinate with:
• Freight forwarders
• Customs brokers/agents
• Shipping lines
• Port and terminal operators
• Transporters
• Warehouse teams
• Regulatory authorities
• Internal procurement, finance, logistics, and commercial teams
• Proactively follow up on pending customs assessments, examinations, duty payments, documentation queries, and cargo releases.
• Escalate delays, disputes, penalties, demurrage risks, or compliance concerns to management in a timely manner.
• Minimize customs-related delays, storage charges, port demurrage, detention, and other avoidable logistics costs.

5. Nigeria Trade & Customs Procedures

The candidate should possess strong working knowledge of applicable Nigerian import/export procedures and documentation, including, as relevant to the business:

• Nigeria Customs Service procedures
• Form M
• PAAR / applicable customs assessment and release processes
• Import documentation and electronic filing procedures
• Customs declarations
• HS/tariff classification
• Customs valuation
• Duty and tax assessment
• Import/export permits and regulatory approvals
• Letter of Credit (LC) documentation
• Shipping and port documentation
• Cargo examination and release procedures
• Applicable Nigerian trade and excise requirements
• Interaction with relevant regulatory agencies

The candidate should be comfortable navigating regulatory queries and coordinating with government/customs stakeholders to resolve clearance issues professionally and compliantly.

6. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with customs authorities, customs agents, freight forwarders, shipping lines, port operators, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor the performance of customs brokers, freight forwarders, and clearance partners.
• Review service levels, clearance timelines, documentation quality, and cost performance.
• Negotiate and resolve operational issues with external stakeholders while protecting company interests.
• Ensure all third-party customs/clearance activities are conducted in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.

7. Compliance, Audit & Documentation Control

• Maintain meticulous records of:
• Customs declarations
• Duties and taxes
• Receipts/payment evidence
• Permits and licenses
• Import/export documentation
• Customs correspondence
• Assessment documents
• Cargo release documentation
• Clearance-related invoices and charges
• Ensure documentation is audit-ready at all times.
• Support internal, statutory, customs, tax, and compliance audits.
• Investigate customs discrepancies, notices, penalties, assessments, and compliance observations.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented promptly.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity of commercial and customs-related information.

8. Team Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Lead, guide, and supervise customs clearance activities and relevant service providers.
• Establish clear priorities for urgent and high-value shipments.
• Ensure timely resolution of customs and logistics exceptions.
• Develop standard operating procedures and process controls for customs clearance activities.
• Track key operational metrics such as:
• Clearance turnaround time
• Customs query resolution time
• Duty/tax accuracy
• Demurrage/detention exposure
• Documentation accuracy
• Shipment release performance
• Identify opportunities to improve customs clearance processes, reduce costs, and improve service levels.
• Train and mentor junior team members on customs procedures, documentation, compliance, and best practices.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, International Trade, Commerce, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in customs, freight forwarding, logistics, or international trade will be an advantage.

Experience

• Typically 18-25 years of relevant experience in customs clearance, freight forwarding, international logistics, import/export operations, or a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in customs clearance operations, preferably involving Nigerian customs procedures.
• Prior experience working with customs brokers/agents, shipping lines, ports, freight forwarders, and regulatory authorities.
• Experience handling high-value, time-sensitive, or complex import/export shipments will be an advantage.
• Candidates currently working in Customs Clearance, Freight Forwarding, CHA/Customs Brokerage, Shipping, Import-Export, or International Logistics are encouraged to apply.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

The ideal candidate should have strong working knowledge of:

• Customs clearance procedures
• Import/export regulations
• Nigeria customs processes
• HS code classification
• Customs valuation
• Duty and tax calculations
• Import/export documentation
• Form M
• PAAR and applicable electronic customs processes
• Letter of Credit (LC) documentation
• Bills of Entry / customs declarations
• Bills of Lading and shipping documentation
• Port and terminal procedures
• Regulatory permits and approvals
• Incoterms
• Freight forwarding processes
• International trade compliance
• Demurrage and detention management
• Customs audit and documentation requirements
• EDI / electronic customs filing systems

Software Skills

• Strong proficiency in MS Office, particularly:
• MS Excel
• MS Word
• MS Outlook
• MS PowerPoint
• Experience with customs, ERP, logistics, EDI, or electronic filing systems.
• Strong ability to prepare and analyze shipment, customs, duty, and clearance-related data.

Core Competencies

• Strong customs and trade compliance knowledge
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Strong negotiation skills
• Analytical and problem-solving ability
• High attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple shipments and priorities simultaneously
• Strong follow-up and coordination skills
• Commercial awareness
• Decision-making ability
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
• High level of integrity and professional ethics
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving operational issues
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and international environment

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a hands-on customs professional, rather than someone with purely theoretical or documentation-based experience.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have strong practical knowledge of customs clearance and international trade.
• Understand the complete shipment lifecycle from documentation and pre-arrival formalities through customs assessment, examination, release, and final delivery.
• Be confident dealing with customs officials, freight forwarders, shipping lines, port operators, and regulatory authorities.
• Be highly competent in reviewing commercial and shipping documentation.
• Have a strong understanding of HS classification, customs valuation, duties, taxes, and compliance.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Be comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Possess strong ownership, follow-up, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Be willing and prepared to work in Lagos, Nigeria on an international assignment.

What We Offer

International Assignment Lagos, Nigeria

• Tax-free USD salary
• Premium company-sponsored accommodation
• Company-provided transportation
• Medical insurance
• Indian & international food arrangements
• Fully sponsored relocation/assignment
• Excellent career growth opportunities
• Opportunity to work in an international and multicultural business environment
• Prime and highly secure Head Office location

Application / Candidate Information

Interested candidates are requested to share their updated resume along with the following details:

• Current Company:
• Current Location:
• Native State:
• Total Experience:
• Relevant Customs/Clearance Experience:
• Current CTC:
• Expected CTC:
• Notice Period:
• Preferred Location: Vadodara / Nigeria
• Date of Birth / Age:

Important

Candidates should clearly highlight their experience in customs clearance, Nigeria customs procedures, HS classification, Form M, customs documentation, duty/tax assessment, electronic customs filing, freight forwarding, and port operations in their resume.

Only candidates with relevant hands-on customs/import-export experience are encouraged to apply.

Preferred candidate profile