Job Title:  Import Operations Manager

Department: Manufacturing & Engineering

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Type of Employment: Full-Time 

Reports to:  Head of Manufacturing & Engineering

Purpose of the Position:

The Import Operations Manager will play a pivotal role in our company, ensuring the efficient and effective importation of raw materials and spare parts. This role requires significant experience, expertise, and a passion for managing international logistics and import operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the entire import process, from order planning to delivery, ensuring compliance with international trade regulations, and optimizing processes to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Order Planning and Coordination: Develop and manage schedules for timely procurement of raw materials and spare parts, coordinating with suppliers to place orders and schedule deliveries.

• Logistics Management: Oversee logistics from international suppliers to company facilities, managing freight forwarding, shipping, and customs clearance.

• Supplier and Freight Forwarder Coordination: Build and maintain relationships with international suppliers and freight forwarders, ensuring smooth logistics and timely delivery through effective coordination.

• Compliance and Documentation: Ensure compliance with international trade regulations and company policies, managing all necessary documentation for imports, including customs paperwork, and staying informed about relevant regulations and laws.

• Cost Management: Monitor import expenditures to identify cost-saving opportunities and develop strategies to reduce transportation and import costs.

• Process Optimization: Continuously improve import processes for efficiency and effectiveness, implementing best practices to streamline workflows.

• Issue Resolution: Investigate and resolve issues related to import activities, proactively communicating with stakeholders to address challenges.

• Reporting and Analysis: Prepare and present regular reports on import activities and costs, using data analysis to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

• Collaboration: Work closely with procurement, logistics, finance, and production departments to support cross-functional initiatives and improve business performance.

• Team Leadership and Development: Hire, train, and develop team members involved in import operations, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team culture.

Job Requirement

Must-have : 

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a leading role for importing raw materials.

• Experience and detailed knowledge of the processes related to franco valuta

• Experience interacting with the Ethiopian Investment Commission and Kality Customs

• Experience coordinating with international suppliers to ensure the right packaging and documents

• Expertise in managing international logistics, including freight forwarding and customs clearance.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced startup environment.

Good to have : 

• Experience in the automotive sector and with spare parts

• Proficiency in digital tools for task tracking and process optimization (e.g., Asana, Trello)

• Strong knowledge of international trade regulations and compliance.

• Experience In the fast paced startup environment 

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.

How To Apply

Interested and Qualified applicants could apply using this LINK