Deputy Director, Customs

Job Description

Job title:   Deputy Director, Customs

Department:Customs
 

Immediate Supervisor: DirectorCustoms

Grade 6A

Purpose of the Job

The Deputy Director, Customs supports the Director, Customs in the strategic, operational and technical leadership of the Department by providing consolidated oversight across multiple Customs sections. The role strengthens governance, improves consistency in operational decision-making, enhances quality control, and builds leadership capacity as part of MRA’s succession planning framework.

The Deputy Director acts as the principal coordination layer between the Director and Section Heads and ensures that Customs policies, laws, procedures and international obligations are implemented uniformly and effectively across the Department.

Generic Duties and Accountabilities

The Deputy Director, Customs shall:

a)     Coordinate, preparation,consolidation and monitoring of plans, assessment plans and budgets

b)     Coordinate and monitor budget implementation

c)     Supervise and coordinate the work of several Section Heads, ensuring consistency, alignment and performance across Customs operations.

d)    Receive, review and validate reports from Section Heads and prepare consolidated monthly and quarterly reports for submission to the Director.

e)     Carry out quality control checks on operational outputs across sections, including assessments, penalties, seizures, refunds, and enforcement actions.

f)      Exercise delegated authority to approve Customs decisions within prescribed limits and escalate complex or sensitive matters to the Director.

g)     Provide authoritative guidance on the interpretation and application of Customs and Excise legislation, Departmental Orders and Instructions.

h)     Identify trends in revenue leakage, Customs fraud, smuggling and evasion, and recommend operational and procedural counter-measures.

i)       Coordinate cross-sectional initiatives, enforcement operations and reform projects within the Department.

j)       Support the Director in staff performance management, including appraisal of Section Heads and identification of training and development needs.

k)     Monitor integrity risks and recommend action with Internal Affairs

l)       Deputise for the Director, Customs as and when required.

m)   Perform any other duties assigned by the Director, Customs that are related to the effective functioning of the Department.

Section-Specific Oversight Responsibilities

The Deputy Director shall provide oversight across the following Customs functional areas, depending on departmental structure:

a)     Revenue & Tariff Administration

• Validate complex Customs assessments, penalties, refunds and settlements prepared by Section Heads.
• Ensure correct application of tariff classification, valuation, origin rules and preferential trade agreements.
• Monitor trends affecting Customs revenue and recommend corrective measures.

b)    Enforcement & Anti-Smuggling

• Oversee intelligence-driven enforcement activities across sections.
• Validate serious offence cases before escalation or prosecution.
• Coordinate with enforcement units and external law-enforcement agencies where required.

c)     Trade Facilitation & Compliance

• Ensure Customs procedures support legitimate trade while protecting revenue and national interests.
• Oversee implementation of reforms aimed at simplifying procedures, reducing delays and improving service delivery.
• Balance facilitation objectives with compliance and risk-management requirements.

d)    Policy, Procedures & International Obligations

• Support examination of international best practices, conventions and standards relevant to Customs operations.
• Assist in policy formulation and review of Customs and Excise legislation.
• Support application of Exchange of Information agreements and international cooperation obligations.

e)     Governance, Controls & Quality Management

• Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are kept accurate and consistently applied.
• Monitor implementation of internal audit and control recommendations.
• Support maintenance and continuous improvement of the MRA ISO Quality Management System within Customs.

Qualifications

A university Degree in Administration, Law, Accountancy, Economics, Finance, Commerce, IT/IS/ Computer Science/Software Engineering, Mathematics/Statistics, Data Science, Engineering, or an equivalent professional qualification in any of those subjects, or other relevant qualifications.

Possession of post-graduate qualifications in Taxation, Customs, Trade, Law, Public Administration, Management or any other field relevant to the MRA would be an advantage.

Experience

At least 12 years’ experience in Revenue, Tax, Compliance Environment, or Customs, Trade Facilitation, Shipping Logistics and Warehouse, Supply Chain, or other related activities, of which a significant period must be in a senior management position.

Age Limit

Candidates, unless already in service, should not have reached their 55th birthday by the closing date, for the submission of applications.

Competencies 

          A.Technical Competencies

·        Advanced knowledge of Customs and Excise legislation and its application

·        Strong understanding of tariff classification, valuation, origin and enforcement processes

·        Ability to analyse revenue, compliance and smuggling trends

·        Knowledge of international Customs conventions and best practices

B. Leadership & Managerial Competencies

·        Ability to supervise and coordinate multiple operational units

·        Strong decision-making and judgement in complex operational matters

·        Capacity to mentor Section Heads and build leadership readiness

·        Strong planning, reporting and performance-management skills 

C. Behavioural Competencies

·        Integrity and sound judgement

·        Professional independence and objectivity

·        Strong communication and stakeholder-engagement skills

·        Ability to manage pressure and sensitive cases

Appointment and Remuneration

i.          Appointment will be on a three year contract renewable based on performance

ii          Monthly Salary - Rs 235,430 - Rs 279,890. 

iii.       Gratuity payment equal to two months’ basic salary on satisfactory completion of each period of 12 months 

iv.        Car Allowance - Rs 35,000 a month.

(A)  Instructions to candidates

 i.         Only online applications with relevant scanned attachments of your academic/professional certificates, testimonials, 

        National Identity Card (NIC) / Passport and a recent passport size photo will be accepted.

ii.        Evidence/proof of previous employment, position/s held and duties performed, must be submitted.

iii.      Candidates possessing an alternative qualification to the prescribed one/s are requested to submit an Equivalence Certificate from the

         Higher Education Commission (HEC) or Mauritius Qualification Authority (MQA) or any authorized entity, as appropriate.

iv.       Candidates must attach an updated CV and a motivation letter.

v.         One of your two referees should be either your current or previous employer.

vi.      Incomplete application and/or non-submission of the required scanned documents will entail elimination from the selection exercise.

vii.    Candidates may be required to sit for a shortlisting written assessment.

viii. For any assistance,  kindly contact the Human Resources and Training Department on 2020500 at Custom House, Mer Rouge, Port Louis.

 (B)  MRA reserves the rights

i.       To call only the best qualified and experienced candidates for the selection exercise; and

ii.      Not to make any appointment as a result of this advertisement.