Enforcement Officer

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Enforcement Officer/Team Leader, the Enforcement Officer is responsible: 

• To protect Jamaica’s borders and Jamaican society by participating in the detection and seizure of illegally imported goods. 
• To initiate and participate in the investigation of customs offences, including gathering evidence and testifying in court when necessary.  
• To create and maintain an effective deterrent against persons committing customs offences, thereby optimising revenue declared and collected (contribute). 
• To support the anti-corruption activities of Jamaica Customs by undertaking secondary examinations and other spot checks without prior notice. 

Key Responsibility Areas

Technical Responsibilities 

• Carries out: 
  • Examinations/inspections of cargo entering and leaving the country, within or outside any Customs area.  
  • Inspections/rummages of vessels and aircraft entering or leaving the country. 
  • ‘raids’ (searches with and without warrants) of buildings, vehicles and other premises to search for illegally imported items or evidence of customs offences. 
• Performs inspections of travellers entering or leaving the country and participates in seagoing patrols and boarding/rummage of vessels at sea. 
• Undertakes: 
  • ‘secondary’ (follow-up) examinations of cargo, items and travellers entering or leaving the country. 
  • surveillance of persons, vehicles, goods, and locations to gather evidence of customs offences and identify persons involved. 
• Arrest persons suspected of involvement in customs offences. 
• Interview suspects and witnesses to establish case facts and gather evidence. 
• Collects revenue and penalties due to customs. 
• Works with other law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and prevent customs offences. 
• Makes enquiries and gathers evidence in support of authorised requests from other countries under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) both on behalf of and in the company of overseas law enforcement agencies.  
• Collaborates with JCF officers on the execution of enforcement activities, including identification and securing of evidence in specific cases and enhancing their capacity. 

Customer Service Responsibilities 

• Maintains customer service principles, standards, and measurements.   
• Identifies and incorporates the interests and needs of customers. 
• Ensures critical success factors are identified and meet expectations.  

Other Responsibilities 

• Performs all other duties and functions as may be required occasionally.?? 
• May be required to provide witness statements, attend court proceedings, and give evidence.? 
• Complies with Health & Safety Policies & Procedures. 

Required Skills/Competencies

Core 

• Excellent interpersonal and customer relations skills. 
• Excellent technical communication and public speaking skills.  
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills and the ability to think strategically. 
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, management personnel, and the public. 
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills. 
• Excellent interview and investigative skills. 
• Ability to work on initiative and well under pressure regarding deadlines, workload, and unexpected developments. 
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality. 

Technical  

• Ability to elicit voluntary compliance with laws and regulations. 
• Ability to independently conduct and oversee investigations transactions, including carrying out ‘raids’ and covert operations to detect and interdict offences. 
• Ability to execute examinations of consignments and apply passenger risk profiling techniques. 
• Expert knowledge of laws and regulations governing Customs laws and other relevant Laws and regulations in Jamaica.  
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the principles of enforcement of regulatory and criminal laws.  
• Good knowledge of international best practices in Enforcement and Surveillance. 
• Working knowledge of relevant computer applications and systems. 

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• First Degree Management Studies/Public Administration or equivalent qualification. 
• At least three (3) years of related experience in a similar position or enforcing regulatory or criminal laws.  
• Ability to swim and have life survival skills at sea. 
• Specialized training in security enforcement. 

Special Conditions Associated with The Job

• Work will be conducted in an office with standard equipment and specialised software.   
• The environment is fast-paced, with ongoing interactions with critical stakeholders and meeting tight deadlines, which will result in high degrees of pressure on occasions.  
• May be required to carry a firearm and exposed to significant threats to personal safety because of involvement in contraband and anti-corruption operations. 
• May be required to attend court proceedings periodically.  
• Will be required to travel extensively around the island, inland and by sea. 
• Outdoor excursions are required on various types of terrain (climbing, hiking, and walking for significant distances), with exposure to the sea and other water bodies. 
• Exposure to dust, heat, and inclement weather conditions. 
• Ability to lift/push 30-50 pounds. 
• Strenuous job involving a high degree of interaction with and responsibility to the public.  
• Must work long (>50 hours weekly) over protracted periods. 
• On-call 24 hours.