Senior Enforcement Officer/Team Leader

Job Purpose

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

• Protect Jamaica’s borders and Jamaican society by participating in the detection and seizure of illegally imported goods. 
• Manage the investigation of Customs offences in the region, including gathering evidence and testifying in court when necessary.  
• Create and maintain an effective deterrent against persons committing customs offences and thereby optimise revenue declared and collected (contribute) 
• 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 and within or outside any Customs area.  
  • inspections/rummages of vessels and aircraft entering or leaving the country; and, 
  • ‘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. 
• Arrests 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.  
• Provides guidance and advice to officers on the execution of enforcement activities, including identification and securing of evidence in specific cases and to enhance their capacity. 

Human Resources Responsibilities 

• Leads, monitors, and evaluates staff performance to meet agreed performance targets and standards. 
• Determines enforcement follow-up action necessary to achieve compliance and ensures documentation preparation. 
• Prepares weekly, monthly, and quarterly performance reports. 
• Manages human resource management duties, including training and disciplining branch staff, using Agency policies and procedures. 

Customer Service Responsibilities 

• Maintains customer service principles, standards, and measurements.   
• Identifies and incorporates the interests and needs of customers in business process design. 
• Ensures critical success factors are identified and meet expectations. 
• Prepares quarterly and annual Customer Service reports by established standards.  

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 staff management skills 
• Excellent technical communication and public speaking skills  
• Strong judgment, analytical skills and the ability to think strategically. 
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, management personnel, and the public. 
• Ability to elicit voluntary compliance with laws and regulations. 
• Ability to physically sustain hazardous working conditions (climb, hike and walk in all terrain for some distance).   
• 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. 
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality. 

Technical  

• Expert knowledge of laws and regulations governing Customs laws, rules 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 occasion.  
• Required to travel locally to seminars and meetings; may also be required to travel overseas to attend conferences, seminars, and meetings. 
• On call 24 hours. 
• Ability to physically sustain hazardous working conditions, exposed to the elements (wind, sea, water, sun, dust, potential inclement weather) (to climb, hike and walk in all terrain for some distance).   
• A high degree of travelling is required island-wide.  
• Required to carry a firearm and exposed to significant threat to personal safety because of involvement in contraband and anti-corruption operations.  
• May be required to attend court proceedings periodically.