About CRS

Catholic Relief Services-United Staff Conference of Catholic Bishops “CRS” is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. For further information about CRS, please visit: www.crs.org.

Job Summary

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is responding to the humanitarian crisis in North Darfur and East Darfur, where large scale displacement has resulted in severe food insecurity, critical water shortages, and acute health and nutrition needs amid access constraints and a complex operating environment. CRS is implementing and scaling lifesaving interventions in food security, water, health, and nutrition, including cash based and in-kind assistance and support to Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs). CRS also actively engages in humanitarian coordination to improve coverage, targeting, and accountability.

You will manage, coordinate, and monitor project activities and relationships with partners and other project stakeholders to assist the achievement of the RAPID project objectives advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your project management skills and knowledge of the program area will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of this project.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Import Planning & Coordination

• Develop import and customs clearance strategies. 
• Coordinate inbound shipments from international suppliers to final delivery destination at CRS warehouses. 
• Prepare import schedules and clearance plans. 
• Monitor shipment status from supplier dispatch until final delivery. 
• Coordinate closely with Procurement, Warehouse, Program and Finance team. 

Customs Clearance Management

• Lead customs clearance of CRS commodities through all ports of entry. 
• Coordinate customs brokers and clearing agents. 
• Ensure complete customs documentation before shipment arrival. 
• Resolve customs queries and clearance bottlenecks. 
• Monitor customs processing timelines and identify opportunities to reduce clearance lead time. 
• Ensure compliance with Sudan Customs regulations. 

Tax Exemption Management

• Prepare and submit tax exemption applications. 
• Coordinate approvals with the Ministry of Finance. 
• Follow up until issuance of tax exemption certificates. 
• Maintain a tracking system for all pending exemptions. 
• Ensure exemptions are received before customs assessment whenever possible. 

Government Liaison

Serve as CRS focal point with:

• Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) 
• Ministry of Finance 
• Sudan Customs Authority 
• Ministry of Health 
• Ministry of Agriculture (where applicable) 
• National Medicines & Poisons Board 
• Sudan Standards and Metrology Organization (SSMO) 
• Port Authorities 
• Civil Aviation Authority 
• Airport Authorities 
• State Government Authorities 

Maintain positive working relationships to facilitate humanitarian importation.

Import Documentation

Prepare, review, and submit all required documentation including:

• Commercial Invoices 
• Packing Lists 
• Bills of Lading 
• Waybills 
• Certificates of Origin 
• Donation Certificates 
• Gift Certificates 
• Import Permits 
• HAC Import Lists 
• Tax Exemption Requests 
• Customs Declarations 
• Insurance Documents 
• Freight Documents 
• Inspection Certificates 
• Dangerous Goods Documentation (when applicable) 
• Shipping Instructions 

HAC Coordination

• Prepare and submit import lists to HAC. 
• Obtain humanitarian import approvals. 
• Coordinate approval letters. 
• Maintain import tracking registers. 
• Follow up on pending approvals. 

Regulatory Compliance

Coordinate and obtain required approvals including:

• Import Permit 
• Tax Exemption 
• Customs Clearance Approval 
• Road Permit 
• Quality Permit 
• Quality Inspection Waiver/Exemption 
• Ministry approvals 
• Quarantine Clearance 
• Health Certificates 
• Phytosanitary Certificates (where applicable) 
• Veterinary Certificates (where applicable) 
• Drug Registration/Import Authorization (medical commodities) 
• Radio/Telecommunication Equipment Import Approval (where applicable) 

Freight & Transport Coordination

• Coordinate ocean, air, and road freight providers. 
• Monitor freight forwarder performance. 
• Coordinate shipment arrival schedules. 
• Ensure timely inland transportation after customs clearance. 
• Minimize demurrage, detention, storage, and port charges. 

Risk Management

• Monitor customs-related risks. 
• Resolve shipment holds and clearance delays. 
• Escalate regulatory issues. 
• Develop mitigation plans for import bottlenecks. 
• Maintain business continuity during emergencies. 

Performance Monitoring

Monitor and report on:

• Customs clearance lead times 
• Tax exemption processing times 
• Port dwell time 
• Demurrage costs 
• Shipment status 
• Clearance KPIs 
• Freight performance 
• Government approval timelines 

Prepare weekly and monthly logistics dashboards.

Donor Compliance

Ensure imported commodities comply with donor regulations including:

• CRS Policies 
• USAID/BHA 
• ECHO 
• World Bank 
• UN Agencies 
• Sudan Government Regulations 

Leadership & Capacity Building

• Build staff capacity on customs regulations and import compliance. 
• Develop SOPs for importation and customs clearance. 
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives. 

Scope:

• Management of inbound logistics and customs clearance. 
• Supervision of Customs/Clearing Officers.  
• Oversight of all CRS imports. 
• Government liaison for import-related matters. 
• Management of import compliance and regulatory approvals. 
• Oversight of clearing agents and freight forwarders.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, International Trade, Business Administration, or a related field. 
• Professional certification in Logistics, Supply Chain, Customs, or International Trade (CILT, CIPS, APICS, FIATA, etc.) is an advantage. 
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in international logistics, customs clearance, humanitarian importation, or freight management. 
• Experience managing customs clearance of humanitarian cargo in Sudan or similar contexts. 
• Strong knowledge of Incoterms, international freight forwarding, import regulations, and donor compliance.

Technical Skills

• Customs clearance procedures 
• Humanitarian import regulations 
• International freight management 
• Incoterms
• Tax exemption processing 
• Government liaison 
• Import documentation 
• Freight forwarding 
• ERP systems 
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting

Personal Skills 

• Strong planning, coordination, prioritization, and time management skills
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Good communication and relationship management skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Required/Desired Language: Arabic & English 

Travel Required 30% to field offices

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory: Nil

Internal: Supply Chain Manager, Finance Manager, Procurement Manager, Warehouse Manager, Logistics Manager, ICT Manager, Administration Manager, Security Manager, Program Managers, operations manager

External: HAC, Ministry of Finance, Sudan Customs Authority, SSMO, Ministry of Health, Freight Forwarders, Shipping Lines, Airlines, Clearing Agents, Port Authorities, Donors, UN Agencies, and Government Officials.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  It is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

 We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

• CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
• Equal Opportunity Employer
• Female Team members are highly encouraged to apply.
• CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, human trafficking everywhere and at all times. I, the applicant, accept these requirements as part of my job application.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.  

Submission location: 

If interested, please submit cover letter, resume and copies of your education and work certificates to www.sudanjob.net . Ensure that your cover letter or resume has a phone number where you can be reached.