Deputy Director, Import, Export and Border Control at Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)

KPH/DDIE&BC/1/24

Job Specifications

Duties and responsibilities: - 

• Providing technical leadership and guidance on matters pertaining to export phytosanitary matters to ensure compliance to the standards;
• Coordinating Phytosanitary import and export certification plans, systems and procedures and coordinate their implementation;
• Initiating review and coordinating implementation policies, guidelines, manuals, protocols and strategies on import and export phytosanitary certification to facilitate compliance with national, regional and international laws, requirements, new tech
• Setting, monitoring and evaluating implementation of staff performance contracts to ensure compliance with government directives;
• Participating in development and review of Acts, regulations and policies on plant health matters to ensure proper legal and regulatory framework;
• Managing human, financial and material resources assigned to their area of operation.
• Participating in making of annual and project budgets and ensure proper use of allocated resources;
• Coordinating and maintaining databases for seed certification, Phytosanitary for information security, data management and reporting;
• Coordinating the use of ICS and ECS digital systems for effective and efficient service delivery.
• Coordinate and ensure availability of equipment, instruments and consumables in the departments to facilitate technical operations;
• Coordinating authorization of specified services to private players for efficiency in service delivery;
• Monitoring to ensure phytosanitary non-compliances are evaluated and resolved for efficiency in service delivery;
• Ensure implementation and maintenance of Quality Management Systems(QMS) for delivery of quality services and trade facilitation;
• xiv. Coordination and participation in appeals emanating from technical activities to resolve client complains and ensure customer satisfaction;
• Participate in activities for maintaining border security together with other government agencies by implementing various border surveillance strategies;
• Develop training programs and curriculum on phytosanitary matters for capacity building of
• Service's technical staff to enhance staff competence and efficiency in service delivery;
• Coordinate identification of training needs and formulating training modules and schedules for Export certification, import regulation and border control to ensure staff competency;
• Coordinate phytosanitary audits conducted by importing countries to ensure market access;
• Approve applications of new clients for registration in the Integrated Import and export certification systems for plant health controls;
• Responding to client enquiries/complaints and communicating feedback for customer satisfaction;
• Participate in stakeholder activities at national and county level to sensitize them on phytosanitary, seed certification and plant variety issues;
• Participate in pest surveillance, monitoring, emergency response and reporting of new pests using tools & technologies available for purposes of updating import and export regulations;
• Participate in development of pest management strategies for emerging pests for enhancement of crop production, environmental protection and market access;
• Support and participate in research activities towards strengthening Phytosanitary regulation and bridging gaps in missing data;
• Participate in Standards setting activities at national and international levels for plant protection and trade facilitation;
• Participate in inspection and monitoring of GMO approved activities and facilities to ensure compliance with the approval conditions.

Persons Specification 

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have: -

• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Biotechnology, Entomology, Crop Protection, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Horticulture, Agronomy, Botany or its equivalent from a University recognized in Kenya;
• Master of Science in Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, Entomology, Crop Protection, Molecular Biology, Seed Technology, Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Agronomy, Botany or its equivalent from a University recognized in Kenya;
• Professional qualification and membership where applicable;
• Served for at least ten (10) years related work experience five (5) of which must be in a supervisory position;
• Attended a Senior Management course lasting not less than four (4) weeks;
• Meets the provisions of the Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution of Kenya.

Skills

• Proficiency in computer applications. Literacy in statistical packages will be an added advantage; 
• Excellent problem solving skills; 
• Communication skills; 
• Leadership skills; 
• Problem solving skills 
• Negotiation Skills 
• Analytical skills 
• Interpersonal skills 
• Creativity; 
• Data analysis skills; 
• Report writing and presentation skills; 
• Team player. 

Competencies

• Ability to work independently; 
• Ability to make decisions independently; 
• Work well under pressure and prioritize work; 
• Demonstrated results in work performance; 
• Demonstrated knowledge in international standards and Quality Management Systems; 
• Demonstrated outstanding professional competence.