Deputy Director of Import Export and Border Control

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is the government parastatal whose responsibility is to assure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce to prevent adverse impact on the economy, the environment and human health. Vision: Healthy plants, safe trade and sustainable aggro-environment for a prosperous Kenya. Mission: To provide a science based regulatory service by assuring plant health, quality of agricultural inputs and produce for food security, globally competitive agriculture and sustainable development. Core values Customer focus Professionalism and Integrity Teamwork Results oriented Innovation and Creativity Corporate social sustainability Strategic Objectives To protect plants from pests, weeds and invasive species. To facilitate review and strengthening of the policy, legal and regulatory framework, so that it is in tandem with both local and international agricultural sector emerging issues. To contribute towards improved levels of agricultural productivity. To support compliance to market requirements. To build adequate technical and infrastructural capacity to facilitate efficient and effective delivery of the KEPHIS mandate. To mobilize adequate financial resources and ensure optimal allocation and utilization to enable full implementation of planned programmers and activities. To enhance synergies through information and resource sharing with stakeholders and partners. To enhance the visibility and corporate image of 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.

Method of Application