Senior Specialist: International Trade at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

About the Position

• SARS is seeking a highly skilled and strategically minded Senior Specialist with deep expertise in the interpretation and application of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964, the administration thereof, and a proven track record in navigating international customs and trade agreements.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Extensive knowledge of the GATT, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and other key instruments issued by the international bodies such as SACU, SADC, AU, WCO, UN and OECD
• A proficient understanding of how these legal frameworks intersect with South Africa’s economic landscape and influence customs and excise policy.
• A working knowledge of legislation administered by the dtic, ITAC, and other relevant organs of state that impact customs and excise operations.

This role demands strong technical acumen in the principles of the international trading system, coupled with excellent communication, analytical and negotiation skills. The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct in-depth legal research, analyse complex trade data, and prepare high-quality agreements, reports and policy recommendations.
• Represent SARS in international forums, contributing to strategic discussions and negotiations.
• Work both independently and collaboratively, managing multiple priorities in a high-performance environment
• Leverage their customs and excise expertise to support the development of legislative policy strategies aligned with SARS’s strategic objectives
• If you are a driven professional with a passion for international trade law and policy, and a desire to share the future of customs and excise in South Africa, we invite you to apply.

Job Purpose

• To provide specialist advice on international trade strategies in order to align with organisational strategic objectives.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Relevant Honours Degree / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Law, Public Policy, international trade and commerce or a related field with 10 – 12 years' experience in  international trade, policy development, legal drafting or interpretation of laws preferably within the public sector or a revenue authority, of which 3 - 4 years at a specialist level.

ALTERNATE:

• Relevant bachelor’s degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Law, Public Policy, international trade and commerce or a related field with 12 - 15 years related experience in international trade, policy development, legal drafting or interpretation of laws preferably within the public sector or a revenue authority, of which 3 - 4 years at a specialist level

The alternative qualifications and experience refer to internal minimum requirements

Job Outputs:

Process

• Act as the bottom-line drivers of best operating practices for Customs International Trade.
• Build and maintain relationships, effectively communicate and collaborate with international trade stakeholders.
• Formulate the tactical strategy and associated delivery plans to manage the end-to-end process for customs international trade.
• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
• Contribute to the optimum utilization of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plan.
• Develop multiple practices in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks, supporting tactical development and excellence.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure on-boarding of new thinking.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy development and optimisation of practices, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous multiple practice and system improvement optimisation to deliver on objectives and to enhance tactical excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, developing best practice solutions.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Translate top-down policy, apply modifications in relation to own practice areas and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Define and balance the best way to achieve business tactical intention through process, people and task determination for customs international trade.
• Develop and drive practice to manage post-clearance audit i.e. verify contents of shipments after clearance from branches.
• Lead international trade advisory efforts, providing expert guidance on policy formulation and the implementation of best practices aligned with global customs standards.
• Drive the operational execution of binding international trade agreements, ensuring alignment with SARS customs business objectives and international obligations.
• Provide high-level expertise and strategic input into the research, development, and refinement of customs and excise legislation, particularly in relation to international trade agreements.
• Draft and review SARS customs and excise legislation, position papers, and policy documents in accordance with national priorities and international conventions.
• Offer authoritative legislative guidance to support the seamless implementation of ratified international trade and customs agreements across operational units.
• Conduct in-depth research and analysis to identify legislative gaps, resolve complex trade compliance issues, and propose innovative solutions.
• Independently plan, prioritize, and manage workstreams, ensuring timely delivery of outputs within a dynamic regulatory environment.
• Resolve complex queries and compliance challenges, applying sound judgment and discretion within established policy frameworks.
• Foster strategic relationships with internal stakeholders, government entities, and international trade partners to support SARS’s customs mandate.
• Apply deep subject matter expertise to diagnose systemic issues, assess risks, and recommend sustainable solutions.
• Champion process innovation, leading the design and implementation of procedural changes in response to evolving trade requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate legislative and operational performance, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Act as a trusted authority in customs and excise matters, ensuring consistent application of relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Communicate complex legislative interpretations and policy implications clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Governance

• Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Develop & ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence & encourage others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Expertise in Context
• External Awareness
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Compliance Inspection
• Creative and Innovative Thinking
• Customs Knowledge
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Legislative and regulatory compliance
• Policy analysis
• Reporting

Deadline:25tth July,2025