Head Of Cross-border Trade & Regulatory Operations

Our client, a leading player in trade and export, is seeking an experienced professional to serve as the executive lead for its role as the Merchant of Record for the Kenya National Pavilion on JD.com. The role will oversee the end-to-end operation, including local supplier vetting, GACC/CCIC compliance, JD.com storefront management, trade finance, and cross-border logistics, ensuring regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and strong GMV growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES AREA :

• Strategic & Regulatory Leadership: Lead government-to-government (G2G) and B2B engagement with KEPHIS, KEBS, GACC, and CCIC to secure batch list-based registrations under Decree No. 280.
• Platform & Store Operations: Direct JD.com cross-border storefront operations, digital marketing campaigns, promotional alignment (Singles' Day 11.11, 618 Festival), and Mandarin customer support strategy.
• Supplier Architecture & Vetting: Oversee the onboarding pipeline across 15 product categories, enforcing the 100-Point Vetting Scorecard, the 70% local raw material threshold, and sustained volume commitments.
• Financial & Risk Management: Manage Merchant of Record financial exposures, execute supplier payment structures (Standard, Fast-Track, Partner Tiers), oversee FX risk (KES/RMB/USD), and monitor trade discounting structures.
• Supply Chain Governance: Oversee consolidation operations at the Mombasa hub, CCIC pre-shipment inspections, and sea/air freight forwarding to JD.com bonded warehouses in China.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATION

• Experience: 8+ years in international trade, cross-border e-commerce, or agricultural supply chains between East Africa and Asia/China.
• Track Record: Direct experience registering food/agricultural enterprises on the GACC CIFER platform or managing storefronts on JD Worldwide/Tmall Global.
• Language Proficiency: Business fluency in English and Swahili is required; proficiency or working fluency in Mandarin Chinese is strongly preferred.
• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in International Trade, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or Law.