diff --git a/cron/job_definition.py b/cron/job_definition.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1f8b84df16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/job_definition.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+"""Job-definition schema shared by importers of a foreign cron store.
+
+Cron owns which persisted fields are *authored* (create_job) versus *advanced by the
+scheduler* (next_run_at, state, run counters...). Callers merging an authored store
+into a live one (profile distributions) import this rather than duplicating the list.
+"""
+from typing import Any, Dict
+
+from cron.jobs import _apply_schedule_update
+from cron.quota_hold import clear_state as _clear_quota_hold
+
+# Persisted fields authored by create_job rather than advanced by the scheduler.
+# Cron owns this schema so import/update callers never need to duplicate it.
+JOB_DEFINITION_FIELDS = frozenset({
+    "name", "prompt", "skills", "skill", "model", "provider", "base_url",
+    "script", "no_agent", "monitor_script", "monitor_url", "context_from",
+    "schedule", "schedule_display", "deliver", "origin", "enabled_toolsets",
+    "workdir", "attach_to_session", "reasoning_effort", "failure_deliver",
+})
+
+
+def merge_job_definition(local: Dict[str, Any], authored: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Refresh authored fields while preserving this store's scheduler-owned state."""
+    merged = {
+        key: value for key, value in local.items()
+        if key not in JOB_DEFINITION_FIELDS and key != "repeat"
+    }
+    merged.update((key, authored[key]) for key in JOB_DEFINITION_FIELDS if key in authored)
+    merged["repeat"] = {
+        "completed": (local.get("repeat") or {}).get("completed", 0),
+        "times": (authored.get("repeat") or {}).get("times"),
+    }
+
+    if local.get("schedule") != merged.get("schedule"):
+        merged.pop("pending_slot", None)
+        _clear_quota_hold(merged)
+        if merged.get("enabled", True) and merged.get("state") != "paused":
+            _apply_schedule_update(
+                merged,
+                {"schedule": merged["schedule"], "schedule_display": merged.get("schedule_display")},
+                str(merged.get("id") or "imported job"),
+            )
+        else:
+            merged["next_run_at"] = None
+    return merged
diff --git a/cron/jobs.py b/cron/jobs.py
index 14f213d483..20e3ae5a8f 100644
--- a/cron/jobs.py
+++ b/cron/jobs.py
@@ -407,15 +407,6 @@ def fire_claim_fence(job_id: str, *, expected_owner: str):
 # update could leak ``../escape``/absolute/nested values into output writes/deletes.
 _IMMUTABLE_JOB_FIELDS = frozenset({"id"})
 
-# Persisted fields authored by create_job rather than advanced by the scheduler.
-# Cron owns this schema so import/update callers never need to duplicate it.
-JOB_DEFINITION_FIELDS = frozenset({
-    "name", "prompt", "skills", "skill", "model", "provider", "base_url",
-    "script", "no_agent", "monitor_script", "monitor_url", "context_from",
-    "schedule", "schedule_display", "deliver", "origin", "enabled_toolsets",
-    "workdir", "attach_to_session", "reasoning_effort", "failure_deliver",
-})
-
 
 def _job_output_dir(job_id: str) -> Path:
     """Resolve a job's output directory, rejecting any path-escape attempt (``..``, absolute
@@ -2031,33 +2022,6 @@ def _fill_missing_next_run(updated: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     updated["next_run_at"] = next_run
 
 
-def merge_job_definition(local: Dict[str, Any], authored: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    """Refresh authored fields while preserving this store's scheduler-owned state."""
-    merged = {
-        key: value for key, value in local.items()
-        if key not in JOB_DEFINITION_FIELDS and key != "repeat"
-    }
-    merged.update((key, authored[key]) for key in JOB_DEFINITION_FIELDS if key in authored)
-    merged["repeat"] = {
-        "completed": (local.get("repeat") or {}).get("completed", 0),
-        "times": (authored.get("repeat") or {}).get("times"),
-    }
-
-    if local.get("schedule") != merged.get("schedule"):
-        merged.pop("pending_slot", None)
-        from cron.quota_hold import clear_state as _clear_quota_hold
-        _clear_quota_hold(merged)
-        if merged.get("enabled", True) and merged.get("state") != "paused":
-            _apply_schedule_update(
-                merged,
-                {"schedule": merged["schedule"], "schedule_display": merged.get("schedule_display")},
-                str(merged.get("id") or "imported job"),
-            )
-        else:
-            merged["next_run_at"] = None
-    return merged
-
-
 def update_job(job_id: str, updates: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
     """Update a job by ID, refreshing derived schedule fields when needed."""
     # ``id`` is a path component under OUTPUT_DIR — changing it would leak path-escape values.
diff --git a/hermes_cli/profile_distribution.py b/hermes_cli/profile_distribution.py
index 7d700f18f2..c0d93966a6 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profile_distribution.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profile_distribution.py
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ def _replace_entry(src: Path, dest: Path) -> None:
 def _merge_cron_store(src: Path, dest: Path) -> None:
     """Merge a distribution's cron store by job id; new jobs arrive paused."""
     from cron import jobs as cron_jobs
+    from cron.job_definition import merge_job_definition
 
     try:
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix="hermes_dist_cron_") as tmp:
@@ -421,9 +422,9 @@ def _merge_cron_store(src: Path, dest: Path) -> None:
             merged = []
             for local in cron_jobs.load_jobs():
                 incoming = shipped.pop(local.get("id"), None)
-                merged.append(local if incoming is None else cron_jobs.merge_job_definition(local, incoming))
+                merged.append(local if incoming is None else merge_job_definition(local, incoming))
             merged.extend(
-                cron_jobs.merge_job_definition({"id": job_id, **new_state}, incoming)
+                merge_job_definition({"id": job_id, **new_state}, incoming)
                 for job_id, incoming in shipped.items()
             )
             cron_jobs.save_jobs(merged)