Programme Officer, Common External Tariff and & Trade Safeguard Measures

Position description

Under the direct supervision of the PPO Tariffs & Custom Procedures the Programme Officer, Common External Tariff (CET) and Trade Safeguard Measures has direct responsibility for the management and implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and ensures it is updated regularly in line with the changing economic environment and work towards the implementation of trade defense measures in the Community.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish processes and procedures for the implementation of ECOWAS regulations on trade defense measures;
• Establish investigation procedures to support the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade defense measures;
• Train and sensitize stakeholders in the utilization of the ECOWAS Trade defense measures;
• Liaise with relevant institutions at the Commission and in member states for the correct and beneficial application of trade remedies;
• Monitor and evaluate the application of the Community trade remedies;
• Initiate measures for the effective implementation, management, and monitoring of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET);
• Conduct training programmes in tariff classification and customs valuation;
• Undertake sub-divisions in the ECOWAS Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature (TSN) in response to demands of the Community;
• Ensure regular updates of the ECOWAS TSN in accordance with the review cycle of the Harmonized System;
• Undertake training and sensitization on the Common External Tariff (CET).

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Public Administration, or Political Science from a university of recognized standing;
• 5 years of practical experience in regional integration, competitive trade, infrastructure and natural resources management, Programme Development and Management;
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in the application of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System;
• Have a clear understanding of product tariffication;
• Experience in tariff classification;
• Experience in the application of customs valuation;
• Knowledge and experience in the WTO trade remedy instruments;
• Be familiar with the customs landscape in the region;
• Understand issues relating to regional economic integration.

AGE LIMIT

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCIES

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a certain point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices;
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities;
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner;
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and/or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval;
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources;
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance;
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards;
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to the timeline, quality, and quantity;
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions;
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs, mitigates issues and that carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs;
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards;
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and ability to relate well with People from varied backgrounds, nationality, gender, ethnicity, race, and religion;
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy;
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns and apply judgement, tact, and diplomacy;
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths;
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner;
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes and policies;
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals;
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others;
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture, structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities;
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position;
• Ability to study data/information from a variety of sources, identify anomalies, trends and issues, present findings, and make recommendations;
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals;
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions and/or internal committees;
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools;
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.;
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means;
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner;
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT);
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage;
• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals;
• Identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution;
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to co-ordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines;
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks;
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.

Application instructions

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