AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND TRADE

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Closing Date: June 4, 2022

Type of Vacancy:

Details of the Post

Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fill the abovementioned position in the Caribbean Community Secretariat with assigned duty station in Barbados.

2.         FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Agricultural Specialist has responsibility for providing technical support to the Secretariat to facilitate the discharge of its mandate to provide guidance to the region in trade negotiations in the area of agriculture.

3.         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics/Agricultural Development or related discipline, plus at least eight (8) years of relevant and equivalent level experience in a senior capacity in the field of agriculture and the demonstrated ability in related areas of agriculture.

The incumbent should ideally gain his/her experience from institutions such as:

  • An international trade organization
    • A Ministry of Government responsible for agriculture
    • An international investment or promotional institution
    • An international agricultural research organization
    • A major multinational corporation

The candidate should possess specialized training and good working knowledge in:

  • Agricultural Trade policies
    • International negotiation
    • Agricultural policy administration and enforcement
    • IT applications for agricultural economic analyses

In addition to the above, the following competencies are required:

  • Project Management
  • Report Writing
  • Team Work, Management and Supervisory skills
  • Financial Analysis
  • Sound conceptual and analytical skills
  • Computer Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel), Microsoft Project 2000, Adobe Acrobat and Search Engines.  

4.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Result 1: Reviews and monitors the field of agriculture to facilitate negotiations in the field of agriculture and the effective implementation of trade agreements.

Activities

1.1       ESTABLISHES and COORDINATES a mechanism for consultants at the regional level, comprising the public and private sectors (particularly producer associations and industry stakeholder), as well as other social partners, to support the design of negotiating positions for agriculture;

1.2       REVIEWS, MONITORS and FOLLOWS-UP on economic, sectoral and trade policies among the CARICOM countries, which hold implications for trade negotiations in agriculture;

1.3       MONITORS and ADVISES on economic, sectoral and trade policy measures of major trading partners, which influence national and regional agri-food systems;

1.4       MONITORS and ADVISES on laws and regulations regarding international trade agreements and their implications for CARICOM Member States (i.e. text and commitments of multilateral, regional and bilateral trade and integration agreements, addendums and changes to these agreements, dispute settlement cases, etc.);

1.5       ANALYSES and ADVISES on the potential impact of international trade agreements and arrangements, as well as negotiating positions and national trade policies of other countries and country groupings on the national and regional agricultural/agri-food sector;

1.6       ASSISTS with the implementation of trade agreements (agriculture) and the preparation, design and articulation of national trade and domestic policies for the agricultural sector, which are consistent with international disciplines and commitments;

1.7       ANALYSES and ADVISES on the conformity of national and regional agricultural sector policies on agriculture and agricultural trade to support international negotiations;

1.8       ADVISES on the preparation, design and articulation of national and regional positions on agriculture and agricultural trade to support international negotiations;

1.9       INITIATES, commission and/or carries-out technical studies to inform national and regional negotiating positions in matters pertaining to agriculture and food security;

1.10     PARTICIPATES in international trade negotiations, technical for a and other meetings on international agricultural trade policies, including meetings of the WTO Committee on Agriculture and the Hemispheric Negotiating Group on Agriculture and provides timely reports to national and regional agricultural trade officials; and

1.11     REPRESENTS the agricultural sector in the preparation, organisation, development and evaluation of international trade negotiations and participate in national/regional delegations and missions.

Key Result 2:  Provides technical support to Member States in their negotiations

Activities:

2.1       ASSISTS CARICOM countries in their negotiations with other groups or countries on matters related to trade in agricultural products, as defined in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture;

2.2       ADVISES and ASSISTS in the coordination of positions across Government Ministries and Departments and with other sectors and negotiating processes;

2.3       PROVIDES technical support to national delegations during agricultural negotiations;

2.4       SUPERVISES staff assigned to the ATNU and ASSUMES responsibility for the efficient management of the Unit, with due regard for cost-effectiveness, cost savings, accountability and transparency; and

2.5       PERFORMS any other tasks as may become necessary from time to time to ensure the smooth and timely implementation of the programme of agricultural trade negotiations.

In addition to the Activities outlined above, the incumbent is expected to perform other related duties as assigned.

5.         EMOLUMENTS AND BENEFITS

An attractive remuneration package will be offered.

6.         EDUCATION GRANT

The Officer shall be eligible for the payment of an education grant in respect of children (including step-children and legally-adopted children) who require reasonable education facilities that are not available at the assigned duty station or whose education the Officer would not want to disrupt in relocating to take up this appointment.

The grant shall apply to children under the age of twenty-three years and shall not exceed seventy-five per cent (75%) of the cost of tuition (including textbooks), room and board up to a maximum total of EC$16,200.00 per year per child for a maximum of two children at any one time. The grant is payable for a maximum of five (5) years.

7.         SETTLEMENT GRANT

On assumption of duty in Barbados, the officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of self, his or her spouse and each eligible child or other approved dependent.  The number of dependents eligible for Settlement Grant shall not exceed six (6) persons.

8.         RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT

Appointment may be on permanent establishment or on secondment from a Public Service or a statutory body of a Member State or approved regional organisation. It will be subject to such regulations, rules, orders and instructions as exist and as may be introduced from time to time in respect of service with the Secretariat.

An Officer recruited from outside the assigned duty station, on first appointment, will be provided economy class air passages by the most direct route for the Officer, spouse and children (provided they are below the age of eighteen (18) years, unmarried and dependent on the Officer) and for such other dependents not exceeding two (2) as may be approved by the    Secretary-General, provided that the number of children and other dependents does not exceed six (6) in all.

In addition to passages, the officer will be granted the following transportation allowances:

(i)         ocean freight charges, including insurance, for shipping personal and household effects to Barbados, not exceeding 45.3 cubic meters, plus a motor car (if the officer already owns one);

(ii)        the cost of transporting baggage, personal and household effects from the home of the officer to the place of embarkation and from the port of disembarkation to the place of residence in Barbados; and the cost of packing and crating personal and household effects.

9.         LEAVE

The Officer will be eligible for the grant of vacation leave at the rate of twenty (20) working days a year and a leave grant after every twelve months of service in respect of the Officer, spouse and up to two (2) dependent children.

10.       PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

The officer will be accorded privileges and immunities that are available to staff members of the Caribbean Community whose assigned duty station is in Barbados.

11.       GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Subject to your acceptance by the Secretariat’s insurance carrier, Sagicor Life Inc., the Officer will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s group health, life and accident insurance schemes. With respect to the health insurance, the Officer will contribute fifty per cent (50%) of the premium.  The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory.

12.       SUPERANNUATION

An Officer appointed to this post will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s Defined Contribution Pension Plan and contribute 7 per cent of basic salary per month, while the Secretariat will contribute 13 percent of the Officer’s basic salary to the pension plan. Where the appointment is on secondment, the Secretariat will pay to the Officer’s substantive employer, over the period of secondment, a contribution not exceeding twenty-five per cent (25%) of the pensionable salary normally payable to the Officer by that employer so as to maintain the pensionable status of the Officer in the substantive employment.

13.       APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates must create a job profile and apply for the position via the   CARICOM Secretariat’s Employment Portal. The link can be accessed at – https://caricom.org/opportunities_category/caricom-secretariat-vacancies/ .
14.       The deadline for the submission of applications is 4 June 2022

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