DEPUTY PROGRAMME MANAGER CUSTOMS AND TRADE POLICY



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 Guyana.

2.         FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The incumbent is responsible for undertaking activities relating to the establishment, operation and maintenance of an Intra-CSME regime for the free movement of goods and development of an appropriate trade policy. The Deputy Programme Manager will also be responsible for the operation of the Suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) and the Safeguard Mechanism under the Community Origin arrangements, including the processing of applications and the monitoring of regional supplies.

The incumbent is required to advise on the establishment and operation of the CET including the Subsidiary Schedules and the Conditional Duty Exemption Regime, the Community Rules of Origin, including the list of conditions to be compiled with and the rules regarding Community Origin.  

3.         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A Master’s Degree in Social Science or Public Administration or a related field, with certification/specialized training in Customs and Trade Policy, plus at least five (5) years’ managerial experience in the field of Customs and Tariff or any similar environment, interacting with national, regional and international institutions and organizations including donor agencies. Ideally, the incumbent should gain his/her experience from any one of the following:

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

  • Project Planning, Management and Evaluation
  • International Trade Relations
  • Economic Development
  • Programme planning
  • Customs, tariffs and Trade Policies
  • A high level of computer proficiency in MS Office Suite is essential
  • Customs and Trade or Development Ministry/Agency
  • CARICOM or other relevant regional organization

4.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Result 1: Manages the effective administration of the CSME regime for trade in goods.

Activities

  1. DEVELOPS proposals for the COTED to promote integration within the CSME of the market for goods and for the introduction where required of common instruments, common services and the effective administration of the CSME regime for trade in goods;
  1. MONITORS the trade policies, trade control measures and measures taken by Member States to restrict the free movement of goods and report the results to the COTED;
  1. COLLABORATES with the Customs Administration of Member States regarding the development of policies, legislation, institutional arrangements and administrative procedures and practices for effective cooperation and harmonization of Customs operations within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME);
  1. PROVIDES support to the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in the discharge of its role in relation to the establishment and operation of the Community’s Common External Policy for trade in goods;
  1. ADVISES on Customs and tariff policies, rules of origin and trade control instruments, which may be included under trade agreements between the Community and non-Members;
  1. PROVIDES support to the process of review by the Community Secretariat of trade agreements involving trade in goods between Member States of the Community and non-Member States;
  1. ADVISES on policies, rules, laws and instruments of trade policy relating to intra-CSME and external trade in goods;
  1. DEVELOPS proposals on trade practices and commercial strategies in external markets for use by Member States; and
  1. SUMMARISES data setting out current and long term trends in Intra-CSME and extra-regional trade flows and make recommendations for policy responses as appropriate.

Key Result 2:  Manages the operations of the CET within the CARICOM Single Market.

Activities

  • EXAMINES documents to advise on Customs tariff policy and its application;
  • ANALYSES records of Regional supply sources of merchandise, of current and prospective demands, receive, and process applications from Member States relating to the Suspension of the CET and derogations from the Rules of Origin;
  • PERFORMS liaison work among the Legal, Foreign Relations, Labour and Economic Policy and Sectoral Programmes concerning the development of policy approaches with respect to improved trade environment in the CSME and between the CSME and its trading partners;
  • PLANS and ADMINISTERS the trade regime and programmes to foster and promote Intra-CSME and extra-regional trade in goods;
  • ASSISTS in the development and operation of the Single Market for goods by developing proposals on the Customs tariff, Rules of Origin, quantitative restrictions, internal taxes and charges, freedom of transport, goods traded from free zones and governmental assistance to export enterprises; and
  • PERFORMS any other related duty in keeping with job function that may be assigned from time to time by the Programme Manager.

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 (23) years and shall not exceed seventy-five per cent 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 years.

7.         SETTLEMENT GRANT

On assumption of duty in Guyana, the Officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of the staff member, 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 Guyana, 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 Guyana; 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 (12) months of service in respect of the Officer, spouse and up to two dependent children.

10.       PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

The Officer will be granted the privileges and immunities extended to officials of the Caribbean Community in accordance with Article 8 of the Community’s Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Guyana.

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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