DIRECTOR FOREIGN AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS (FCR)



Closing Date: December 14, 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 Foreign and Community Relations Directorate is charged with the effective management of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat’s bilateral and multilateral partnerships and for the effective implementation of its Foreign Policy and Community Relations (FCR) mandates as articulated in the CARICOM Secretariat Strategic Plan. The FCR manages the Secretariat’s bilateral and multilateral relationships and provides strategic advice to the Secretary General and CARICOM Member States to articulate, defend and secure the region’s foreign policy interests and strengthen the Community.

The incumbent is responsible for supporting the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) with the design and management of the FCR’s priorities, integrated programmes and projects.

3.         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A Masters in Public Administration / International Relations / Political Science / Economics / Business Administration, plus at least fifteen (15) years’ relevant and equivalent level experience at a senior professional level in diplomacy plus proven managerial experience in:

  • A regional or international organization
  • Public or Private Sector Agency

In addition, the candidate should possess specialized training and good working knowledge in:

  • Diplomacy
  • Fluency in English
  • Working knowledge of one of the other languages of the Community

4.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

KEY RESULT 1: Advancement of Community objectives treating with external relations through the integrated programming designed for the development and coordination of the Region’s external economic and political relations.

Activity

1.1       Advancing the Community’s objectives in external relations with third states and international organizations through integrated programmes designed for the development and coordination of the Community’s external economic and political relations with the support of the Programme Manager for Foreign Policy and Community Relations.

KEY RESULT 2: Matrix management through coordination with other Divisions.

Activities

2.1       DEVELOPS and MAINTAINS networks of contacts within Member States and within the regional and international agencies with which the FCR must engage;

2.2       MAINTAINS a close working relationship with senior technical Secretariat staff, Member States Ministries of Foreign Affairs, international organisations and Third States to remain current and effectively manage the Directorate;

2.3       ESTABLISHES multi-disciplinary teams from across the Secretariat and as appropriate short-term external consultants; and

2.4.    ADVISES the Assistant Secretary-General, on Electoral Observation processes for effective management of the FCR’s Elections Monitoring function.

KEY RESULT 3: Coordinating implementation of foreign and external economic relations policies.

Activity

3.1       Responsible for servicing the relevant Community Organs and Institutions to facilitate effective decision-making and implementation of foreign policy and external economic relations.

KEY RESULT 4: Relations with Associate Members.

Activity

4.1       Responsible for maintaining informed contacts with all Associate Members of the Community and supporting their initiatives in relation to their participation in the Caribbean Community.

KEY RESULT 5: Relations with Overseas Countries and Departments d’outre mer in the Caribbean.

Activity

5.1       Responsible for maintaining informed contacts with representatives of the French Caribbean Territories as well as the Dutch Caribbean Territories countries to strengthen Caribbean regional solidarity in various fields.

KEY RESULT 6: Promotes understanding of and support for Community foreign policy and external economic relations initiatives.

Activity

6.1       SURVEYS Member States as appropriate and PREPARES reports, studies and publications to promote understanding of and support for the coordinated Community actions toward specific countries, groups of countries and international agencies.

  KEY RESULT 7: Community Relations

Activity

7.1       MANAGES engagement with civil society and Parliamentary Opposition Leaders on Community issues to support their role as enunciated in the Consensus of Chaguaramas.

KEY RESULT 8: Work Programme and Budget

Activities

8.1         DETERMINES annually the “Major Job Objectives” for each Work Programme and identifies and coordinates with Directorate colleagues the “Key Result Areas” for quarterly performance evaluations; and

8.2       OVERSEES the following activities within the Directorate:

  • Work Programme design, monitoring and evaluation
  • Project design, execution, and evaluation
  • Effective resource management
  • Preparation and monitoring of the Annual Budget
  • Approval of Work Programmes and Projects for implementation
  • Approval of Technical Assistance Projects

KEY RESULT 9: Managing Directorate Human Resources

Activities

9.1       MAINTAINS appropriate job descriptions for each officer assigned to the Directorate, SETS performance targets in line with Work Programme, MONITORS performance and formally APPRAISES performance at least on a semi-annual basis; and

9.2       ENSURES that staff of the Directorate develop their technical and other job-related skills and seeks opportunities to expose FCR Staff to development training through inter alia preparation for and participation in meetings; seminars; workshops and other training possibilities. Staff take advantage of technology and various media to share information and expertise.

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

5.         EMOLUMENTS AND BENEFITS

This is an S5 post. The salary range for this position is EC$13,852.00 to EC$17,887.00 per month.

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 (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 (2) children at any one time. The grant is payable for a maximum of five (5) 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 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

(iii)       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 thirty (30) 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 (2) 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 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 14 December 2022.

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