PROJECT OFFICER CUSTOMS AND TRADE POLICY




Closing Date: November 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 managing the operational functions of the Customs & Trade Policy Unit in the Directorate of CARICOM Single Market and Trade (CSMT) to facilitate the efficient, timely and effective execution of its mandates and tasks. This entails the day to day management of the revised procedure for Suspension and Safeguard Mechanisms, managing the Verification Procedure under the Community Rules of Origin, Managing the List of Authorized Signatories of Member States regarding the Community Rules of Origin, Research rulings on core customs areas such as HS classification, WTO Valuations Agreement, compile reports on the grant of Suspensions of the CET, facilitate effective functioning of the Monitoring Mechanisms for e.g. Red Kidney Beans, assisting in the preparation of meetings convened by the Unit, maintaining records of all authorized signatories of Certificates of Origin, maintaining a database on Suspensions and Safeguards, preparing correspondence for signature and dispatch; and maintaining contact with Trade officials in Member States and Institutions.

3.         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A Degree in in Economics or equivalent or related discipline, plus at least five (5) years of relevant and equivalent level experience working in Customs and Tax Administration in one of the following institutions:

  • Regional and international organisation
  • A Multinational Business Organisation
  • An International Economic Development Institution
  • Public and/or Private Sectors

The incumbent should also possess specialised training and good working knowledge in:

  • Communication
  • Customs or Tax Policy Administration
  • Customs and Trade Policy Administration
  • Liberalisation of Trade
  • Free Movement of Goods
  • International Trade in Goods

4.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Result: To manage the operational functions of the Customs & Trade Policy Unit in the Directorate of CARICOM Single Market and Trade (CSMT) to facilitate the efficient, timely and effective execution of its mandates and tasks.

Activities

1.1          VERIFIES the accuracy of data and information contained in all applications by Member States for Suspensions of the CET and Derogations from the Rules of Origin;

1.2          PREPARES notices to Member States indicating approval or denial of application for Suspension of the CET and Derogations from the Rules of Origin;

1.3          COMPILES reports for the Council for Trade and Development (COTED) on the approvals/denials of applications for Suspension of the CET and Derogations from the Rules of Origin;

1.4          MAINTAINS records of all queries for verification of origin notices from Regional Customs Administrations;

1.5          FOLLOWS-UP with Regional Customs Administrations submissions of queries for verification of origin;

1.6          GATHERS reports on queries and their completion by the relevant Regional Customs Administrations for the Customs Committee;

1.7          RECEIVES and CIRCULATES notices from Member States on persons who are authorized to sign Certificates of Origin under the Community Rules of Origin;

1.8          MAINTAINS records of all authorized signatories of Certificates of Origin submitted by Member States;

1.9          COMPILATION of reports on information relating to the status of authorized signatories under the Rules of Origin;

1.10        RESEARCHES and COMPILES reports on Customs classification and other Trade in Goods matters;

1.11        RESEARCHES and PROVIDES data on Trade in Goods as requested by internal and external clients;

1.12        COMPILES monthly reports on Revenue forgone by Member States who were granted Suspension of the CET;

1.13        RESEARCHES and PROVIDES background information on subject matters relating to the Sub-Programme;

1.14        ASSISTS with the convening of technical Meetings organized by the Sub-Programme;

1.15        PERFORMS rapporteur duties for the COTED and other Meetings relating to the Sub-Programme;

1.16        PROVIDES administrative and logistical support to projects relating to the Sub-Programme;

1.17        FACILITATES the Monitoring Mechanism for Red Kidney Beans (collection and disseminated of data) and other Monitoring Mechanisms;

1.18        MAINTAINS a database of authorised signatories for CARICOM and Dominican Republic;

1.19        MAINTAINS a database on Suspensions and Safeguards granted and not granted by the Secretary General;

1.20        PREPARES correspondence (responses and enquires) for signature and DISPATCHES to Ministries and other stakeholder;

1.21        MAINTAINS contact with Trade officials in Member States and Institutions;

1.22        OVERSEES the work of stenographer assigned to Sub-Programme;

1.23        ORGANIZES and SCHEDULES meetings convened by the Unit ensuring that, arrangements related to venue, notification, documentation etc. are in place; and

1.24        PERFORMS any other relevant duty from time to time in keeping with the job functions as assigned by the Deputy Programme Manager, Custom & Trade Policy Unit.        

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 (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 contract 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

  • 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 November 2022.

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