TRADE IN SERVICES AND INVESTMENT SPECIALIST ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT



Closing Date: November 20, 2020

Type of Vacancy: /

Details of the Post

Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of CARIFORUM Member States to fill the abovementioned position in the Caribbean Community Secretariat with assigned duty station in Guyana.

2.         FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Trade in Services and Investment Specialist is responsible for providing technical advice to CARIFORUM States on the implementation of Title II of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The Specialist is also responsible for the implementation of other provisions of the Agreement that affect the services and investment sectors in CARIFORUM States. The Specialist is required to develop an annual work plan related to the implementation of the services, investment and e-commerce provisions of the EPA and also develop proposals for consideration by development partners to support the services, investment and e-commerce in CARIFORUM States.  The incumbent is expected to establish and promote close collaboration with enquiry and focal points in CARIFORUM States as well as EPA Coordinators on matters related to services, investment and e-commerce. The incumbent will also establish close collaboration with institutions and agencies that are involved in the EPA Implementation process.

3.         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Candidates should possess at least a Master’s Degree in International Trade, Economics, Business Studies, International Relations or other relevant discipline, plus at least five (5) years relevant working experience in external trade matters at a senior or policy level in a Ministry of a CARIFORUM State and/or in a regional, sub-regional or international organisation. Knowledge of international trade law would be an asset. Experience should be gained at one or more of the following types of organizations:

  • Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • National Investment Promotion Agency
  • Office of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property
  • A Competition Regulatory Body
  • A Public Utilities Commission
  • Large private sector organisation
  • Regional or international organisation engaged in economic integration

Candidates should have sound knowledge and understanding of:

  • Title II (Investment, Trade in Services and E-commerce) of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement;
  • World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement and ongoing issues related to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);
  • The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Agreement Establishing the Free Trade Area between CARICOM Member States and the Dominican Republic;
  • Project Proposal Preparation, Design and Management; and
  • Microsoft Office Suite.

In addition, the candidate must also have excellent communication, research, problem solving and analytical skills.

4.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direction of the Director, the Trade in Services and Investment Specialist will be required to:

4.1       Provide technical advice on policy issues related to implementation of Title II of the EPA. This includes but is not limited to providing advice on the following:

  • avoured Nation (MFN) principle;

4.2       Provide technical advice to CARIFORUM representatives participating in joint CARIFORUM/EU Institutions on matters pertaining to investment, trade in services and e-commerce;

4.3       Assist with monitoring the operations of the EPA as it relates to Title II of the Agreement;

4.4       Contribute to the Unit’s effort to build capacity of CARIFORUM States in implementation of EPA commitments, on investment, trade in services and e-commerce;

4.5       Liaise with enquiry and focal points in CARIFORUM States and the European Commission to ensure effective implementation of the Title II of the Agreement;

4.6       Collaborate with relevant business support organizations, regional institutions and experts, in the execution of his/her duties;

4.7       Assist CARIFORUM service providers in identifying opportunities for the export of services and in particular utilising the market access provided for under the EPA;

4.8       Develop technical proposals which are capable of receiving funding from international, regional, bilateral or private financing programs in support of the services sectors in CARIFORUM States;

4.9       Develop the services and investment component of the annual work plan of the EPA Implementation Unit;

4.10     Collaborate with other Directorates within the CARICOM Secretariat, where necessary, as it relates to the implementation of Title II of the EPA;

4.11     Collaborate with other Specialists in the EPA Implementation Unit in the execution of duties assigned;

4.12     Assist in the preparation of texts and commentaries on texts; the preparation of Papers and reports on matters related to EPA commitments, on investment, trade in services and e-commerce;

4.13     Provide policy advisory services to the EPA Implementation Unit on matters related to investment, trade in services and e-commerce; and

4.14     Manage the procurement and performance of short-term consultants recruited to assist in implementing the above activities to ensure the timely completion of deliverables in keeping with scope and cost.

The management of the consultants will include:

In addition to the Results and Activities outlined above, the incumbent is expected to perform any other duties in line with job responsibilities that may be assigned by the Director, EPA Implementation Unit.

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 of the cost of tuition (including text books), 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 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 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 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 scheme, the Officer will contribute fifty per cent of the premium.  The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory.

12.       SUPERANNUATION

An officer on contract shall, subject to his/her services being satisfactory and having completed at least six (6) months of the contractual term of employment be eligible for the payment of a gratuity. The gratuity shall be at the rate of twenty per cent of the officer’s basic salary, calculated for each day of completed service and shall be payable at the end of the officer’s contractual period (including for this purpose any period of extension or approved leave). 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 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 are required to apply using the CARICOM Secretariat’s Recruitment Portal which can be accessed via the CARICOM Secretariat’s Website at www.caricom.org under the Opportunities tab.

14.       The deadline for the submission of applications is 20 November 2020.

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