Program Officer (PO), Port Development Officer at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer (PO), Port Development Officer

Job Code: 20003246
Location: Abuja
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P2/P3
Status: Permanent
Department: Infrastructure, Energy & Digitalization
Directorate: Transport
Division: Transport Facilitation, Corridors & Maritime
Line Supervisor: PO, Maritime Transport

Role Overview

• The Program Officer (PO), Port Development Officer, under the direct supervision of the Program Officer, Maritime Transport, will work on port and maritime issues, regulations and policies.

Role and Responsibilities

• Review and assist in the development of policies on Maritime and Inland Water transport with the view of improving efficiency of Regional Ports and maritime resources.
• Provide Technical support to the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Port Master Plan including the establishment of regional cabotage regulations.
• Assist in the preparation the contribution of ECOWAS to key ports infrastructure and logistics development for a while sensitizing ECOWAS Member States, Partners, Regional, Continental, and Multilateral partners on maritime transport and logistics in the West African Region.
• Monitor the implementation of policy decisions of ECOWAS Authorities on Ports, logistics and inland water transportation and related matters.
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of regional strategies for Port operations and inland water ways in the region in collaboration with ECOWAS member states.
• Support Member States to provide and maintain efficient modern Sea Ports.
• Coordinate the implementation of international standards in West African Ports
• Coordinate Member State effort in implementing IMO’s Conventions of safety at Sea and the ISPS Code.
• Develop projects to support national Port development programs.
• Coordinate donor involvement in the Maritime and Ports Sectors
• Follow up with development partners on funding and development of the Maritime and Inland Water sector.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Holds at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Ports Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Port or Maritime Engineering, Transportation Planning, port operations, multimodal transport, Transport Economics, or related discipline.
• Three (3) years relevant experience in Port Management, Port Administration, Logistics with corridor related transport facilitation or related areas
• Possesses cognate work experience in policy analysis, formulation and implementation of programs and projects port and maritime transportation and logistics.
• Experience in a regional, international organization as well as membership in professional associations is an advantage.
• Ability to prepare project proposals to for development partners.
• Ability to prepare Terms of Reference for studies, to be carried and for consultants to be recruited in Maritime Transport Policy.

Age Limit:

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a certain point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and/or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to the timeline, quality, and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs, mitigates issues and that carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and ability to relate well with People from varied backgrounds, nationality, gender, ethnicity, race and religion.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns and apply judgement, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture, structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position.
• Ability to study data/information from a variety of sources, identify anomalies, trends and issues, present findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals.
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions and/or internal committees.
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means,
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals.
• identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to co-ordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.

Salary
UA42,916.53 -  UA 49,106.81 / USD67,713.70 - USD77,480.72 Annually.

Application Closing Date
9th November, 2024.