Operations Specialists at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional grouping with 15 Member States in West Africa (three landlocked and one island) with a population of about 300 million with an annual economic growth rate of around 6%. The ECOWAS Commission is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities supporting the African Union to coordinate the implementation of continental and regional integration and development programmes in the West African region.

We are currently recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operations Specialist

Vacancy code VA / 2015 / B5302 / 8262
Location: Lome, Togo
Duration: 1 year subject to availability of fund and good performance
Department/office: AFO, CIOH, Cote d'Ivoire
Contract type: Fixed Term

Background Info - Job-specific

• ECOWAS has studied the feasibility of a regional food security reserve (ASSR), intended only for emergency operations in the event of cyclical food crises.
• The proposal to create an ASSR was adopted by the ECOWAS Agriculture Ministers in September 2012 and by the Heads of State in February 2013; thus, the 42nd regular session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Yamoussoukro (Republic of Côte d'Ivoire) adopted an additional act (AS / 2/02/13) establishing a regional food security reserve, and instructed the Commission to take the suitable measures to its actual start.
• On this basis, the Commission has worked to mobilize its international financial partners to supplement this allocation.
• The European Union (EU) was willing to support ECOWAS in the implementation of the reserve and to consider the support to be implemented as part of a project in line with the region's decisions.
• The proposed project aims to support ECOWAS in the implementation of its regional food security strategy storage, based on complementarity / subsidiarity between three lines of defense to address these repetitive food crises: Stocks close, national stocks, and finally, a regional food security reserve for regional solidarity to play in a major food crisis.
• The goal is to help respond effectively to food crises and strengthening the resilience of households in a perspective of sustainable regional security and food sovereignty, through the promotion of food reserve systems at different levels of urgency.
• The project is funded by the European Union and will be implemented through centralized management with the French Development Agency (AFD), the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

Functional Responsibilities

• Under the command responsibility of the Head of UTGR, it will coordinate its procurement activities, quality control, storage, retrieval with the objectives set through the mission and principles governing the reserve, the technical and administrative monitoring of the Reserve activities, planning and programming activities.

Technically, these tasks entrusted to it:
Key Responsibilities:

• Ensuring the proper management of the reserves stored in the different basins
• Ensure the preparation of inventory purchase contracts
• Ensure magazining through local control cabinets
• Ensure the good quality of products purchased by requiring all required certificates
• Ensure the payment of suppliers and service providers, logistics and storage
• Ensure stock rotation by identical replacement procedure
• Provide periodic reports production activities
• Make a watch on the prices suppliers
• Organize periodic audits of stored stocks and storage conditions in the identified basins
• Maintain an inventory accounting system (input-output, inventory values)

Other Responsibilities:

• Prepare the organization of purchasing and storage plan
• To approve the plan by the governance bodies
• Ensure the selection of local control cabinets
• Ensure the implementation of the annual plan of control and the availability of reports
• Ensure the preparation of purchase contracts, storage and logistics

Competencies
The candidate should have:

• To experience the prevention and management of food crises devices and early warning systems for collecting and analyzing data from national statistical services and international
• A experience with intersectoral approach to vulnerable populations resilience issues
• Good knowledge of sector policies implemented in Sahelian Africa and in coastal countries, and excellent analytical information on all topics related to resilience (agriculture / livestock and food, health , education, water and sanitation, social protection, ...)
• A proven ability animation and teamwork
• A experience in purchasing, procurement and inventory management
• A good knowledge of ECOWAS purchasing procedures, or any other organization of international scope

Education / Experience / Language Requirements
Education:

• Higher diploma equivalent to a BAC + 4 in Finance, Logistics Management, Audit or Business Management or related field with 5 years experience
• Higher diploma equivalent to a BAC +5 in Finance, Logistics Management, Audit or Business Management or related field with 3 years of professional experience

Experience:

• Having five (05) years of professional experience and a first experience in security or food chains
• Have a good knowledge of food safety and nutrition policies

Language

• Being fluently bilingual in French and English, both orally and in writing
• Knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset

Additional Requirements:

• Have the nationality of a member state of ECOWAS or CILSS member States not members of ECOWAS
• Enjoy their civic rights and be of good character

Application Closing Date
30th August, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This job ends at the closing date at midnight, Copenhagen (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for maintenance
• We strongly encourage qualified women to apply.