Deputy Chief Registrar 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: Deputy Chief Registrar

Job Code: 20003915
Location: Abuja
Job type: Full-Time
Grade: D1
Agency: Commission
Division: Registry
Line Supervisor: Chief Registrar
Directorate: Peacekeeping and Regional Security
Institution: ECOWAS Court of Justice
Department: Registry
Supervising: Registrar and Verbatim Report, Judicial Certified Translation and Interpretation, Judicial Process and Case Management, Appeal, Arbitration and Enforcement, Judicial Records, Archives and Publication

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Chief Registrar, the incumbent shall be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day duties and activities of the Registry.
• He/she shall manage the management of judicial records and ensure the provision of adequate services for the efficient discharge of the judicial functions of the Court.
• He/she shall provide supervisory role to the Registrar Verbatim Report, Registrar Judicial Certified Translation and Interpretation, Registrar Judicial Process and Case Management, Registrar Appeal, Arbitration and Enforcement and Registrar Judicial Records, Archives and Publication. Act in the stead of the Chief Registrar during his/her absence from duty.    

Roles and Responsibilities

• Clearly communicate the vision of the Court with regards to legal matters and explain how the registry’s activities fit into the Court’s strategy.  Put in place mechanisms to achieve assigned tasks efficiently and effectively to the different registrars.
• Demonstrate an ability to adapt to rapid technical, political, social, and or economical change.
• Maintain constant contact with the Chief Registrar and other Directors within the court to ensure harmonization of the Registry’s work with their departments.
• Plan annual goals and objectives, work plan, activities and budget tied to the Registry’s overall plan.
• Measure and monitor goal achievement; negotiate suitable adjustments to goals and budgets.  
• Implement performance-based budgeting within the Registry.
• Organize the Registry in an efficient manner with clear reporting lines, minimal.
• Bureaucracy and   optimal delegation of responsibilities and authority.
• Set standards of work and create mechanisms to monitor staff output and ensure that standards are maintained, and deadlines met without compromising the quality of work.
• Manage the system of setting individual performance planning and standards through existing Performance Management systems.  
• Provide regular and prompt performance feedback to direct reports.
• Actively engaged in the development of staff to ensure skills are built to match plans, goals, and existing structures.
• Create a productive working atmosphere within the Directorate to encourage staff Participation, engagement, and motivation.
• Direct technical guidance on programme design or implementation in an area where he or she has high-level technical expertise.
• Represent ECOWAS in professional meetings or working groups; make speeches, negotiate agreements, mediate disputes on behalf of the President.
• Lead or participate in technical missions to develop projects and programmes.
• Provide Advise on issues relating to his or her area of technical expertise.
• Work with the relevant specialized Judicial Committee on regional Judicial matters, as needed.
• Supervise, monitor, and coordinate the legal and judicial activities of the Court.
• Plan, supervise, monitor, and coordinate the activities of the registry.
• Supervise, monitor, and coordinate the processing of all applications to the court.
• Monitor and record the processing of received applications.
• Oversee the processing of incoming and outgoing judicial correspondence and ensure that their archival and retrieval methods are in accordance with up-to-date international standards.  
• Put in place mechanisms to ensure that the public is well informed of the services of the court and how they can be accessed.
• Ensure that the turnaround time of processing of requests is within set standards.
• Ensure that all judicial records are digitalized and updated regularly.
• Ensure docket and automated case file management, control indexing and retrieval mechanisms of the court are functional and updated regularly
• Attend Court sittings and serve as secretary during court proceedings.
• Monitor the translation of all court proceedings into ECOWAS official languages.
• Ensure that all standard procedures of the court are available in the three official languages of ECOWAS.
• Coordinate the preparation of the registry’s annual work plan
• Coordinate the preparation of the registry’s annual budget.
• Perform any other official tasks as may be assigned by supervisor.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Master’s  Degree (or equivalent) in Law with a specialization in International, Administrative or Commercial law, Economic Sciences, Public or Business Administration or related fields from a university of recognized standing
• 12 years progressively responsible managerial experience in judicial institutions and bodies, experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing with experience as a lawyer in the legal office of an intergovernmental organization or government including 6 years of relevant international work experience and 5 years at a supervisory level
• Extensive knowledge of Court rules and regulations, policies, procedures, and operations of ECOWAS as well as applicable jurisprudence, and financial regulations.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills in the review of existing policies and procedures.
• Understanding of the challenges and opportunities of a coherent information strategy combined with appreciation of the technologies involved.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of the political, social, and economic environment and their impact on the implementation of ECOWAS mandate.
• Knowledge of the substantive role of ECOWAS on the rule of law in general and of ECOWAS interventions on specific areas/themes related to the rule of law.

Age Limit:

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

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Senior leadership experience in establishing strategic partnerships, working collaboratively, and building consensus with multiple internal and/or external stakeholders on complex issues in a multi-disciplinary governmental or international organization.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS mandate, strategic plan/priorities as well as the economic, political, and social state/trends of Member States, as pertains to own scope of work.
• Consistency in actions, values, methods, confidentiality, ethics, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes which connote a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Heads of Institutions, elected officials and statutory employees to facilitate compliance, build engagement, resolve conflicts, and obtain support for change.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to promote a culture where people hold themselves personally accountable for results.
• Ability to provide leadership management, and technical oversight for all project activities and program deliverables in accordance with ECOWAS legal and administrative practices and standards.
• Ability to conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with the ECOWAS performance management system and to mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Ability to oversee project management, internal controls, and stewardship of financial resources and to address issues in a confident and capable manner whilst making decisions that exemplify impartial and non-partisan decision-making.
• Ability to exercise the initiative and resourcefulness necessary for simultaneously addressing a variety of stakeholder needs, pursuing multiple tasks, and achieving positive outcomes.
• Ability to create synergies with client groups and others to achieve objectives in setting and monitoring service standards and indicators.
• Ability to motivate and engage others in promoting or adopting best practices in client services.
• Ability to identify and improve services and client interactions through appropriate networks and to create innovative ways of addressing these in an accountable and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of anti-discriminatory/human rights regulatory environment and ability to advance strategies to foster an inclusive working environment and healthy organization respectful of cultural diversity and gender equality and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, being sensitive to group differences, and gender issues and ability to contribute to, advocate for, and/or develop policies that are gender sensitive and responsive to various cultures.
• Ability to foster a diverse and inclusive interactive work environment that can effectively bring together a wide spectrum of ideas and experiences to solve problems, develop projects/programs and improve results.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to remain objective in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences /positions, and gender differences, and encourage other staff to overcome cultural and gender bias and differences.
• Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, workplace culture and dynamics.
• Ability to apply knowledge of ECOWAS legal framework, strategic priorities, and operational standards to develop/modernize policies and programs and/or to implement policies and programs in a sustainable and effective manner.
• Well-developed business, social and political acumen, demonstrating a strong commitment to the vision and mandate of ECOWAS coupled with a broad knowledge of the economic, political and social situations and trends in Member States.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills on matters relating to policy and strategy development important to the realization of the ECOWAS mandate and the improvement of outcomes for Member States.
• Ability to analyze reports as well as socio-economic and institutional dynamics and recognize areas of potential obstacles or challenges and develop innovative solutions or alternatives to address barriers and achieve strategic/operational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate and interpret the effects of environmental changes (social, economic, and political), and its impact and make recommendations.
• Ability to identify/address strengths and weaknesses, stimulate creativity, reduce resistance to change and improve the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Ability to make prudent decisions relating to the management of human, financial and material resources.
• Ability to actively listen and understand the perspectives of others to make informed assertions, decisions, or recommendations.
• Ability to build multiple external collaborative relationships to support strategic and operational objectives; identify the key issues and accommodate the key players with well-thought-out communication and stakeholder management plans.
• Ability to communicate with clarity and conviction, make compelling presentations that promote new insights, ideas and perspectives and a better understanding of issues and challenges.
• Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst team members, to show care and make them feel valued and to drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills focusing on building and nurturing effective and collaborative relationships.
• 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 prepare plans, set clear objectives in a consistent manner and have effective oversight of performance management practices to ensure that goals and standards are met.
• Ability to set effective goals/results and manage change in a manner that demonstrates resilience, composure, and a positive outlook in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Ability to enable the development of organizational and individual talent throughout the implementation of strategic, operational, programme, project, and individual plans.
• Ability to implement plans, mobilize/engage people, identify critical success factors, mitigate risks, monitor indicators and feedback, initiate corrective measures, and build capacities for sustainability.
• Ability to institute rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to learn from setbacks and mistakes to ensure continuous improvement.

Assessment method:

• Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.

ECOWAS Work Environment:

• ECOWAS provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance.

Annual Salary
UA 81,435.54 (USD 128,488.99)

Application Closing Date
24th July, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: b53deputychiefregistrarccj@ecowas.int using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Selection and appointment will be subject to background and reference checks and other administrative requirements.
• ECOWAS does not charge for any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing in connection with application or recruitment processes and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
• Individuals from minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are also highly encouraged to apply. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of ECOWAS’s workforce.
• We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore, we encourage women to apply for positions that suit their competencies.