Kenya Ministry of Transport Vacancy

Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS) Secretariat, Mombasa, Kenya

A) Secretary General (Chief Executive Officer of the Organization)

The Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (ISCOS) was established in 1967 by the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia to take care of their maritime interests in the region.

A permanent secretariat was established in 1974 and has since been headquartered in Mombasa, Kenya.

Since its inception, ISCOS has been at the fore front of representing the interests of Governments and Shippers in the region especially in mitigation of challenges in ports, unfavourable transport costs and other surcharges, research, and the provision of timely advice to Member states on maritime matters affecting the region.

In 2006, Member Governments through a protocol amending the 1987 Agreement transformed ISCOS into an institution capable of serving the region and the International community, as a one stop center of excellence for regional maritime matters and total logistics.

The organization’s mandate was expanded, among others, to matters affecting inland water ways and ports, as well as the private sector, and its possible membership was opened to the states of East and Central Africa.

ISCOS is a main point of reference for maritime and sea transportation matters affecting the region and continues to be the main interface between the region’s cargo owners and the greater shipping world. The Organization is mainly Government funded, and employs its staff from all ISCOS member states.

Applicants are invited from suitably qualified Kenyan, Ugandan and Zambian nationals to fill the Post of Secretary General. The Secretary General is the Chief Executive Officer of the Organization.

The particulars of the position are as follows:

Position: Secretary General

Appointed by: The Assembly

Reporting to: The Assembly

Job Group: P.7

Terms of appointment: 5 year renewable once

Qualifications:

• He/She should be a holder of a university degree in law, Engineering, Transport Economics, Maritime Transport Studies or any other related fields. Post graduate qualification in any of the aforementioned fields or any other related maritime transport will be an added advantage:-
• Be a mature and respectable professional with profound skills in financial, port and shipping management.
• Have ability to take leadership of a professional team and to promote the corresponding team spirit in all aspects of result oriented work.
• Posses an aptitude for interpersonal communication within the team and the clientele including respectable art of negotiation.
• Have excellent communication skills and public relations.
• Have knowledge and competence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
• Be fluent in English.

Experience:

• Applicants should posses a minimum of 10 years practical management experience at a senior level in a reputable Organization.
• Experience in networking with senior officials in Government, Private Sector and Regional Organizations.
• Experience in Shipping and Port Management will be an added advantage

Duties:

The Secretary General is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization and shall represent the organization in the exercise of its legal personality.

He/She shall be responsible among others for:

• Acting as Secretary to the Assembly and the Co-ordination Committee;
• Submitting reports in consultation with the Technical Committees on the activities of the organization to the Co-ordination Committee and the Assembly;
• In charge of the overall administration and finances of the organization, subject to the provisions of the Agreement;
• Submitting the budget of the organization, to the co-ordination Committee through the Technical Committee on Finance, Administration and Resource Mobilization;
• Ensuring that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained and shall either on his own initiate or on the basis of a complaint, investigate a presumed breach of the provisions of the Agreement and report to the Committee in accordance with an investigative procedure to be determined by the committee;
• Keeping the functioning of the organization under continuous assessment and may act in relation to any particular matter which appear to merit assessment either on his/her own initiative or upon the request of contracting parties where appropriate and report the result of his assessment to the contracting parties or the organs of the organization;
• Appointing/dismissing of junior staff; in accordance with staff service regulations;
• Developing a linkage between the organization, the Governments, maritime stakeholders and the general public on the affairs of the organization; and
• Performing any other functions as contained in the Agreement or as the Assembly may determine, subject to the provisions of the Agreement.

Salary and benefits:

Basic salary of US $ 39,360 X 1,800 - 46,560 per annum

Housing Allowance of US $ 1,500.00 per annum

Spouse allowance: US $ 263 per annum

Airtime Allowance: US $ 200 per annum

Other benefits include: A medical Insurance cover for self and family, Gratuity on separation, at 25% of basic salary earned, a car for official duties, domestic support services, limited education allowance, 36 working days of leave per year, and paid home leave.

Director of Shipping, Ports, and Freight Services

Appointed by: The Coordination Committee

Reporting to: The Secretary General

Job Group: P.5

Terms of appointment: 3 year contract renewable twice.

Qualifications:

• He/She should be a holder of a university degree in law, Economics, Statistics, Maritime Transport Studies or any other related fields. Post graduate qualifications in any of the aforementioned fields will be added advantage.
• Extensive knowledge of Operations Research,
• Knowledge of ICT is essential
• Being a member of an international body or contributing to an international journal will be an added advantage.
  

Experience:

• Applicants should posses at least 5 years practical experience at a senior level in a reputable transport related organisation,
• Wide knowledge in the application of a wide variety of computer packages,
• Experience in port operations or shipping management will be an added advantage.

Duties:

• Promoting and coordinating the development and growth of a viable and efficient regional and coastal shipping industry;
• Promoting effective partnerships between governments and private sector in investment and management of deep sea shipping, coastal shipping, multimodal transport, river and lake shipping services;
• Undertaking feasibility studies/investments appraisals on maritime/shipping related projects for financial assistance by development partners, etc
• Coordinating the development and growth of a viable regional maritime services
• Monitoring port performance, freight charges and surcharges and other levies on the trade,
• Assisting shippers, commodity organisations and other shipper interest in freight consultations/negotiations and lobbying for favourable policies and regulations on the movement of goods by sea,
• Providing technical support to technical committees,
• Supervising staff under the directorate in accordance with staff regulations.
• Performing any other functions that may be assigned to him/her by the Secretary General.

Age-limit: The applicant should not be more than 54 years of age.

Salary and Benefits

In addition to a very attractive salary, the successful candidate shall enjoy several benefits which include Housing allowance, Spouse allowance, Airtime allowance, and Gratuity on separation equivalent to 25% of salary earned per month.

Other benefits include a medical Insurance cover for self and family, limited education allowance, 36 working days of leave per year, and paid home leave.

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, can submit their applications, CVs, copies of their relevant certificates and testimonials with names and addresses of three referees, and a day telephone contact to:

The Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Transport
P.O. Box 52692
Nairobi

To reach him not later than February, 29th 2012

No applications shall be received by ISCOS Secretariat