Reference: 120200381
Location: London, UK
Duration: 6 Months - Maternity cover
Closing Date: 2 Mar 2012
General information
The Special Advisory Services Division (SASD) is a major development co-operation instrument of the Commonwealth Secretariat, supporting the development efforts of member countries through technical assistance. A significant part of the Division’s work is of a consultancy and advisory nature, delivered through a combination of in-house and external expertise. The Division has four sections: the Debt Management Section, the Economic and Legal Section, the Enterprise and Agriculture Section and the Trade Section.
SASD's Trade Section provides technical assistance to improve the export competitiveness of member countries through capacity building in trade promotion and facilitation, often in collaboration with other international agencies. In delivering assistance, the section focuses on front-end activities such as export and sectoral strategy development, and on market development broadly defined. It also assists member countries in complying with international rules and standards.
Job summary
The Adviser assists, within the given framework, in the design, development and management of technical assistance projects, focusing on one or more of the following areas: export and sectoral strategy development; market development and trade facilitation. The officer will provide consultancy services to member states and advise the Secretariat divisions in the above areas, besides managing a portfolio of projects.
Task description
The post-holder:
- Provides in-house consultancy service to member governments, and advice to other Secretariat divisions, on trade-related technical assistance;
- Prepares preliminary concept papers and project assessments. Implements and manages a portfolio of approved trade-related technical assistance projects under SASD’s agreed programmes and priorities within the given guidelines;
- Assists in selection of external experts and consulting firms for providing identified inputs on technical assistance projects, and monitors and evaluates the work of such experts and consulting firms;
- Analyses, vets and edits technical reports on projects prior to their finalisation and prepares project completion reports, and prepares briefs relating to the work of the Section;
- Collaborates with international organizations in developing joint trade development programmes for Commonwealth member countries;
- Represents the Section and organisation at internal and external meetings/conferences/seminars/ workshops as and when required;
- Performs any other duties as may be required from time to time.
Personal specification
Education:
- Essential: First degree in Economics, Engineering or Finance
- Desirable: An MBA or professional qualification in marketing would be an advantage, as would be post graduate qualification in either international trade or transport and logistics.
Experience:
- Essential: At least seven years experience in one or more of the areas of export and sectoral strategy development; market development; and trade facilitation, acquired partly in developing countries. Experience in appraising and managing technical assistance projects.
- Desirable: Experience in dealing with governments at a senior level and of working within an international milieu.
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