Terms of Reference: SEE Trade Specialist

Position: Operations Officer (Trade Specialist)
Term: 1 year, with potential further 2-year extension
Location: Belgrade, Serbia or Sarajevo, BiH

Background

The overall objective of the 3-year Southeast Europe Regional Trade Logistics project is to assist countries in the Western Balkans to further reduce trade logistics constraints and harmonize border clearance through regional cooperation. The project will assist the countries in liberalizing trade in goods and further aligning rules on European Union (EU) practices linked to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) regional trade agenda. It will promote reduction of regulatory and administrative constraints related to Inter and Intra regional trade. By supporting an efficient trade regime in the Western Balkans, the project will provide opportunities for leaner supply chains that minimise trade transaction costs and increase the competitiveness of Western Balkan countries in global markets. The project will actively partner relevant organisations, such as the World Bank, European Commission, CEFTA Secretariat, Regional Co-operation Council and other prominent groups and coordinate with their on-going programs. The project will be funded by EU and will commence operations from September 2011.

Scope of Work

Trade Specialist will be part of the policy team for the Southeast Europe (SEE) Regional Trade Logistics project, including components on administrative barriers to trade, trade facilitation, border procedures, and supply chain logistics. This will involve policy analysis, development of recommendations and, in close partnerships with government clients, implementation procedural reforms. Specialist will coordinate closely with the global trade logistics product team to ensure technical quality control and global good practices are integrated into project design and implementation. Contract continuation will be based on reform achievements.

Duties and Accountabilities

  • Develop and implement work plans on one or more project components.
  • Develop recommendations and assist the government in implementing improvements to trade transaction procedures, and agreement on regional or bilateral trade regulation/ procedures, with focus on border clearance including customs, technical control agencies including standards agencies documents, procedures, air cargo, and Danube River procedures. Undertake process and policy diagnostics, developing policy recommendations key export/ intra-regional trade priority products/ sectors. Assist government clients in implementation, including drafting forms, procedures, guidelines.
  • Preparation of written inputs for reports in SEE Trade Logistics project (e.g. analysis, findings, cases, project status, and recommendations).
  • Based on location, serve as key relationship manager with country counterparts in 2-3 countries. Assist the government in implementing improvements to trade transaction procedures, and agreement on regional or bilateral trade regulation/ procedures, with focus on border clearance including customs, technical control agencies including standards agencies documents, procedures, air cargo, and Danube River procedures.
  • Collect, analyze, and summarize monitoring and evaluation data from private sector partners, trade associations, and government. Track results on Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) targets, check all calculations for accuracy. Monitor performance on Doing Business Trading Across Borders and other indicators as monitoring mechanism.
  • Develop practical and strong partnerships with CEFTA Secretariat, Regional Cooperation Council, EU Delegations, and other regional organizations to achieve agreement and implementation of reforms throughout public sector.
  • Build relationships with Supply Chain/ Trade Logistics associations and thought-leaders in the EU and Southeast Europe. Analyze and communicate relevant policy and private sector initiatives and innovations to IFC staff. Incorporate private sector policy priorities and innovations into policy recommendations.
  • Oversee a international and local consultants; including ToRs, selection, monitoring, and delivery of high quality consultant outputs of;
  • Training for regional IFC staff on Trade Logistics as agreed with Program Manager.
  • Link project activities to Global product specialists through cross-support, peer review, sharing information. In particular work closely with Investment Climate Department Trade Specialists in Vienna and Washington, DC to ensure quality advice and application of new trade logistics product innovations.
  • Undertake cross-support activities, as agreed with Regional Program Manager, with WBG projects and IFC AS projects. (Approximately 20%)

Selection Criteria

  • Advanced degree in business, economics, law, public administration or related field;
  • At least 8 years of professional experience in delivering technical advisory services to governments and/or private sector in client countries. Professional or educational background in trade logistics, public policy, or business environment advisory services. Proven project management experience.
  • Prefer three or more years of trade or supply chain experience, preferably in private sector and/ or customs, and/or trade facilitation. Prefer experience in developing or transition economies.
  • Sector experience in at least one sector, including Agribusiness, Manufacturing, or Consumer goods operations or trade.
  • Prefer experience in EU or Southeast Europe.
  • Strong analytical skills with ability to take initiative;
  • Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
  • Strong sense of diplomacy;
  • Excellent team work;
  • Excellent English written and oral communication skills. Fluency in a Southeast Europe regional language (Serbian, Montenegrin, Bosnia, Macedonian, Croatian, or Albanian) is preferred.

For corporate information and how to apply please visit www.ifc.org, Careers page. Click on Current Opportunities - Job reference # 111448.
Deadline for applications – August 22, 2011