Associate Operations Officer- Sarajevo

Location:	Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Closing Date:	03/01/2012
Background / General description:
This position is split between Bosnia and Herzegovina IC Project and SEE Regional Tax Program. The 3-year Bosnia and Herzegovina Investment Climate (IC) project will work with government counterparts and the private sector to implement reforms in (1) business regulations; (2) investment policy, and (3) agribusiness on all levels of Governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Majority of project activities will focus on sub national Regulatory Reform, coupled with sector specific regulatory and investment policy intervention, aimed at increasing competitiveness of the country. SEE Regional Tax Program will work with countries in the region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, & Albania) on simplification and improvement of tax administration, in particular bilateral tax treaties, transfer pricing, and tax process simplification. The Program is expected to start in Spring 2012 with bilateral donor funding. Note: If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Duties and Accountabilities The Associate Operations Officer will be part of the (Europe and Central Asia) ECA IC team and will help to deliver the SEE Regional Tax program and BiH Investment Climate Project. The Associate Operations Officer will be responsible and accountable for business regulation work at entity and national level under BiH Investment Climate project operations, implementation, and results, as well as to assist in project concept, design, preparation and implementation of SEE Regional Tax Program. Approximately 50% of time will support BiH IC Project, and 50% SEE Regional tax Program. Bosnia and Herzegovina IC Project • Supervise day to day project implementation of business regulation reform on entities’ and national level; • Ensure the technical delivery of high-quality technical assistance in business regulations to entities and national level clients; • Oversee work of consultants (time, technical inputs, etc) that are hired under the project to assist with the implementation of business regulation’s work on entity and national level; • Provide day-to-day guidance to the consultants in the project implementation on technical matters; ensure the transfer of technical skills through trainings, one-on-one coaching, etc • Prepare and conduct focus groups with business community and stakeholders to receive proposals for the improvements of procedures implemented on entity and national level; • Conduct integrity due diligence on potential public institutions and officials considered for project; • Coordinate with ECA M&E team the monitoring of the project results on business regulation’s work on entity and national level to ensure quality and development impact; • Manage day-to-day technical level client relationship with designated counterparts from national and entity level; • Prepare draft procurement and contracting documents for management’s review and enter them in the system for management approval; • Prepare draft Cooperation Agreements for Client localities; • Assist with negotiation of Clients’ financial contribution; • Assist in knowledge-transfer and documenting of project work through publications, reports, lessons. SEE Regional Tax Program • Monitor day to day project implementation of the project activities in BiH with all respective institutions; • Manage day-to-day technical level client relationship with designated counterparts; • Assist with negotiation of Clients’ financial contribution for the project • Develop tailored advice on tax policies to selected BiH authorities covering respective areas in direct taxation; assisting BiH authorities to establish relevant working bodies and structures in the areas of transfer pricing and bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements; • Conduct within BiH and regionally a detailed analysis of current tax procedures and in collaboration with Project manager and Global and Regional Product Team propose changes in order to ensure that development impact and cost-benefit objectives are possible to meet, especially focusing on operational, financial and reputational risk; • Supervise local consultants that are hired under the project; • Report regularly on progress, BiH tax work plan, and risks/ issues; • Disseminate tax administration-related documentation, research and data to respective authorities in BiH and the region where project has active components; disseminate documents and information on best practices enabling knowledge /expertise sharing; • Coordinate with ECA M&E team the monitoring of project results in the region to ensure quality and track development impact; • Participate in regional technical missions, assessing and contributing to the development of tailored advice on tax policies throughout the region; • Coordinate with IMF and other donor-funded projects working on Tax Administration in BiH; • Assist in preparing reports for clients and donor reporting; • Prepare integrity due diligence on potential public institutions and officials considered for project expansion; • Reviews and processes operational documents, coordinating across disciplines and project components with other team members.
Selection Criteria:
Selection Criteria • Advanced degree in business, finance, economics, law, international relations, or related field. • At least 5 years of relevant work experience in the areas of business environment and regulatory reform, and/or tax administration and policy; • Experience in working with Government in public administration/ public policy/ local governments/ particularly as relates to private sector development and tax policy; • Knowledge of Government institutions and practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Experience in working with Governments in the region preferred; • Understanding of economic factors in public decision making and policy formation, cost/benefit analysis and applications and implementation of public policy; • Demonstrated research and writing skills. • Strong analytical skills with ability to take initiative; • Knowledge of IFC functioning and operations is preferred; • Capacity to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders within and outside the IFC, with a strong client orientation; • Ability to travel extensively within the SEE region; • Good interpersonal communication, strong written and oral communication skills in English and Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian is required. Fluency in other SEE languages preferred. The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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