Resident Customs Administration Advisor, Based in Guatemala City, Guatemala

The Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to recruit a resident customs administration advisor to be based at the Central America, Panama and Dominican Republic Technical Assistance Center (CAPTAC-DR) located in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The Advisor's appointment term would be for a period of one year, on a renewable basis, subject to satisfactory performance. CAPTAC-DR covers seven countries in the region, namely: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

The Advisor will assist CAPTAC-DR member countries in the development and implementation of customs administration reforms. The Advisor's primary responsibilities will be to: (1) support the center coordinator and steering committee in developing, implementing and monitoring the CAPTAC-DR work plan; (2) consult with customs authorities of member countries, including provision of direct technical assistance as needed; (3) help member countries develop customs administration reform strategies designed in close coordination between these countries and FAD; (4) provide backstopping support to short term customs administration experts recruited to deliver technical assistance to CAPTAC-DR member countries; (5) manage the development and delivery of customs administration capacity building events such as regional workshops and seminars; and (6) coordinate with other technical assistance providers active in the CAPTAC-DR member countries, and their experts.

In addition, the Advisor will assist with the organization of the periodic meetings of the regional Working Groups on customs issues. The Advisor will work under the general direction of the Coordinator of CAPTAC-DR but, on substantive issues, will report to FAD staff in Washington D.C. Extensive travel within the CAPTAC-DR region should be expected.

Qualifications

The technical skills and qualifications required for this position include a high level of knowledge and experience in the field of customs administration in the following areas:

• The legislative and regulatory environment for customs administration;
• Organization, strategic planning and management of customs administration agencies;
• The use of information technology to support effective and efficient customs administration operations and management;
• The whole range of customs administration technical procedures and controls;
• Policies and activities in the fields of customs administration audit, compliance, and enforcement;
• International best practices in customs administration; and
• Knowledge of WTO/WCO standards and regulatory issues and operational and regulatory issues concerning the establishment and operation of customs unions, as well as best practices in trade facilitation.

Applicants should have extensive practical experience in the above areas with at least 10 years of work experience and more than five years in a senior position within a customs administration, government agency, or international organization. Preference will be given to applicants who have an all round experience in managing customs operations; who have participated in customs administration reform programs; who have experience in managing/overseeing technical assistance work and coordinating with other donors and technical assistance providers; who have knowledge of customs issues in a regional context; and who are aware of the issues and challenges facing customs administration reform in the CAPTAC-DR region. Previous experience of capacity building in customs administration (such as participating in customs administration technical assistance activities and organizing and conducting training courses and workshops) would be an advantage, as well as flexibility and adaptability in a range of customs administration issues.

General requirements for candidates include:

• A university degree or equivalent qualification relevant to professional work;
• Strong oral and written communication skills particularly with high proficiency in spoken and written Spanish, and working knowledge of English;
• Familiarity with modern computer systems and applications software;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work as part of a team, to maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities as well as donors, and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment; and
• Willingness to undertake significant travel within the region.

Qualified applicants who are not selected for this position may be considered for short-term technical assistance assignments.

Resident Customs Administration Advisor, Based in Guatemala City, Guatemala