Program Manager - Trade Logistics- Panama City, Panama

Job #:	130544
Title:	Program Manager - Trade Logistics
Job Stream:	Technical Assistance & Advisory Services
Location:	Panama City, Panama
Closing Date:	03/24/2013
Background / General description:
The International Finance Corporation has established the IFC Advisory Services Office in Latin America and the Caribbean as an advisory services program in selected Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. The core objective is to promote private sector development and hence contribute to poverty reduction in LAC. To achieve this objective most effectively, the IFC Advisory Services in LAC has identified four areas or pillars, on which to center its technical assistance: (i) Improving the Investment Climate (IC), (ii) Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA), (iii) Broadening Access to Finance (A2F), and, (iv) Public Private Partnerships (C3P). Trade Logistics has been identified as a core thematic area for the Investment Climate agenda that has direct implications for competitiveness and productivity of developing countries. The Trade Logistics product focuses on helping developing economies in improving performance indicators such as time and cost to import and export through targeted technical assistance on facilitating cross-border trade, including simplifying and harmonizing trade procedures, such as documentation, customs, and inspections performance, and improving relevant policies and regulations and their enforcement. The LAC region has identified Trade Logistics as one of the priority themes for implementation in the next few years. Projects are already successfully being implemented in Colombia and Honduras with demonstrable results. Trade Logistics projects are being developed in the Caribbean, Peru, and Central America. IC LAC is now seeking to recruit a Program Manager, to be based in Panama, to support the Investment Climate team in generating, implementing, managing, and monitoring a portfolio of advisory projects in the area of Trade Logistics throughout the region. The Program Manager will have a primary reporting line to the IC LAC Regional Business Line Manager, a secondary reporting line to the Trade Logistics Global Product Leader, as well as work closely with other team members in the LAC region. This is an international hire, term appointment, with an initial duration of two years, subject to renewal based on performance. Significant amounts of travel within the region and globally will be required to meet the objectives of the assignment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The Program Manager for Trade Logistics in LAC will play a key role in the design and implementation of the strategy and the roll out of the Trade Logistics Program in LAC. More specifically, the selected candidate will have the following duties and accountabilities: 1) Implementation of Trade Logistics projects in the LAC region. • Lead the implementation of Trade Logistics projects. Tasks include, but are not limited to, management of project teams, supervision of consultants, liaison with client and donor partners, and coordination of technical inputs in project implementation. • Oversee project design for all Trade Logistics projects in LAC, to ensure that results frameworks and indicators are appropriate, that progress is being made against agreed results, and taking corrective action when necessary. • Monitor and evaluate performance using IFC’s monitoring and evaluation framework, working with M&W specialists and team staff. • Lead the dialogue with the authorities on Trade Logistics issues in LAC. • Help identify and manage consultant teams delivering technical assistance to IFC clients, ensuring timely delivery of results according to terms of reference. • Internally process technical assistance projects, including drafting of reports, client proposals, internal approval documentation, consultants’ terms of reference and legal documents. • Actively involve the Trade Logistics Global Product team in the scoping, design, and implementation of the program. 2) Project Development • Provide leadership in the design and implementation of a Trade Logistics strategy for LAC countries. She/he will be responsible for conceptualizing key issues, developing and maintaining a dynamic portfolio. • Scope the demand for technical assistance on Trade Logistics. • Identify and manage potential partnerships with clients, stakeholders, and donors for new projects, including reporting, relationships and communication. Support fundraising efforts and donor relations for the Trade Logistics program in LAC. • Negotiate and agree project details with clients. 3) Expert Advice and Knowledge Sharing • Lead and mentor a team of Trade Logistics specialists in the region, as required to implement the regional program. • Directly incorporate or provide guidance to other project managers to ensure that international good practices are included in the design of Trade Logistics activities in LAC. Provide expert advice to project managers and teams working on Trade Logistics in LAC. • Act as a member of the global trade logistics team, participating in knowledge sharing and helping identify regional good practices. 4) Support to Regional Business Line Manager • Provide support to the Investment Climate Regional Business Line Manager as needed in organizational and conceptual tasks.
Selection Criteria:
• Masters Degree or Ph.D. in economics, public policy or related specialty, with special emphasis/training in trade policy or operations, international logistics, or related field that is directly relevant to trade logistics. • Very good knowledge of technical trade issues, particularly trade facilitation, non-tariff measures and other behind the border issues. • A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in policy analysis, administration, as well as implementation of trade facilitation, with the aim of reducing logistics costs and encouraging investment. The experience has to be in solution design, rather than pure diagnostics. • A minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in project management, operations and/ or in consulting firms or multilaterals providing technical assistance to governments and private organizations. Solid business judgment and hands-on experience in areas related to Trade Logistics consulting experience is a plus. • Demonstrated extensive knowledge of aspects of Trade Logistics, especially on legal/regulatory issues. Demonstrated knowledge of international best practice and global trends in Trade Logistics or related areas. • Proven experience in project management, design, preparation, implementation and monitoring (project cycle) of Technical Assistance projects. Proven ability and experience in report writing, project proposal preparation and analysis. • Ability to develop relationships and partnerships with various technical and financial market players. • Demonstrated maturity, experience and personal characteristics needed to interact with senior government officials and business executives. Experience in being part of multilateral organizations’ technical assistance missions would be a plus. • Prior work experience in emerging markets. • Initiative, leadership and people management skills. • Prior experience working in Latin America. • Professional maturity and problem solving skills. • Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Spanish essential; knowledge of basic Portuguese and or French would be an asset. • Proven ability to effectively plan, direct, organize, and administer diverse activities to ensure effective delivery. Ability to deal flexibly with multiple, changing demands. • Strong interpersonal and team management and team work skills and ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and in a multi-disciplinary team environment. • Knowledge of Donor Funded Operations and/or WBG policies an added advantage • Experience in consulting and administrative procurement oversight and control • Willingness to live in Panama and travel across the region and overseas. As a representative of the World Bank Group, all professional activities are expected to be consistent with our Core Values: personal honesty, integrity, commitment, working together in teams -with openness and trust; empowering others and respectinrespecting differences; encouraging risk-taking and responsibility; enjoying our work and our families. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Cover letter should clearly describe the relevant results the candidate has delivered in prior positions, rather than simply listing responsibilities. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The contract for this position has an initial duration of 3 years (renewable), with a one-year probation period and subject to be renewed. This is an international hire. The appointee will be stationed in Panama City, Panama