Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fill the abovementioned position in the Caribbean Community Secretariat with assigned duty station in Barbados.

The position performs programme planning, coordination, monitoring and reporting and technical and logistical operations relating to the smooth and efficient implementation of the Competitiveness Programme and related activities as well as relevant research undertaken by the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit with particular reference to the CORE Component of the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Project under the general direction of the Programme Manager, CSME.

Candidates should possess the following:

(i) A Bachelors Degree in Public Administration or Law or related relevant field in the Social Sciences plus a minimum of five years post Bachelors Degree experience in the Civil or Public Service.

(ii) Sound working knowledge and training in:

(i) Computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project 2000 or above; Internet Browsers and Electronic Mail;
(ii) Communication and writing skills;
(iii) Project Development, Appraisal and Management.

Candidates with post-graduate training in Public Administration will have an advantage.

Under the direction of the Programme Manager, CSME, the Senior Technical Officer will be required to:

(a) DRAFT the Annual Work Plan and undertake consultations with the project’s Component Managers on its relationship to the Quarterly Work Plans to facilitate/schedule the implementation arrangements of the activities included therein;

(b) IDENTIFY AND ESTABLISH the necessary protocols with the CARICOM organisations that are designated Partners under the project, that is, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat, Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), CARICOM Capacity Development Programme (CCDP), Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL), the Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC) and the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) and participate in discussions concerning technical, financing and implementation aspects;

(c) COMPILE on the basis of the Annual Work Plan, the Annual and Quarterly Budgets and consult with the Partners to ensure that their needs are fully provided for;

(d) MONITOR AND SUPERVISE the implementation and operation of the Memoranda of Understanding established between the Secretariat and each Partner Organisation in respect of their compliance with the terms and conditions and the implementation of the activities required of the Partners under the Memoranda of Understandings;

(e) PREPARE briefs and relevant information requested by the Partners and for public dissemination on issues relevant to the project;

(f) SUPPORT the maintenance of contact with and undertake follow up with National Coordinating Committees, the Project Partners and in particular Member States governmental departments which will be engaged in implementation of the measures under the project;

(g) MONITOR AND TAKE follow-up action on relevant decisions taken at meetings involving the CSME Unit, keep the Programme Manager advised on a timely basis of the status of such action and prepare progress reports for action by Executive Management and the Ministerial Councils of CARICOM;

(h) SUPERVISE the Administrative Assistant, CARICOM–CIDA Trade and Competitiveness Project in the CARICOM Region;

(i) ASSIST with planning, preparation, and servicing of relevant Meetings, including Ministerial Councils, Officials and technical bodies, the Project Partners and with the convening and servicing of such meetings which fall within the purview of the project;

(j) DRAFT, in consultation with the Partners, the National Coordinators and the Component Managers the Annual, Half yearly and Quarterly Project Reports;

Other Activities

(k) ASSIST with the refinement/updating of project design, implementation planning and monitoring procedures, arrangements and methods;

(l) ASSIST with the preparation of projects Plan of Operations, Procurement Plans and details of the project budget;

(m) PROVIDE logistical support to enable stakeholder participation;

(n) ESTABLISH, in consultation with Member States officials, project implementation infrastructure in Member States for the smooth and effective implementation of projects and related activities;

(o) MONITOR AND SUPERVISE all assigned project related research including desk and field work, conduct reviews and vet project outputs;

(p) CONVENE AND SERVICE the Project Evaluation Committee which will evaluate project outputs and results in relation to those expected/planned;

(q) CONVENE AND SERVICE Meetings of the Project Steering and Project Management Committees;

(r) TRACK activities undertaken under each project, collect and maintain records of data and information at all stages of project implementation from commissioning to termination. Post this information monthly to the designated files in the Ninth EDF Project data bank;

(s) ASSIST with the conduct of technical evaluation of projects, including:

(i) Effectiveness of project implementation arrangements
(ii) Project output delivery and results achieved
(iii) Performance of the project and its impact
(iv) Problems encountered and lessons learned
(v) Assessment of extent of benefits to beneficiaries
(vi) Identification of successor activities; and

(t) MAKE recommendations as appropriate on adjustments and changes to the project at any stage during implementation.

EMOLUMENTS AND BENEFITS

An attractive remuneration package will be offered.

6. SETTLEMENT GRANT

On assumption of duty in Barbados, the officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of self, spouse and each eligible child or dependant (up to two), provided that the total number of children and other dependants does not exceed five in all.

7. RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT

Appointment will be on contract for a specified period or on secondment from a Public Service or a statutory body of a Member State or approved regional organisation. It will be subject to such regulations, rules, orders and instructions as exist and as may be introduced from time to time in respect of service with the Secretariat.

An officer recruited from outside the assigned duty station, on first appointment, will be provided economy class air passages by the most direct route for the officer, spouse and children (provided they are below the age of eighteen years, unmarried and dependent on the officer) and for such other dependents to a maximum of two as may be approved by the Secretary-General, provided that the number of children and other dependents does not exceed five in all.

In addition to passages, the officer will be granted the following transportation allowances:

(i) ocean freight charges, including insurance, for shipping personal and household effects to Barbados, not exceeding 1250 cubic feet, plus a motor car (if the officer already owns one);

(ii) the cost of transporting baggage, personal and household effects from the home of the officer to the place of embarkation and from the port of disembarkation to the place of residence in Barbados; and

(iii) the cost of packing and crating personal and household effects.

8. LEAVE

The officer will be eligible for the grant of vacation leave at the rate of thirty-five working days a year and a leave grant after every twelve months of service in respect of the officer, spouse and up to two dependent children.

9. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

The officer will be granted the privileges and immunities as agreed by the Government of Barbados in respect of staff members of CARICOM Secretariat whose assigned duty station is in Barbados.

10. GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE

The officer will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s group health and group life and accident insurance schemes. With respect to the health scheme, the officer will contribute fifty per cent of the premium. The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory.

11. SUPERANNUATION

An officer on contract will, subject to satisfactory service, be eligible for a gratuity at the rate of twenty per cent of basic salary, computed on the basis of completed periods of three months’ service and payable at the end of the contract. Where the appointment is on secondment, the Secretariat will pay to the officer’s substantive employer, over the period of secondment, a contribution not exceeding twenty-five per cent of the pensionable salary normally payable to the officer by that employer so as to maintain the pensionable status of the officer in the substantive employment.

Applications in English Language with full curriculum details, including nationality, date of birth, work experience, educational qualifications, summary of professional skills and/or expertise, language proficiency, list of professional publications, coordinates (including e-mail addresses) of three referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), and other relevant information, should be addressed to:

Adviser, Human Resource Management
Caribbean Community Secretariat
Turkeyen
Greater Georgetown
Guyana

And sent by email to applnhrm@caricom.org

http://www.caricom.org/jsp/secretariat/vacancy_sto_competitiveness_project.jsp

http://www.caricom.org/jsp/secretariat/vacancy_sto_competitiveness_project.jsp

2008-12-22