Program Officer (PO), Port Development Officer at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Role Overview

• The Program Officer (PO), Port Development Officer, under the direct supervision of the Program Officer, Maritime Transport, will work on port and maritime issues, regulations and policies.

Role and Responsibilities

• Review and assist in the development of policies on Maritime and Inland Water transport with the view of improving efficiency of Regional Ports and maritime resources.
• Provide Technical support to the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Port Master Plan including the establishment of regional cabotage regulations.
• Assist in the preparation the contribution of ECOWAS to key ports infrastructure and logistics development for a while sensitizing ECOWAS Member States, Partners, Regional, Continental, and Multilateral partners on maritime transport and logistics in the West African Region.
• Monitor the implementation of policy decisions of ECOWAS Authorities on Ports, logistics and inland water transportation and related matters.
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of regional strategies for Port operations and inland water ways in the region in collaboration with ECOWAS member states.
• Support Member States to provide and maintain efficient modern Sea Ports.
• Coordinate the implementation of international standards in West African Ports
• Coordinate Member State effort in implementing IMO’s Conventions of safety at Sea and the ISPS Code.
• Develop projects to support national Port development programs.
• Coordinate donor involvement in the Maritime and Ports Sectors
• Follow up with development partners on funding and development of the Maritime and Inland Water sector.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Holds at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Ports Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Port or Maritime Engineering, Transportation Planning, port operations, multimodal transport, Transport Economics, or related discipline.
• Three (3) years relevant experience in Port Management, Port Administration, Logistics with corridor related transport facilitation or related areas
• Possesses cognate work experience in policy analysis, formulation and implementation of programs and projects port and maritime transportation and logistics.
• Experience in a regional, international organization as well as membership in professional associations is an advantage.
• Ability to prepare project proposals to for development partners.
• Ability to prepare Terms of Reference for studies, to be carried and for consultants to be recruited in Maritime Transport Policy.

Age Limit:

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a certain point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and/or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to the timeline, quality, and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs, mitigates issues and that carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and ability to relate well with People from varied backgrounds, nationality, gender, ethnicity, race and religion.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns and apply judgement, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture, structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position.
• Ability to study data/information from a variety of sources, identify anomalies, trends and issues, present findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals.
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions and/or internal committees.
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means,
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals.
• identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to co-ordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.