Programme Officer (PO), Accreditation and Certification at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Job Code: 20003539
Grade: P3/P4

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Principal Programme Officer Quality and Standards, the Accreditation and Conformity Assessment Officer will contribute to industrial development and growth of ECOWAS through the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities, projects and programmes relating to accreditation, certification, laboratories, and inspection in the region.

Role and Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the ECOWAS Quality Policy (ECOQUAL) and its strategy framework relating to accreditation and conformity assessment.
• Support the promotion and implementation of activities related to accreditation and conformity assessment in ECOWAS.
• Support the development of education, training and human resource development in accreditation and conformity assessment.
• Provide support towards enhancing collaboration with development partners to mobilize funding resources for the development and conduct of accreditation and conformity assessment services in the region.
• Assist in facilitating and coordinating support for accreditation of conformity assessment bodies.
• Assist in coordinating conformity assessment activities at national and regional levels.
• Support all activities related to the management and promotion of the ECOWAS Quality Certification Mark.
• Contribute to the establishment and update of an ECOWAS Industrial Database on conformity assessment bodies and services.
• Facilitate active involvement of interested stakeholders in the initiation and development of projects and programmes.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders and institutions to promote accreditation and conformity assessment at regional, continental, and international level.
• Facilitate the promotion of internationally recognized accreditation and conformity assessment services in ECOWAS Member States.
• Facilitate linkages and affiliation with African accreditation organizations and international accreditation fora.
• Support development/ implementation/ monitoring/ reporting of programmes/projects related to Accreditation and Conformity Assessment.
• Within the framework of the WACIP and ECOQUAL, support the development and formulation of technical cooperation concepts/projects/programmes related to accreditation and conformity assessment.
• Support the PPO Quality and Standards in day-to-day operational work and the management of accreditation and conformity assessment projects.
• Carry out other responsibilities that may be assigned by the Principal Programme Officer.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Accreditation, Conformity Assessment, Quality Management, Science (Physics, Chemistry & Microbiology), Engineering from a recognized University.
• Additional training with certificate/qualification in the field of Accreditation, Certification, laboratory support or inspection will be an asset.
• 5 years of professional experience in providing services related to Accreditation and Conformity Assessment.
• Experience in supporting the development and implementation of projects and programmes in the field of accreditation and conformity assessment.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions, and challenges in the field of accreditation and conformity assessment.
• Experience in establishing linkages to improve conformity assessment and accreditation services along the value chains.
• Knowledge of quality management, standardization, metrology and technical regulations and quality promotion.
• Knowledge of institutional capacity building initiatives and experience in program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Understanding of the industrial development sector as well as the challenges in the ECOWAS region.

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.

Salary
USD77,480.72 - USD89,289.87 Annually.