Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Job Description
Purpose of the job
Facilitate and coordinate the development, implementation and M&E of standards and quality policies, strategies and programmes aimed at achieving a globally competitive, productive and high quality sectors that will contribute to sustainable socio-economic development, alleviation of poverty and improvement of the standard and quality of life throughout the SADC Region.
Manage the efforts and performance of the team falling under the responsibility of the Senior Programme Officer.
Policy Development and Harmonisation
- Commission and coordinate research/studies to identify strategy, policy and regulatory gaps in technical standards, regulations and quality infrastructure across Member States
- Coordinate the development, strengthening and harmonisation of the technical standards, regulations and quality infrastructure
- Coordinate the approval and adoption of the technical standards and regulations by the SADC Structures
- Facilitate the implementation of the technical standards and regulations by Member States
- Coordinate the development, review and monitoring of the implementation/ domestication of the TBT and SPS Annexes of the SADC Protocol on Trade
Research and Information Dissemination
- Supervise data collection relevant to technical standards, regulations and quality infrastructure in the region, using primary and secondary research techniques
- Identify research priority areas, commission research on these areas, and use the findings to feed into the planning process
- Coordinate the development and maintenance of a database / observatory on this specific focal area
- Supervise publication of research/data and dissemination on the SADC website, through media or through reports to SADC Institutions
Strategic Planning and Programming
- Identify key areas of interventions needed and develop specific interventions to assist better implementation in Member States
- Coordinate the development of long-term, medium and short strategic plans aligned to the RISDP
- Facilitate the adoption of the Strategic Plans by various policy structures
- Undertake periodic reviews of the strategic plans
- Prepare annual Business Plan for the sector
- Facilitate the development and strengthening of regional projects/ programmes for the development of infrastructures for quality and productivity in the SADC region
- Solicit funding for programme and project implementation
Programme Implementation
Facilitate implementation of regional SQAM programmes/projects linked to the SPS and TBT Annexes of the SADC Protocol on Trade
Facilitate capacity building in Member States:
- Capacity building of Accreditation Experts on accreditation standards
- Implementation of capacity building and training programmes in Technical and managerial skills of standards and quality officials
- Exchange of professional and technical information and transfer of expertise among Member States
- Work with the SQAM personnel and trade officials in Member States to help them identify needs in WTO-technical barriers to Trade Agreement implementation, and advise them on how to address these effectively
- Promote and strengthen cooperation and collaboration with other SADC sectors and international organisations dealing in matters or having shared interest on SQAM and Technical barriers to Trade (TBT) issues
- Identify issues from international bodies (ISO, ILAC etc.) plenary meetings
- Arrange consultative workshops/seminars on new issues as necessary
- Follow up on regional and international issues affecting SQAM programme and TBT Agreement
- Coordinate activities aimed at developing and negotiating a SADC Technical Regulation Framework
- Provide SPS/TBT related support towards the implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap
- Follow up on regional and international issues and developments affecting the implementation of the SQAM programme and the TBT Agreement
- Manage project staff and consultancies
- Develop and agree on indicators, systems and criteria for monitoring, and use these to monitor the implementation by the Member States
- Monitor implementation of the SQAM programme and the TBT Agreement, and evaluate their impact
- Prepare reports, documents and annotated agenda for submission to various policy structures of SADC
- Contribute to the development of the SADC Annual Report
- Share programme impact and lessons
- Identify and build relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. development agencies, policy, and research organisations) that are critical to delivering the unit’s objectives and programme
- Liaise with other directorates to ensure mainstreaming of cross cutting issues (e.g. Gender, HIV/AIDS, Poverty, ICT, STI etc.) into own programmes
- Ensure joint / synergised planning and programming for programmes that have cross-cutting implications / linkages with other programme units in the Secretariat
Servicing of SADC Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Accreditation & Metrology Expert Group (SQAMEG) meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars
- Draft technical papers for discussion, dissemination and publication
- Liaise with Conference Services unit to (a) organise the logistics for the meetings and workshops, and (b) process / produce the necessary meeting and conference documents and presentations
- Facilitate technical committees, meetings and workshops as required
- Prepare records of the technical and policy meetings including communiqué for policy meetings
Representation and Promotion of SADC programme
- Participate in relevant and strategic regional, continental and international meetings; promote and present the SADC’s Agenda for SQAM in these forums
- Work closely with Communication and PR Unit to promote the programme portfolio, pipeline, specific projects and programme impact
Management of the Unit
- Develop, update and implement processes, systems and procedures for the effective delivery of the unit’s objectives
- Participate in the formulation of the Organisational Strategy
- Develop short- and long-term plans and budgets for the unit, monitor progress, assure adherence and evaluate performance on a regular basis
- Manage the delegated budget to ensure optimal use
- Achieve the unit’s mission, goals and objectives, and report progress to the Director and DES-RI
- Manage unit staff, which includes work allocation, training, promotion, enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluate performance and make recommendations for staff actions; motivate staff to achieve peak productivity and performance
- Assist the Audit teams in their review of this function, and implement audit recommendations as and when they are made
- Research and adopt best practices in own specialised area of work, and maintain high level of knowledge in order to effectively undertake the duties of the post
- Perform any other functions as may be assigned by the Director/DES-RI
Education
- At least a Masters in Natural Sciences or related technical field from a recognised institution
Professional Certification
Certification in TBT / SPS
Specialised knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of integrated programme planning, budgeting, development, administration and monitoring in SQAM
- Knowledge of SPS and TBT
- Knowledge of trade and trade related issues
- Proficient in the use of computers and computer software relevant to the position
Experience
- At least 10-15 years’ experience in SQAM related areas within a public sector or a regional organization
- Minimum of 4 years in a line management position
Skills Requirements
- Communication and presentation skills
- Conflict management skills
- Decision-making skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership skills
- Mentoring and coaching skills
- Negotiation, persuasion, advocacy, networking and relationship building skills
- Organisational skills (planning, budgeting, work prioritisation, time management)
- Research, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Team building skills
Competency Requirements
- Apply interpersonal styles/methods to develop, motivate and empower individuals toward achievement of goals
- Capable of maintaining quality whilst working under pressure and adhering to deadlines
- Capacity to motivate and influence people positively, and create a climate where people want to do their best
- Conceptual and practical thinking
- Customer focused
- Decisive
- Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas in an international or multi-cultural environment
- Organisational awareness with an understanding of how to engage the organisation to get things done
- Maintain confidentiality and is respectful of sensitive situations
- Methodical and organised, and able to look at the big picture without losing the attention to details
- Politically savvy i.e. identify internal and external politics that impact the Secretariat’s work, and act accordingly
- Professionalism and adherence to good work ethics
- Question conventional approaches and encourage new ideas and innovations for progress
- Resilience and personal drive, self-motivation
- Results and performance driven
- Visionary, thinks and acts strategically
Tenure of appointment
The term of appointment of the Director, Industrial Development and Trade shall be for a fixed period of four (4) years, renewable once for another period of four (4) years. While appointments for positions (2–19) will be on a fixed-term contract for four (4) years, renewable twice for an equal period, subject to:
- satisfactory completion of 6 months’ probation;
- satisfactory performance;
- retirement age limit of 60 years; and
- the continued need for the position.
Eligibility
The positions are open to qualified applicants who:
- Are 52 years old or younger. This requirement is based on the Organization’s need to recruit staff who can serve for a reasonable period of time before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
- Are from the following eligible Member States: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Applications should be accompanied by the following:
- a cover letter stating the position that you want to be considered for and describing how your qualifications, experience, and competencies are relevant to the position;
- not more than five (5) pages of updated curriculum vitae;
- certified copies of your degree(s), Diploma(s) and Certificate(s); and
- duly signed and completed SADC Application Form.
Should you be shortlisted, you will be required to produce evidence of educational and professional qualifications supporting your application, on the day of your interview.
Gender Mainstreaming
SADC is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from female candidates.
If you are results orientated, you have a passion for the transformation and development of Southern Africa and possess the required competencies, please submit your application.
Only applicants who meet the requirements of the SADC Secretariat and being considered for an interview, will be contacted. Should you not hear from the SADC Secretariat within two months after the closing date, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.