Senior Officer Trade Facilitation Division

Senior Officer Trade Facilitation Division

ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Jakarta, Indonesia

Job Description:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 with the purpose of promoting regional cooperation in Southeast Asia, in the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region. ASEAN comprises ten (10) countries in Southeast Asia, with Timor Leste as its 11th member with an “Observer” status. It was proclaimed a Community through the “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together”, signed by the ASEAN Leaders during their 27th Summit 2015. The ASEAN Community Vision 2025 calls for the ASEAN Community in forging ahead together, and to work towards building a community that is politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible.

The ASEAN Secretariat was established in 1976 by the Foreign Minister of ASEAN with basic functions of providing greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN organs and for more effective implementation of ASEAN projects and activities. It is also envisioned to be the nerve centre of a strong and confident ASEAN Community that is globally respected for acting in full compliance with its Charter and in the best interest of its people.

In alignment with the ASEAN 2025 and Key Aspirations of the three ASEAN pillars of Political Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community, supported by the Department of Community and Corporate Affairs, the ASEAN Secretariat is inviting qualified ASEAN Nationals to apply for the position of Senior Officer Trade Facilitation Division.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to Assistant Director (ADR)/Head of Trade Facilitation Division, the Senior Officer shall be responsible to:

Provide policy support for ASEAN Member States on the implementation of the AEC 2025 Trade Facilitation Strategic Action Plan and other relevant international and ASEAN commitments

• Provide policy inputs to relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies on areas that could improve the flow of goods, including the application of digital and sustainable trade facilitation, streamlining of Non-Tariff Measures (NTM), elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), and modernisation and simplification of customs procedures.
• Provide policy inputs on the implementation of international and regional trade facilitation agreements, including, but not limited to, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.
• Provide policy reports on trade facilitation issues, such as NTMs, NTBs, digital and sustainable trade facilitation, the use of electronic platforms for trade documents and electronic commerce.
• Prepare internal policy briefs for high-level meetings.

Provide research support on trade facilitation best practices

• Assist AMSs on the implementation of the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators as a tool to monitor the progress of trade facilitation in the region and to identify trade facilitation procedures that could contribute to the reduction of trade transaction costs and increase of intra-ASEAN trade.
• Work with research partners to design, implement, and analyse studies with relevance to trade facilitation and its associated areas.
• Provide advisory opinions on trade facilitation areas, as well as serving as the resource persons on trade facilitation issues.

Coordinate and provide support for the implementation of technical assistance programmes

• Identify trade facilitation areas requiring technical assistance from Dialogue Partners.
• Provide inputs for the development of technical assistance programmes.
• Support the implementation of technical assistance programmes.
• Review the implementation of programmes and propose follow-ups in line with needs.
• Coordinate trade facilitation activities and initiatives for the implementation of ASEAN international and regional commitments.

Provide meeting support for the relevant ASEAN bodies

• Prepare and present policy papers.
• Coordinate the participation of ASEAN sectoral bodies and AMS, and the relevant external organisations.
• Prepare agenda and/or report of the meeting for adoption.
• Coordinate responses and follow-ups from the meetings of the relevant sectoral bodies.
• Coordinate the organisations of the relevant workshops or other events that relate to ASEAN trade facilitation meetings.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in International Trade, Economics, Business administration or an appropriate related field or discipline, with a minimum of three (3) years of relevant working experience; or a bachelor’s degree with at least five (5) years of relevant working experience, in policy and technical skills, in Trade Facilitation and international customs and trade procedures.
• Extensive supervisory experience, within a management position with a minimum of three years of high-level experience in a technical role.
• Demonstrated knowledge and policy, research, and technical skills in relevant areas and abilities to acquire them.
• Understanding of international and regional issues, and knowledge of and commitment to ASEAN ideals.
• High-level interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills, including experience in cross-cultural environments and international settings.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain sound working relationships with government representatives, public and private sector organisations and other stakeholders.
• Proven skills in problem-solving in a complex organisational environment and in work planning.
• Proven ability for accuracy under pressure and adherence to deadlines.
• Commitment to teamwork and collaborative work practices.
• Excellent command of English, written and spoken.
• Familiarity with econometric and statistical tools.

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