Trade Director – Plant Health, Plant Protection, and Plant Biosecurity

Project Description:

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Bangladesh Trade Facilitation project (BTF) will expand regional and international trade in agricultural goods by addressing systemic constraints to agricultural trade at Bangladeshi ports; simplifying and automating import and export processes; improving the capacity of government agencies, laboratories, and warehouses; and by fostering private and public investment, especially in cold storage. BTF assists Government of Bangladesh institutions in implementing science and risk-based SPS and food safety measures, standards, and regulations to facilitate the trade of food and agricultural products.

Position Summary:

The International Trade Director – Plant Health, Plant Protection, and Plant Biosecurity, will provide policy and strategy advice and support in relation to phytosanitary reforms, capacity building for Government of Bangladesh’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), introduction and coordination of a pest risk analysis framework, and implementation of a proposed ePhyto solution. The International Trade Advisor is expected to provide policy advice and support in relation to the priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture Extension and coordinate with stakeholders and with, Government of Bangladesh and donor activities and projects impacting SPS measures, plant health, and international trade. The International Trade Advisor will communicate and promote best practices and the experiences of other countries implementing strategies to support increased adherence to the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and with the WTO SPS and Trade Facilitation Agreements. The goal is to make trading with and from Bangladesh simpler, faster, and more cost-effective while strengthening the country’s systems for plant health, plant protection, and plant biosecurity. The position is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh for an anticipated one-year duration with an opportunity for extension.

Reporting & Supervision:

The International Trade Director – Plant Health, Plant Protection, and Plant Biosecurity reports to the BTF Project Director and will have supervisory responsibility.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as BTF technical expert on plant health, plant protection, phytosanitary, and plant biosecurity regulatory issues that affect agricultural development and trade domestically and internationally.
• Support and offer ideas and thought leadership concerning ISPM-32 and introduction of risk-based compliance import and export of plant and plant-based products.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with industry and government stakeholders, related trade and agriculture development projects and the donor community, including providing assistance to the public/private stakeholders with a focus on phytosanitary issues.
• Provide policy advice related to phytosanitary policy and legislation reform related to plant health and phytosanitary requirements, accessing markets for Bangladesh exports, import, transit and export of goods under phytosanitary control, development of certification, quarantine pests in area of risk assessment and management, control and supervision systems, capacity of laboratories, assistance in preparation and exercising training programs for the competent authority and stakeholders.
• Advise Bangladesh NPPO during implementation of a proposed ePhyto solution to facilitate transfer of electronic phytosanitary certificates with other country’s NPPOs, using the IPPC hub and harmonizing the structure and content of Bangladesh’s electronic phytosanitary certificate to the international standard used on ePhyto.
• Undertake other tasks on SPS issues as may be requested by the Project Director to ensure effective and efficient implementation of BTF and Venture37 activities.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• A degree in agronomy, with a master’s degree or higher focused on agriculture, pesticides, plant health, SPS or international trade.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional working experience in relevant areas, including legal issues in plant health, pesticides, biosecurity, and WTO SPS Agreement.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to strengthen risk analysis applied to the control of imports and exports of products. Practical experience working, supervising, and coordinating decision making at border points is advantageous.
• Proven understanding and practical application of ISPMs for plant protection and trade facilitation.
• Knowledge and experience with other international standard-setting bodies including World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Codex Alimentarius, and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) processes is advantageous.
• Experience in collecting, documenting, analyzing, and interpreting information and improving processes in the field of plant health.
• Experience in the implementation of management systems in government institutions with a scope in import, export, or transit operations of goods is preferred.
• Experience in training and creating profiles for risk management system administrators is desirable.