Chemonics: Career opportunities at Chemonics

Chemonics: Career opportunities at Chemonics

• 18.07.2012

Name of position: Trade Facilitator Advisor
Period of Performance: June 2012 – June 2016
Employee Supervisor: USAID/BRITE Chief of Party
Responsibilities: The Trade Facilitator Advisor goal is to reduce the time and cost to move goods in and out of the country and increase their volume. To do so, s/he shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Support the Trade Working Group (TWG) in finalizing the new Customs Code in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including efforts to include the Revised Kyoto requirement on trade collaboration in the new law.
2. Provide assistance to the MoF to improve their ability to monitor and manage performance of customs.
3. Conduct a transit facilitation study that will identify interventions to increase the efficiency along the transit corridors.
4. Work to build upon and increase the impact of a number of customs reforms such as:
a. One-Stop Border Posts. The Trade Facilitator Advisor with work to organize and conduct a needs assessment to determine what can be done to create fully functional one-stop border posts and assist in their implementation. In addition, assess the possibility of the creation of a digital revenue data exchange service that will feed information to regional and a centralized data system.
5. Conduct trainings in response to requests by customs authorities on relevant topics to deepen implementation of regional integration initiatives, such as electronic transfer of customs data, risk management, control and release, and post-audit capability.
6. Provide technical assistance and training for border posts resulting in an electronic advance clearance system leading to reduced clearance times. Work closely with customs authorities to develop a risk management reform program for large-volume importers and exporters with the objective of reducing transit clearance.
7. Organize regional training of trainers on customs procedures conducted for representatives of select regional and national private sector associations.
8. Support efforts to strategically locate improved weight stations along targeted corridors (efforts in this area will not include direct construction of infrastructure). Support activities that result in accreditation by a recognized regional body of freight forwarding companies and truck operators.
9. Work with the communications director and specialist and the TWG to design communications campaigns to reach a number of private-sector transit stakeholders.
10. Orchestrate regional forums for directors of the target customs administrations to put together a comprehensive customs connectivity plan.
11. Educate stakeholders, solicit their views, and support the reform of the common transit license.
12. Other duties as required.

Qualifications for the Trade Facilitator Advisor include:

• At least a Master’s degree or the equivalent in economics, business, operational research or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in country.
• Experience in transport planning, policy and customs reform - demonstrated ability to implement reforms in a developing country context.
• Working familiarity with international customs conventions and ability to initiate their adoption and enforcement in the region.
• Experience in developing public-private partnerships in the customs sector.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with institutional and private sector partners and stakeholders in a multi-country setting.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement efficient and effective communication and information sharing frameworks with stakeholders.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to utilize GIS-based applications for transit planning and development preferred.
• Excellent English, Russian, and Romanian skills required.

Chemonics International

Chemonics International is an international development consulting firm that designs and implements projects in private sector development, democracy and governance, financial services, health, environmental management, conflict and disaster management, and agriculture. Chemonics is implementing three projects in the Republic of Moldova on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Competitiveness Enhancement and Enterprise Development II (CEED II) project (December 2010-December 2014) helps enterprises in targeted industries – apparel, fashion accessories, home furnishings, information technology, tourism, and wine industries – to increase sales and investment. The Local Government Support Project (LGSP, February 2012-February 2016) strengthens the capacity of local public authorities. And the Business Regulatory, Investment, and Trade Environment (BRITE) project (June 2012-June 2016) improves the business enabling environment by achieving specific and measurable reforms in the areas of greatest concern to the business community and by building capacity of public officials, the business community, and other stakeholders to implement reform initiatives.