Program Officer (PO), Road Infrastructure Development at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer (PO), Road Infrastructure Development

Job Code: 20002334
Location: Abuja
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P3/P4
Status: Permanent
Department: Infrastructure, Energy & digitalization
Directorate: Transport
Division: Roads & Railways
Line Supervisor: PPO Roads & Railways
Supervising: Highway & Road Engineer (2), Program Assistant

Role Overview

• The Program Officer (PO), Road Infrastructure Development, under the direct supervision of the Principal Program Officer, Road, and Railways, will work on all road programmes, maintenance, and construction in the ECOWAS region.

Role and Responsibilities

• Develop short-, medium- and long-term Programme and plans for construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of road infrastructure in ECOWAS region.
• Coordinate and monitor implementation of regional component of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and other Road Infrastructure development priority programs.
• Promote the harmonization of roads policies, Design standards, procedures, and practices in the ECOWAS Member States
• Draw up term of reference for studies in road infrastructure and coordinate such studies.
• Analyze and monitor current policies, design standards, procedures and practices that are used for highway design in ECOWAS Member States.
• Ensure that road, rail, Port infrastructure design (including bridges) meet the approved regulations and standards.
• Develop and monitor the application of a harmonized design standards to guide the development of roads networks in the region.
• Organize Development partners’ and private sponsors’ meetings for investments in road and rail infrastructure development and follow up outcomes.
• Manage Road and railway -related projects from conceptual stages through all phases of pre- and post-contract activities.
• Assist in the preparation of annual work plans and budgets for the Infrastructure Department activities in line with the Commission’s strategic framework.
• Liaise with other discipline team leaders to ensure technical integration of cross-cutting activities.
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned by the President of the ECOWAS Commission through his appointed officers.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Highway Engineering or related discipline
• Membership of relevant Professional Association.
• At least 5 years of cognate experience in Road Infrastructure development in the public or private sector with proven experience in the planning, design, financing, and construction of major road projects.
• Proven experience in transport regulations, design standards, and maintenance; preferably at least 3 years’ experience working with multi-national/regional organization.
• Practical experiences in Transport Governance issues in Road Safety, Overload Control, Road Maintenance Financing, supply chain and logistics management.
• Good knowledge of infrastructure sector trends and practical experience in the appraisal, preparation, financial structuring, and project/contract management.
• Hands on experience in project finance and management of funding for infrastructure.
• Ability to write and present reports.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with senior government official, donors, international agencies and professional associations in the road and rail transport sector.
• Good knowledge of engineering computer software’s.

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
UA49,106.81 -  UA56,591.37 / USD77,480.72 -  USD 89,289.87 Annually.

Application Closing Date
9th November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their correctly filled Job Application Form, CV and Motivation Letter to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.
• Potential candidates must be under 50 years of age.
• Female applications are encouraged.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Applications initially submitted with only the CV remain acceptable.