Head, Division of Trade in Services (AfCFTA) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Division of Trade in Services (AfCFTA)

Req Id: 2655
Location: Accra, Ghana
Reports to: Director of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, and Digital Trade
Organ: African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Directorate/Department : Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, and Digital Trade (DTIID)
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 9
Job Grade: P5
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular

Purpose of Job

• The Staff is responsible for setting the vision for the Trade in Services Division, coordinating activities, defining and leading its overall strategy.

Main Functions

• Supervise Staff of the Division with regard to organization and performance evaluation.
• Lead the design of strategies and policies aligned with the Directorate’s goals in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area
• Contribute to the development of the Directorate’s business continuity plan and ensures its implementation at the division level;
• Ensure the appropriate risk management and mitigation strategies for the Division;
• Ensure the Division makes inputs into policy formulation in line with trade and integration strategies of the AfCFTA;
• Ensure the preparation of the annual action plan and its corresponding resources for the Division;
• Engage stakeholders within State Parties and RECs in designing and implementing strategies;
• Represent the organization and explain its position at meetings, conferences, seminars and so on;
• Mobilise funding from donors for the execution of Division’s strategies and activities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Coordinate the implementation of the Trade in Services agenda under the AfCFTA, including organising and participating in meetings of the Committee on Trade in Services and its subsidiary bodies; 
• Coordinate the initiation and formulation of policies, programmes and projects aimed at promoting Services Trade as well as market integration among State Parties; 
• Coordinate and supervise the preparation of technical reports and research papers on current global issues affecting trade in services under the AfCFTA, in particular, working closely with State Parties, RECs and other key partner institutions; 
• Lead the formulation and management of key policies and programmes on trade in services and those aimed at enhancing continental and regional integration in line with the AfCFTA and AU Agenda 2063, in close collaboration with State Parties and RECs; 
• Coordinate the identification of new and emerging trade in services issues, regarding State Parties, RECs, WTO, as well as other key stakeholders; 
• Initiate and lead the preparation and dissemination of AfCFTA Flagship publications and policy papers on trade in services; 
• Contribute to the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitors budget execution at the Division level; 
• Supervise staff of the Division in the production of technical reports in areas related to trade in services; 
• Supervise all trade in services studies and analysis on regional integration and trade in services matters; 
• Coordinate the preparation of speeches and regular briefs for senior staff and make presentations on trade in services issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences; 
• Provide policy advice, strong intellectual guidance and direction on issues of services transformation and development; 
• Develop trade in services strategies for integrating the continent into global value chains and developing regional value and supply chains in the continent; 
• Oversee the progress of implementation of activities of the Division; and 
• Perform any other related tasks as may be assigned by the Director. 

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in International Trade, Development Economics, International Relations, International Business Administration, International Law, Political Science, Public Policy or relevant disciplines.
• Twelve (12) years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in the area of international trade, experience in trade in services, including particular sectoral experience will be an added advantage. 
• Seven (7) of these years should be at senior management level and 5 (five) should involve a supervisory role.

Required Skills

• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between various stakeholders and partners, as well as geographically and culturally disparate partners;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally;
• Ability to develop and delegate clear program goals, plans and actions, including budgets, that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Ability to prepare Budget, Progress Report, Work Plan and present for its adoption;
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff;
• Ability to effectively use the African Monitoring and Evaluation Reporting Tools; and
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation.

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$ 50,746.00.00 (P5 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment ( 57% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 27,290.88.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
21st April, 2025, 11h59 p.m. EAT.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted. 
• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise. 
• Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.