Secretary General 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: Secretary General

Job Code: 20003163
Location: Abuja
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: D2
Status: Permanent
Line Supervisor: The President of ECOWAS Commission
Supervising: Office Manager

Role Overview

• To serve as chief adviser to the President of ECOWAS Commission on administrative and procedural matters, and to assist the President in the exercise of his/her function as the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Institutions and Secretary of ECOWAS policy organs, namely the Council of Ministers and Authority of Heads of State and Government. 
• To provide leadership and strategic direction for managing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commission with respect to the implementation of community decisions, policies, rules and regulations and ensuring ethical conduct and compliance with relevant Community Texts.

Roles and Responsibilities
The Secretary-General is the Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Commission.  Under the authority of the President, he/she performs the following functions:

• Acts as chief adviser to the President on matters of Institutions policy and procedure.
• Ensures compliance with community texts, rules and regulations
• Serves as the Secretariat of the Commission, with respect to planning, managing and servicing management meetings, statutory meetings and work of ECOWAS Policy Organs
• Ensures that all documentation for the meetings and the work of the Policy Organs are properly prepared, duly processed and dispatched in a timely manner to Member States and other relevant entities.
• Ensures that the outcomes of meetings, such as decisions and reports are properly finalized, and disseminated on time to Member States and other relevant entities
• Assists the President of the Commission in monitoring the implementation of the Decisions of the Community Policy Organs.
• Provide continuity from one management to the next and to be the main repository of institutional memory.
• Act as the channel of communication between the President and other Members of Commission and Institutions.
• Establishes a horizontal link between Departments and Directorates for smooth, consistent and effective implementation of ECOWAS decisions.
• Ensures that those policy and regulatory documents are properly stored and accessible at any time and to manage a Databank of documentation of the Community.
• Handles all matters relating to ethics and compliance with Community rules and regulations within the Commission.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by President.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university in a discipline related to the mandate of the organization and the position. These include Masters in International Relations, Political Science, Law, Diplomacy, Public Administration, or any other related field.
• Fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, law, business management, political affairs, in a senior leadership capacity with a minimum of 7 years’ experience working on issues related to the ECOWAS region; experience working with Member States and delegations in the context of international organizations; Proven experience in facilitating national or intergovernmental decision-making processes.
• Experience with policy and strategy development, change management and related issues, with broad geographical outcomes/impacts.
• Extensive experience in report writing and supervising large and diverse teams
• Ability to lead the development, management/review of reports and papers on technical and policy issues.
• Knowledge of and experience in the practical application of ECOWAS policies, management, administrative, budgetary and staffing regulations and procedures.
• Minimum of 7 years progressive senior leadership experience in establishing strategic partnerships, working collaboratively and building consensus with multiple stakeholders on critical and/or complex issues.

Ecowas Key Competencies:

• Demonstrated passion and commitment to public service principles, values and ethics, and the practice of accountability in public sector management.
• Ability to inspire, motivate and engage others to solve problems and resolve conflicts, to modify leadership style, to meet situational requirements, and to lead successfully in uncertain and volatile environments; to develop a culture where people hold themselves personally accountable for results.
• Exhibit consistency on actions, values, methods, confidentiality, ethics, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes which connotes a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances.
• Well-developed political acumen, superior judgement, tact and diplomacy to work with various interest groups and stakeholders, to influence/enlighten policy direction, to implement and promote adherence to governance principles, the regulatory environment and corporate vision, and to advance strategic priorities associated with the ECOWAS mandate.
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Demonstrated ability to promote a balanced perspective on the organization’s leadership and governing body to keep ECOWAS mission, vision, and values at the forefront of employee decision making and actions.
• Ability to conduct high-stake negotiations with high-level clients while taking account of different stakeholder agenda, cultural norms, situational factors, ECOWAS interests; to demonstrate the ability to partner with internal and external clients.
• Ability to identify and capitalize on synergies with other institutions, specialized agencies, national and regional assemblies and key actors and partners to achieve objectives.
• Ability to personally commit to advancing ECOWAS goals for improved client services and stakeholder relations; to ensure appropriate measures are established to deliver client service excellence.
• Understand diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, and sensitive to group differences; see diversity as an opportunity, challenges bias and intolerance.
• Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, workplace culture and its dynamics.
• Play a leadership role in shaping the ethics, values and culture of the organization by consistently communicating and exemplifying them.
• Ability and passion to actively support diversity management policies and principles, act as role model and a champion and advocate of diversity policies and principles.
• Understand inclusion, the impact of unconscious bias, and how to manage and leverage differences; ability to make/apply the connection between diversity and innovation, and to oversee a talent system that remains inclusive, transparent, and well understood.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to identify roadblocks to principles of equity, fairness and transparency, to oversee diversity indicators for planning and programme development and to create a workplace free of discrimination and harassment.
• Excellent knowledge of ECOWAS Commission’s mandate, legal framework and approaches to policy development.
• Proven knowledge of rules and procedures of the ECOWAS Commission, the implementation of which is necessary for smooth running of the institution.
• Establishment of sound internal controls as well as the monitoring and evaluation of programmes, plans and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS Institutions and specialized agencies, and how they interrelate in the pursuit of community interests.
• Sound knowledge of ECOWAS procurement, financial and human resources policies and practices as well as internal reforms and capacity development initiatives.
• Ability to think creatively and innovate or generate alternatives, visualize new possibilities, challenge assumptions, and be open to additional information.
• Ability to prioritize action steps to stay focused on key objectives while handling multiple demands and competing priorities.
• Ability to make trade-offs/compromise while understanding the potential advantages and disadvantages of an idea or course of action.
• Ability to analyze reporting or working relationships between several departments, agencies and institutions, and recognize areas of potential obstacles or challenges and produce solutions or alternatives to achieve strategic priorities.
• Ability to obtain information, opinions and recommendations from various sources to inform decisions, produce conclusions and to drive change.
• Continually working to broaden own knowledge and experience communicating with various stakeholders, partners and media to see connections and patterns across seemingly unrelated fields of knowledge.
• Communicate strategically, considering such aspects as optimal message timing, and form of communication; skillfully handles complex on-the-spot questions from others, such as senior public officials, special interest groups, citizens or the media.
• Communicate complex issues clearly and credibly with widely varied audiences using two-way communication to gain others’ input and understanding.
• Strategically build networks and contacts to support ideas, initiatives and directives; ensure communication plans are developed and implemented so audiences are informed in a timely manner.
• Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst team members, to show care and make them feel valued and to drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies.
• Ability to clearly articulate links between the organization’s strategy and the institution’s goals; generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; convey enthusiasm about future possibilities; act as a champion or sponsor of change programmes and agenda.
• 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.
• Sound ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required; allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing tasks.
• Ability to foresee risks and provide for contingencies when planning; monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary and use time efficiently.
• Capability to translate the strategic direction, including vision, mission and values into effective strategies; develop, lead and ensure meaningful communication of shared vision, values, mission and strategic direction to inspire and influence others; position the organization to deal with emerging and long-term trends, issues and opportunities.
• Ability to champion the development of proactive strategies and use strategic alliances to extend organizational and ECOWAS impact.
• Ability to establish performance expectations, inspire excellence and recognize performance; oversee the implementation and monitoring of performance management programmes to ensure all employees meet performance expectations.
• Competence in the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for the Office
• Capable of managing risks, developing mitigation measures and ensuring business continuity of the Office.
• Ability to build and maintain good working relations and collaboration with other Directorates / Departments and Institutions of ECOWAS.

Age Limit:

• Be below 50 years old. 
• This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

Assessment method:

• Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.

Salary
UA 90,555.55 (USD 142,878.54) annually.

Application Closing Date
21st April, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: b52secretarygeneral@ecowas.int using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note
Disclaimer:

• Selection and appointment will be subject to background and reference checks and other administrative requirements.
• ECOWAS does not charge for any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing in connection with application or recruitment processes and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.