Afghanistan: Customs advisor

Chemonics seeks a customs advisor for the ongoing USAID-funded Afghanistan Trade and Revenue (ATAR) project. ATAR is working to strengthen the business climate of Afghanistan to enable private investment, enhanced trade, job creation, and fiscal sustainability through the critical transition period and continuing into the Transformational Decade. The project will support the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIROA) to establish a sustainable liberalized trade system that permits the country to take full advantage of World Trade Organization (WTO) membership. The Afghanistan Customs Department (ACD) recently drafted a five-year strategic plan (2014-2018) to develop and implement good governance strategies and policies to empower the department and improve organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and respectability, and the department will introduce a comprehensive Customs Integrity Program (CIP). The customs advisor will support the operationalization of the Afghanistan National Customs Academy (ANCA) and an ACD human resources policy. The anticipated period of performance of the position is 96 days between August 1 and December 31, 2016, and a six-day workweek is authorized. The customs advisor will report directly to the ATAR customs reform manager. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• ​Conduct a gap analysis of ANCA and present the report and proposal to the director and director general of customs


• Assist and support ACD in developing their human resource capacity


• Review and improve the current staff performance evaluation scheme and the necessity to link this with a performance bonus scheme


• Submit recommendations and, on acceptance, support ACD on implementation


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  Support ANCA in the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) aligned to deliver on the following academy strategy:

  
  


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  ​Ensure SOPs for the academy are completely applicable within the ACD context

  
  


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  Ensure SOPs are understood and effectively implemented

  
  


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  Support the ANCA director as required to ensure compliance with SOPs

  
  


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  ​Support the development of curriculum for training programs based on the skills audit for areas including customs management, mobile verification team, airport training, examination and search techniques, train the trainers, and basic customs training for new recruits

  
  


• Develop training modules (aligned with the ACD context) in the above work areas based on skills priorities identified during training needs assessments


• Have all modules translated and deliver “how to deliver” events to ACD staff on the modules


• Support ANCA in developing training delivery capability by evaluating current trainers, identify those not suitable, and offer skills programs to expand their competence


• Expand the current pool of trainers by identifying subject matter experts from ACD and train them to deliver specialist subjects


• Roll out World Customs Organization (WCO) e-Learning with the support of the WCO Capacity Building Directorate by registering learning and offering change management to encourage participation

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience in establishing and managing an academy required; master’s degree preferred


• Minimum 15 years of managerial and/or operational experience in a customs administration/customs reform and modernization position, and considerable knowledge of customs training


• Significant experience in conducting a training needs analysis, developing a curriculum, and supporting the planning of the annual training delivery plan


• Competency in curriculum development for customs-related courses and evaluation of training


• Strong computer literacy, communication, analytical, and report writing skills


• Experience in Afghanistan or other transitional economies, as well as regional experience, highly preferred


• Strong ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a broad range of government officials, international donors, and other key stakeholders


• Demonstrated​ leadership, versatility, and integrity

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Application Instructions:

Send electronic submissions to customsadvisor@chemonics.com by July 12, 2016. Please include “Customs advisor” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only “Customs advisor – ATAR” in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.

​​​​Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.​​