National Program Officer

İşin təsviri

Vacancy note  National Program Officer

Duty station Baku, Azerbaijan

Supervisor Deputy Regional Director

Beginning of employment March 2015

Institutional context

The Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus (SCO) is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Swiss development cooperation in the South Caucasus, in particular of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Whereas the main office is located in Tbilisi, it maintains a program office in Baku since 2001. The Swiss Cooperation Office is managed by four expatriate staff and employs some 30 national program and support staff in the three countries of the South Caucasus. The office in Baku is part of the Embassy of Switzerland and headed by the Deputy Regional Director.
The Swiss Cooperation Office oversees programs in the South Caucasus worth CHF 30 million per year in the domains of Economic Development and Employment, Governance and Public Services, and Human Security and Protection. In Azerbaijan Switzerland’s development cooperation is focusing in particular on improving the economic framework conditions, strengthening the private sector and building the capacities of central government institutions.
The SCO in Baku is now looking for a National Program Officer to further strengthen its team starting in the first quarter of 2015. Employment is initially foreseen for a period of 6 months as a maternity replacement with possible extension to an unlimited contract thereafter. The job involves frequent visits to Georgia.

Tasks of the National Program Officer

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, the incumbent will have the following main tasks and responsibilities:

• To supervise, monitor and support the implementation of the SECO funded cooperation projects in Azerbaijan, this concerns in particular the projects in the areas of investment climate reforms, financial sector reforms and access to finance, macroeconomic policy and public financial management;
• To contribute to the development of the Economic Development and Employment and Governance and Public Services portfolio of SECO in Azerbaijan, including assisting the identification, structuring and planning of new projects;
• To contribute to the strategic steering of the Swiss regional development program in the South Caucasus, particularly in the domains of Economic Development and Employment and Governance and Public Services;
• To assist the Deputy Regional Director in the conduct of policy dialogue, especially in the field of economic development and public financial management in Azerbaijan, and in representing SECO towards government, implementing and donor partners in Azerbaijan;
• To cooperate and coordinate closely with the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tbilisi as well as with SECO headquarters and the Embassy of Switzerland.

Requested Profile and Competencies

Training The incumbent holds an advanced university degree in economics or social sciences. Post graduate or other further training in the above disciplines or in development studies are an asset.

Work experience  

The successful candidate has a minimum of five years of relevant experience at the national or international level, particularly in the fields of design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects as well as research and policy-level analysis, preferably in the field of economic development and public financial management.

Languages

The incumbent is fluent in Azerbaijani, English and Russian.

Corporate competencies 

The successful candidate is a strong team player and shows an enhanced degree of reliability, initiative and sound judgment, ability to complete multiple tasks timely and efficiently, ability to prioritize different assignments.
The incumbent shows a keen interest in international development issues and the development of the South Caucasus in particular.
He/she demonstrates integrity with regard to Switzerland’s values and ethical standards such as gender, nationality, cultural and religious sensitivity and adaptability and promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of Switzerland’s development cooperation.
Professional competencies The incumbent has a proven expertise in the field of project cycle management, strategic planning, results-based management and reporting and a solid understanding of the development context in Azerbaijan.
He/she has strong analytical skills, including in economic issues, and is proficient in written reporting in the English language. He/she is fully proficient in the use of computers and standard office and internet software applications.

If interested, please send your letter of motivation and up-dated CV in English via e-mail to  [email protected] to the Swiss Cooperation Office.

Please write "National Program Officer" in the e-mail subject line. Kindly indicate at least two references that we may contact, as well as your availability in terms of start date.

The closing deadline is 12 January 2015.

Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Please do not contact the Swiss Cooperation Office by telephone.

Swiss Cooperation Office tərəfindən digər vakansiyalar

• National Program Officer
• Program Assistant
• Driver