National Program Officer

İşin təsviri

Vacancy note  National Program Officer

Duty station Baku, Azerbaijan
Supervisor Deputy Regional Director
Beginning of employment June 1, 2016

Institutional context

The Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus (SCO) is responsible for coordinating and implementing 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 cooperation office in Baku is part of the Embassy of Switzerland. Your direct supervisor is the Deputy Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office.
The Swiss Cooperation Office oversees programs in the domains Economic Development and Employment as well as Governance and Public Services. In Azerbaijan Switzerland’s development cooperation is focusing in particular on improving the economic framework conditions, strengthening the private sector and financial stability, e.g. by building the capaci-ties of central government institutions.
The SCO in Baku is now looking for a National Program Officer starting on 1st of June or as soon as possible. Employment is subject to good performance during a three month probation period. The post involves regular visits to Georgia (2-3 times per year) and occasional visits to Switzerland. Female candidates are explicitly encouraged to submit their application.

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 monitor, accompany and support the implementation of the SECO funded cooperation projects in Azerbaijan. This concerns in particular projects in the areas of investment climate reforms, financial sector reforms and access to finance, macroeconomic policy, public finance management and financial market supervision;
• To contribute to the development of the Economic Development and Employment as well as the Governance and Public Services portfolio of SECO in Azerbaijan, including assisting the identification, structuring and planning of new projects;
• To contribute to the strategic discussion of the Swiss regional development program in the South Caucasus, particularly in the domains of Economic Development and Employment as well as Governance and Public Services;
• To assist the Deputy Regional Director in the conduct of policy dialogue, especially in the field of economic development and financial sector stability, modernization and supervision in Azerbaijan; to represent Swiss Cooperation Office towards government, implementing and donor partners in Azerbaijan (conferences, official visits, project visits etc.);
• To cooperate and coordinate closely with the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tbilisi as well as with SECO headquarters and the Embassy of Switzerland.
• To contribute to the elaboration of the annual report of the Swiss Cooperation Office in the South Caucasus regarding the portfolio in Azerbaijan; to contribute to internal communication materials and steering tools (ex. project factsheets, mid-term review etc.).
• To regularly brief the Deputy Regional Director about relevant economic developments in the country as well as the region and to assess the impact on the ongoing/planned portfolio.

Requested Profile and Competencies

Training The incumbent holds an advanced university degree in economics, political 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 planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects as well as research and policy-level analysis, preferably in the field of economic development, public financial management or financial sector supervision.
Languages The incumbent is fluent in Azerbaijani and English. Russian is an asset.
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 as a region in particular.
He/she demonstrates integrity with regard to Switzerland’s values and ethical standards such as gender equality, nationality, cultural and religious sensitivity and adaptability; he/she promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of Switzerland’s development cooperation. Swiss Cooperation Office implements a zero tolerance policy regarding corruption.
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, especially 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 to date 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 16 May 2016. Applications received after this date will not be considered. Please do not contact the Swiss Cooperation Office by telephone.

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