Customs Administration Advisor, Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) based in Beirut, Lebanon (FADR1)

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to fill a customs administration advisor position (Regional Customs Long Term Expert / LTX) in its Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) located in Beirut, Lebanon. The advisor will be responsible for managing the regional customs administration capacity development (CD) activities for METAC member countries, covering the fourteen jurisdictions of Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. The advisor’s appointment term will be for an initial period of one year, with an extension for at least one-year subject to performance evaluation.

The advisor’s general responsibilities will be to deliver the regional component of the IMF’s customs CD program for METAC member countries designed in coordination with the countries, METAC management, and the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD). Two other METAC advisors are responsible for the regional tax administration CD activities and close coordination across the two CD programs will be needed to ensure an integrated country-based workplan.

Specifically, the advisor’s responsibilities are to: (1) build relationships and consult with customs administrations of member countries on their CD needs; (2) develop, manage, and deliver the CD workplan for each country under the technical supervision of FAD; (3) organize and deliver customs administration capacity building events such as workshops and training programs; (4) organize, manage, and provide technical and logistical support to short-term customs administration experts visiting (or working remotely for) the METAC countries to support their reform activities; (5) provide direct CD support to member countries and support FAD-led CD activities in the region; (6) coordinate with other donors and development partners of METAC countries; and (7) report regularly on progress in delivering the customs administration workplan to various audiences, including METAC’s director and steering committee. FAD is directly supporting several of the METAC member countries with their customs administration reform initiatives, and the advisor will assist members with the ongoing development and implementation of their reforms, including by coordinating closely with any in-country long-term advisors.

The technical skills and qualifications required for the position include a high level of knowledge and experience in a senior management position in customs administrations, with international exposure, with a good understanding of customs administration and customs modernization programs, and with expertise in the following areas:

• Customs management, including revenue collection enhancement and suppression of revenue leakage.
• Customs administration multi-year planning, annual strategic planning and operational planning, key performance indicators development, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Legislative, organizational, and regulatory environment for customs administration, particularly in the clearance procedures and application of intelligence-led and risk-based selectivity controls for customs compliance.
• Full range of the core customs administration functions, including hands-on experience in customs technics (procedures, tariff classification, rules of origin, customs valuation, etc.), customs controls, as well as good knowledge of international instruments related with customs management, operations, governance, and accountability.
• Customs administration modernization and reform approaches, and in the application of international standards and best practices in this area.
• Customs corporate services, notably, information and communication technologies and data management and analytics to support effective and efficient customs operations and management, including risk management at corporate and operational compliance levels, and,
• Policies and activities in the fields of trader compliance management, customs enforcement (including intelligence and fraud investigation), and post-clearance audit.

Preference will be given to applicants who have an all-round experience in managing customs operations and have knowledge of customs issues in a regional context and are knowledgeable of the issues and challenges facing customs administration reforms in the Middle East and North Africa region. Previous experience of international capacity building in customs administration (such as participating in CD activities and organizing and conducting training courses and workshops) would be an advantage. Familiarity with general IMF surveillance and financial support is desirable.

Qualifications

• An advanced university degree in economics, finance, accounting, or related field, and 4 years of relevant professional experience. Preference will be given to candidates with 10 years of professional experience with a customs administration or international organization providing CD on customs administration matters.
• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills to manage multiple priorities and ensure on-time delivery of quality outputs.
• Full proficiency in English and, ideally, French. A working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, particularly ability to compile timely and concise briefs in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work as part of a team, to maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities as well as development partners, and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness to undertake significant travel within the region and deliver remote CD, as needed.

The selected candidate is expected to start the position in the third quarter of 2023.

Qualified applicants who are not selected for this position may be considered for other short-term or long-term CD assignments.

For Regional Capacity Development Center (RCDC) selection, in the event a staff member is selected for the position s/he will retain staff status and move laterally for the duration of the assignment subject to the limit of staff assignments earmarked for this purpose. In the event that a contractual employee is selected for an RCDC assignment, s/he will be hired on a Long-Term expert (LTX) contractual appointment basis.

Department:

FADR1 Fiscal Affairs Department Revenue Administration 1Hiring For:

A11, A12, A13, A14The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation.