Jobs at African Union

Purpose of Job

• The role would be to have oversight, set policy direction for the development of the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights, and formulate the strategy for the subsequent implementation of the Protocol, and to provide leadership for effective management and technical efficiency within the Intellectual Property Rights Division at the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Main Functions

• Oversight, design strategy and programme management of the development, negotiation and implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights negotiations;
•   Lead the design and management of strategies and policies for the operations of the Intellectual Property Rights Division in order to align with and achieve the overall objectives of the Directorate and the AfCFTA Secretariat;
•  Ensure the Division makes inputs into policy formulation in line with Intellectual Property Rights and integration strategies of the AfCFTA;
•  Represent the AfCFTA Secretariat at meetings, conferences, seminars and etc;
•  Engage stakeholders within State Parties and RECs in designing strategies for the implementation of the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights;
•  Lead the preparation of the annual action plan and its corresponding resources for the Division;
•  Supervise staff of the Division with regard to organisation and performance evaluation.

Specific Responsibilities

• Coordinate and direct the strategic planning, organisation and services of the AfCFTA Secretariat and Division in the area of Intellectual Property Rights;
•  Supervise staff within the Division to ensure timely achievement of objectives of the Division and effective performance evaluation;
•  Ensure the achievement of the Division's annual goals in line with the Directorate's overall objectives and goals;
•  Liaise with other divisions at the AfCFTA Secretariat on issues pertinent to Intellectual Property Rights within the AfCFTA or on any issues necessary to enhance the effective and efficient functioning of the Division;
• Contribute to the preparation of periodic financial and budgetary implementation reports and monitors budget implementation at the Division level;
• Coordinate and supervise the initiation and development of policies, programmes and projects aimed at achieving the Directorate's objectives for the negotiation and/or implementation of the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights;
•  Provide primary administrative and technical support and capacity building to State Parties and non-State Parties in the negotiation and/or implementation of the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights and its associated legal instruments;
•  Coordinate and supervise the preparation of technical reports, publications, analysis, and policy papers on issues pertaining to or affecting Intellectual Property Rights under the AfCFTA, in particular, working closely with State Parties, RECs and other key partner institutions;
•  Provide policy advice, strong intellectual guidance and direction on Intellectual Property Rights issues within the AfCFTA;
•  Coordinate the preparation of presentations, speeches and regular briefs on Intellectual Property Rights for the senior staff, and ensure sound and timely monitoring and reporting; 
• Provide technical leadership and ensure the effective functioning and performance of officers within the Division;
•  Performs any other duties that may be assigned and/or required by the Director

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master's degree in Economics, International Trade, International Relations, International Law, Intellectual Property Rights related disciplines, and/or related areas with twelve (12) years of relevant experience at increasingly senior levels in trade or Intellectual Property Rights related area, five (5) of these years should be at senior management level and three (3) should involve a supervisory role.

Required Skills

•  Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally
• Ability to develop and delegate clear program goals, plans and actions, that are consistent with agreed strategies
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development 
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff
•  High degree of independence, maturity and initiative
•  Ability to manage time and prioritize work 
• Ability to handle challenging questions and difficult stakeholders
•  Ability to manage time and prioritize work 
•  Be flexible, adaptable and open to change
•  Proficiency in one of the AU officials working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage;

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Purpose of Job

• To coordinate the performance and delivery of the AfCFTA Secretariat programmes and ensure high performance results and impact. The Deputy Secretary general will assist and deputize the Secretary General in delivering his/her mandate.

Main Functions

• Advise and support the Secretary General in the management of the Secretariat 
•  Provide practical management and visionary leadership.  
• Facilitates the identification of top priorities for the senior leadership of the AfCFTA’s mandate. 
•  Translates the senior leadership priorities into annual targets and goals and establishes a robust organization-wide framework for monitoring and tracking progress. 
•   Provides regular reports to the Secretary General on portfolio and Service delivery.

Specific Responsibilities

• Monitors and tracks progress in the delivery of the AfCFTA’s annual goals. 
• Ensure effective collaboration in program development with AfCFTA institutions, AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), African Union Commission (AUC).
• Collaborates with other members of the senior leadership team to ensure strategic coherence and overall synergy in the implementation of the AfCFTA programme and the delivery of high impact results for the continent. 
• Cultivates a knowledge management culture through promotion of research and publications that will ensure knowledge sharing and transfer across the Commission; and;
• Drives performance and delivery across the AfCFTA ’s senior management and inspires high performance, teamwork and delivery across the portfolio. 

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in International Trade, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Law, Finance, Management. International Relations or a related field from a recognized institution with Fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience with at least ten (10) years served in a senior management role preferably in an inter-governmental organization or national government/public service, international or regional institution, and a minimum of five (5) years of direct supervisory experience 

Required Skills

•  Demonstrated leadership experience with strategic vision and proven skills in managing complex organizations at the national, regional or international level;  
• Demonstrated record of setting clear standards for accountability, probity, value for money and risk management and zero tolerance to fraud and corruption; for ensuring sound and transparent financial management; and delivering continuous improvement, impact, efficiency and effectiveness;
•  Demonstrated intellectual leadership, creativity and proven ability to propose new ideas and lead on new ways of working across silos in a complementary and synergistic way for a prosperous and peaceful Africa;
• Proven track record of change management and accomplishments at the regional, national or international level with strong resource mobilization, political and diplomatic skills;
• Demonstrated ability to lead a multi-cultural team and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Proven ability to inspire, encourage, build trust and confidence and build consensus, stimulate effective campaigns and drive collective action among a broad spectrum of people and organizations.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Focus
• Developing Organizational Capability
• Change Leadership
• Strategic Risk Management

Core Competencies

• Building Partnerships
• Drives Accountability Culture
• .Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Purpose of Job

• Ensure the security of the AfCFTA Assets and also the security and safety of all the officials, staffs and delegates working or visiting the AfCFTA Secretariat

Main Functions

• Coordinate with the host country all security aspects of the AfCFTA
• Monitor the state of security at local, national and regional level and inform the management
• Ensure the security of all assets and proprieties of the organisation
• Manage the safety and security of the officials, staffs and delegates

Specific Responsibilities

• Monitor and research on the state of the security
• Monitor the state of security preparedness 
• Update "security information system"
• Establish regular contacts taking reports and analyzing developments regarding security
• Research current collateral security information from media, from the field and other sources on a daily basis
• Analyze accumulated information and maintain a continuous picture of evolving local, national and regional events affecting the security of staff 
• Monitor predictive indicators and early warning type information; 
• Identify security, crime, political and military trends that would increase risk to staff
•  Coordinate the draft of periodic and incidental reports
• Supervise the draft of a daily security developments report
• Prepare first draft briefs, notes, reports, studies and recommendation on critical issues of interest to senior management decision-making
• Follow up on the accumulation of data input for period trend reports
• Review first draft after-action reports following all incidents
• Monitor security-related preparedness and compliance of the organ
• Monitor the security planning and preparedness
• Determine if the appropriate equipment and resources are on hand to implement a Security Plan, particularly vehicles and emergency communication systems;
• Check that the information contained in Security Plan has been properly distributed to all staff and that key individuals are aware of and capable of performing all required actions
• Undertake or participate in security missions, as required, including high risk, to perform security assessments 
•  Perform any other duties as directed by supervisor(s)

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Security Studies or related studies and Police or Military Studies with 5 years’ relevant experience 
• Or
• Master’s Degree in Security Studies or related studies with 2 years experience.
• Supervisory experience not mandatory but an added advantage

Required Skills

•   Ability to work in a multicultural environment; 
•   Ability to work independently to meet critical and competing deadlines (multi-tasking), to produce high quality work in short timeframes;
•  Excellent interpersonal/teamwork skills,
• Must be computer literate with a working knowledge of common computer applications and systems; • Excellent drafting, reporting, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong program/project management skills 
• Strong analytical skills 
•   Excellent planning and organizing skills 
• Ability to liaise with a diverse range of people and stakeholders;
•  Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages. Proficiency of two or more of the other working language(s) would be an added value.
• Applicants must be proficient in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage. 

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight..
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Teamwork and Collaboration..
• Accountable and Complies with Rules..
• Learning Orientation

Functional Competencies

• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Focus

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.