THE ECOWAS COMMISSION
The Commission has been expanded into a fifteen (15) member Commission headed by a President. The Commission is responsible for the formulation of its own programmes and subject to the oversight of its governing bodies, manages their delivery. It operates in close collaboration with the other ECOWAS institutions and specialised agencies and centres.

Commissioners are selected on the basis of personal leadership skills, experience, and competence, and are appointed for a non-renewable period of 4 years. They are essentially members of a team which provides leadership at political and technical level in order to advance the agreed work of ECOWAS within their specialised areas.

ROLE OVERVIEW
Under the guidance of the President and in harmony with colleagues and the community, the Commissioner for Administration, Conference & Protocol is responsible for planning, coordinating and monitoring the General Administration of and Management of Conference and Protocol Services, Procurement of goods & services and material resources of the Commission in line with laid down rules and procedures.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•   Conceptualises, defines and implements strategy, policies and operational guidelines in Procurement, Conference & Protocol Services, Material Management and General Administration with a view to ensuring efficiency and further ECOWAS integration programmes;
•   Co-ordinates and harmonises Regional/Community policies to ensure the efficient compliance with the ECOWAS Tenders Code;
•   Collaborates with other regional International bodies, specialised institutions, Public-Private Partnerships to facilitate the implementation of Regional Programmes;
•   Collaborates and works in synergy with colleagues and other Commissioners;
•   Represents the President or Vice-President whenever necessary;

In addition to the functions listed above, the Commissioner is expected, among other things, to communicate a compelling vision to the ECOWAS role in integration programmes and ensure that staff and stakeholders subscribe to and support that vision.

•   The Commissioner is also responsible for leading and managing the mangers and staff reporting to him/her, which includes:
•   Ensuring that he/she remains a successful team player within the Commission of fifteen, by contributing to common goals, assuming a fair share of the work, supporting fellow Commissioners in their own initiatives, and making enough time to meet with other Commissioners on a regular basis to discuss common concerns.
•   Organising the Directorates under his /her authority efficiently, with clear reporting lines, definition of responsibilities, and ensuring that his/her own immediate staff help this process and do not become an obstacle.
•   Ensuring that during his/her absence, an officer-in-charge is thoroughly briefed and given the delegated authority to make decisions so that the work of the Commissioner is not obstructed.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   A higher degree in the Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Management, and/or any related field, preferably at the doctorate degree level
•   Senior level experience in advocating for and representing a large organisation to partners and other stakeholders in the public service/private sector/international agencies
•   Minimum of fifteen (15) years’ work experience in Management, General Administration or any related domain with at least seven (7) successful years in a senior management position in a comparable organisation.
•   Must have managed other managers over several divisions.
•   Political exposure could be an added advantage;
•   Fluency in both oral and written English/French/Portuguese with good working knowledge of any other as a second ECOWAS official language.
•   Preference will be given to candidates who have directly managed private/public partnerships.
•   Good knowledge and practical use of Microsoft office tools.

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES

•   Ability to plan effectively;
•   Ability to tap and develop staff potentials;
•   Capable of rewarding and sanctioning in the interests of improving staff performance;
•   Ability to set, monitor and maintain good performance standards;
•   Ability to chair meetings efficiently;
•   Good communication skills for influencing groups of peers and stakeholders outside the organisational (public speaking, writing, persuasiveness, credibility, negotiation, problem-solving)
•   Able team-player with peers (creates solutions to problems, creates ideas, takes on share of the work, reliable).
•   Drive and energy;
•   Demonstrates fairness;
•   Self-control and stress management methods;
•   Good personal organisation with ability to prioritise comfortably, adjust to rapidly changing priorities and to manage time well.

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

How To Apply For The Job

Applications should be submitted by hand or post to:

The Director
Africa & Regional Integration Bureau
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration
P. O. Box M53
Accra

Tel: +233 302 999623
E-mail: africa@mfa.gov.gh

Closing Date: 20 September, 2013