MINISTÉRIO DAS FINANÇAS:

Planning and Financial Management Capacity Building Program

 Contract No.        DGRC 27 

Position                 Lead Customs Adviser

 Reporting             Director General for Revenue and Customs through the Senior Management Adviser SMA (Revenue and Customs)

                              PIU-PFMCBP (for contractual purposes)

 Counterpart         National Director for Customs

Duration               30^th June 2011. The PFMCBP may be extended by a further twelve months. Any extension to the Lead Customs Adviser’s assignment will depend on the extension of the PFMCBP, the performance of the adviser and the need for that particular position.

 Location               Ministry of Finance, Dili, East Timor

Selection Criteria

Essential 

·         A minimum of 10 years senior Customs management, policy development and operational experience

·         Extensive experience in the planning and implementation of reform and modernization programs in the public sector, preferably within a customs environment

• Experience in Project Management, preferably on customs-related projects
• Demonstrated track record of providing policy advice on policy and/or management-related issues
• Work experience in changing an organizational culture to a culture of customer service delivery in a developing country context                       
• A minimum Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in a field relevant to the position or equivalent work experience in the relevant field. Post-graduate degree will be an advantage.

• Experience in setting up and monitoring training programs for Customs Service staff
• Experience in coaching, mentoring and building skills through on-the job and role modeling.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and proficiency in English and willingness to learn Tetum, Portuguese or Bahasa Indonesia.

Background 

The Ministry of Finance of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is looking to recruit a Lead Customs Adviser for its Planning and Financial Management Capacity Building Program (PFMBP). PFMCBP is a five-year technical assistance program supported by a grant from the International Development Association and a co-financing Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The Program started in late 2006, and is scheduled to close in June 2011 but with a possible extension by a further twelve months. PFMCBP provides technical assistance to sustainably strengthen planning, budgeting, public expenditure management and revenue administration for growth and poverty reduction, with emphasis on efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, integrity, service culture, and transparency. 

PFMCBP has assisted the Government of Timor-Leste take forward an important reform agenda. Key achievements include implementation of a major reorganization of the Ministry of Finance; strengthening public expenditure management through simplification and strengthening of treasury systems and processes, and increased delegation of authority to line ministries; improved revenue management, including increased transparency in tax administration and reinforcing Petroleum Tax administration; and a gradual improvement in macroeconomic planning. There are important challenges ahead as the Ministry of Finance implements a strong reform program in a capacity constrained environment. PFMCBP itself has a challenge to build capacity and enable an increased transfer of responsibility to Timorese public servants. 

The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the strategic management of PFMCBP, through its Consultative Council for Financial Management (CCFM, also known as the Senior Management Committee) chaired by the Minister of Finance. There is a dedicated Program Implementation Unit that is responsible for day-to-day program management and implementation which has been integrated into the Directorate General for Corporate Services. The World Bank is responsible for program supervision, to ensure it is aligned with agreed objectives and financing agreements. 

A recent mid-term review of the progress of the PFMCBP within the Ministry of Finance indicates that more work is needed in strengthening customs administration functions including activities such as streamlining import procedures to help reduce clearance times for imported goods; development of a post-clearance audit plan; and ensuring existing trade reports are complemented by a more comprehensive set of import/export reports. The National Customs Directorate has taken steps under the PFMCBP to reduce clearance for import/export of goods at Dili port, but a number of new additional measures could help to improve efficiency. The Mid Term Review recommends (i) reduce the number of inspections by introducing random sampling of shipments; (ii) monitor the results of inspections and ensure information is captured into ASYCUDA. The Lead Customs Adviser is expected to play a key role in implementing the recommendations of the PFMCBP Mid Term Review. 

Scope of Work 

The Lead Customs Adviser will work with the Director General for Revenue and Customs, National Director of Customs, the SMA for Revenue and Customs, relevant national staff within the Customs Service, and other Advisers across the Ministry on the following: 

1. Primary Function: Capacity Building of counterpart

·         Capacity building of direct counterpart through on the job training, formal training, coaching and mentoring;

·         Evaluation of capacity building outcome and adjustment of strategies as required.
 

2. Secondary function: Capacity building directed at the Timor-Leste Customs Service (TLCS) level
    

·         Conduct formal and on-the-job training for TLCS staff in key policy and procedural matters;

·         Develop capacity building plan for the TLCS (if not available) to ensure institutional capacity building;

·         Implement and monitor capacity building for the TLCS and assess outcome, adjust plan if required;

·         Design and implement a series of performance indicators and standards and related management information and reporting systems;

·         Work with the New Zealand Customs Service in implementing a capacity building program in the National Customs Directorate;

·         Lead in fostering a culture of customer-service and client-friendliness within the Ministry including the values of professionalism, accountability, and transparency among the support staff of the TLCS.

3. Tertiary function: Undertake line functions as necessary, supporting the Director General of  Revenue and Customs, National Director of Customs and/or the in their day-to-day management of the TLCS.
    

·         Help ensure the efficient operations of the TLCS;

·         Lead in building and maintaining strong working relationships within TLCS to contribute to the coordination and delivery of services

·         Lead in establishing effective coordination with other government ministries and agencies, business and overseas customs administrations and border agencies

·         Assist in the development of cooperative agreements with other overseas customs administrations and border agencies

·         Develop a strategic knowledge of international trends and initiatives as they affect customs activities in Timor-Leste

·         Provide continuity and direction to all NCS staff in the absence of the counterpart national staff

·         Perform such other supporting tasks, both administrative and technical in nature, to enhance the operations of the TLCS, and as will be required by the PFMCBP and the Ministry of Finance.

Deliverables 

·         An Assignment Work Plan, with specific timelines and expected outcomes within 4 weeks of commencement

·         Quarterly Progress Reports against the agreed Work Plan.

·         Inputs into the Annual PFMCBP Progress Reports.

·         Establish and maintain regular public and private stakeholder meetings including an Industry Consultative Committee, Law Enforcement Consultative Committee and a Brokers licensing and training regime;

·         Introduce the Customs national training strategy within National Revenue & Customs Training Centre;

·         Ensure Customs Consolidated Code (CCC) becomes law and all staff and relevant stakeholders are made aware of its contents;

·         Implement Phase II Work Plan to ensure the effective implementation and application of the ASYCUDA system;

·         Assist in ensuring that existing ASYCUDA reports are complemented by a more comprehensive set of import/export reports, which should at least provide the standard set of reports needed by any Customs administration;

·         Develop Customs’ Code of Conduct in consultation with the Director General/National Director and other relevant stakeholders;

·         Assist in developing and implementing a post-clearance audit plan for the National Customs Directorate

·         Simplified Customs procedures and forms produced and placed in a dedicated national procedures manual;

·         Ensure the procurement of services for the delivery of needed technical assistance and capacity building activities within the TLCS;

·         Assist in the preparation of a Strategic and Implementation Plan for the National Customs Directorate in keeping with the recommendations of the Mid Term Review of the PFMCBP. This should provide a strategy for customs over the next five to ten years and include a more detailed twelve-month implementation plan supported by key performance indicators;

·         A Procedures Guideline/Template with flowcharts of the operations and functions for the Director of Customs and staff within the Customs Directorate. A draft outline of the procedures guideline must be completed within six months of the adviser’s initial assignment and finalized within nine months of the assignment. Support in the finalization of the procedures guideline will be provided by the Senior Adviser, Human Resources and Capacity Development.

·         On-demand deliver high quality briefings, presentations and advice to the Government on the progress of the activities of the TLCS; and

·         Provide technical recommendations and advice on customs-related programs and activities, including projects that require review and attention by the Minister.

The Lead Customs Adviser will provide Quarterly Work Plan Progress Reports to the National Director of Customs, the Senior Management Adviser (R&C) and the Senior Program Manager PFMCBP on the progress and/or completion of the activities outlined in the Work Plan.

The Adviser will provide an End of Assignment report to the Senior Program Manager and Senior Management Adviser, with copy to the National Director of Customs, no later than 10 working days prior to the end of contract.

Performance Evaluation 

Performance of the Lead Customs Adviser will be assessed by the Director General for Revenue and Customs and the Senior Management Adviser in collaboration with the Senior Program Manager - PFMCBP accordance with the performance review framework for advisors in the PFMCBP.

There is probation period of three months. 

Application procedure 

Please visit our website at www.mof.gov.tl/  and go to ‘Employment Opportunity’ to learn about our recruitment process and your application requirements including how to address the Selection Criteria in your application. 

Applications need to be sent to our Programme Implementation Officer-PFMCBP at email address, pfmcbp@mof.gov.tl, no later than 17:00hours Timor-Leste time on Friday 17th September 2010. 

Applications should include a covering letter and a detailed resume of no more than 7 pages. All Applicants must also complete the Competency Framework Matrix below delineating how they have met the requirements. We do not expect that you would just cut and paste from your resume but rather explain concisely and succinctly how you have met these competences, possibly providing brief examples etc.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Competency Framework for the Lead Customs Adviser (International)