Senior Advisor for Customs - Personal Services Contract

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY OFFICE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REVENUE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION SENIOR ADVISOR FOR CUSTOMS SCOPE OF POSITION: The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) is recruiting an individual on a competitive basis to serve as a Senior Advisor for Customs for its Revenue Policy and Administration Program. The person selected will be hired under a personal services contract.

OTA works in partnership with foreign government counterparts to conduct its mission to advance international financial security and stability through focused technical assistance to government agencies in developing and transitioning economies. Operating through resident or intermittent engagements, OTA’s Revenue Program assists counterpart governments in support of domestic resource mobilization capacity building in tax and customs.

This work is premised on sound partnerships with host-country stakeholders at the ministries of finance, revenue authorities or departments, tax and customs agencies or departments and border agencies. OTA’s technical assistance is comprehensive in nature and multi-dimensional in focus. Each engagement is designed specifically to the technical assistance needs of the country and managed by the Associate Director of the Revenue Policy and Administration Program with support from Senior Advisors and Program Officers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Senior Advisor for Customs will initially focus on developing a comprehensive customs administration technical assistance program and collaborative technical assistance team with the requisite knowledge and skills. This will include adapting appropriate procedures, processes and business practices and providing training, coaching and support to a cadre of Customs Advisors.

Additionally, the Senior Advisor for Customs will participate in assessments to identify countries with sufficient political will and need to support initiation of a technical assistance program that includes customs components. The Senior Advisor for Customs will ensure that the customs elements of a project lifecycle (Assessment, Project Design, Implementation, Project Closeout, and Evaluation and Program Learning) are developed and executed timely.

Successful implementation of the customs elements will require coordination with counterpart tax administrations to ensure design and implementation accuracy, and with U.S. Embassies and outside funding sources to initiate and maintain programs; identification of appropriate staffing for assignments; monitoring and routine reporting of program progress; and timely corrective actions in situations where advisor and/or program performance is substandard.

The Senior Advisor for Customs will conduct complex research and analysis, using a substantial understanding of customs practices and procedures and develop technical solutions to minimize risks to customs projects.

QUALIFICATIONS: Significant expertise in public sector customs administration.

This should include senior-level experience and deep knowledge in any of the following areas of public sector customs administration: US Customs and Border Protection procedures and regulatory framework and associated documentary requirements, Compliance expertise, including experience implementing internal controls or risk assessments, customs valuation, harmonized tariff classification system, trade agreements, post clearance audit, border operations and border control.

Deep knowledge of World Customs Organization (WCO) implementing policies and procedures is required. Additionally, qualified candidates will demonstrate outstanding communication skills (both oral and written) and the ability to assess client needs and provide effective oral and written guidance. Strong analytical skills are required to assess and evaluate data.

Candidates must be proficient in the use of MS 365 products and general office equipment, be a self-starter with ability to work independently and with confidentiality and must have exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities. The best qualified candidates will have significant project management experience, including demonstrated experience in preparing project work plans and statements of work, as well as the ability to manage human resources.

Prior foreign technical assistance work and knowledge of a foreign language, particularly French or Spanish, are highly desirable, but not required. In their application, candidates should highlight prior experience working overseas or training in challenging environments; managerial experience; experience in program and budget monitoring; use of international standards and best practices; and foreign language fluency. Candidates must be U.S. citizens.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salaries will be negotiated in accordance with program regulations prescribed by the Office of Technical Assistance not to exceed the Senior Executive Service EX- III hourly equivalent. The current starting hourly rate is from $78.56 to $97.70 per hour. Background checks and Security Clearance: Secret. The advisor will work in developing and transitional countries worldwide to support U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government economic and national security objectives.

The advisor may be deployed to countries with elevated threat levels, including potentially high/critical threat posts, as determined by the U.S. Government. Successful applicants must be able to obtain State Department medical clearance for worldwide travel. If selected, the applicant will be required to fulfill Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure requirements.

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume by e-mail to:

recruitment@ota.treas.gov. For consideration, emailed applications should not be sent, or contain a cc, to any OTA, IRS, or other government personnel or email address. Please reference Solicitation 2032K824R00009 on your cover letter and resume. When e-mailing, the subject line must contain the following:

Solicitation 2032K824R00009 – Revenue Senior Advisor for Customs – Applicant’s Last Name, First Name. Emails received not containing this subject line will be deemed non-responsive, and thus will not be forwarded to the program office/selection official(s) for consideration. No phone calls please and no hand carries. This announcement is open and continuous until February 29, 2024, although selections may be made in advance of that date. The U.S. Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer