TradeMark Africa - Non-Executive Directors

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

About TradeMark Africa

TradeMark Africa (TMA), formerly TradeMark East Africa is an Aid-for-Trade organisation that was established in 2010, with the aim of growing prosperity through increased trade. TMA operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by Belgium, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

TMA works closely with regional intergovernmental organisations, including the African Union (AU), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the East Africa Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.

The first two strategic periods of TMA (2010-2023) have contributed to substantial gains for trade and regional integration in East Africa and the Horn of Africa in terms of decreased cargo transit times, improved border efficiency, and reduced barriers to trade.

The continental-wide shift and rebrand to TMA was officially launched in West Africa in January 2023, with Ghana being the first country of operations in the region.

While continuing to leverage our core expertise in trade facilitation, we will evolve our focus to harness the potential of digitalisation, support African exporters to pioneer low carbon trade, address the core trade factors behind food security and promote inclusive trade. By increasing trade volumes, and enhancing the sustainability and inclusiveness of trade, we aim to deliver large-scale job creation, poverty reduction and enhanced economic growth.

In 2022, TMA set up a catalytic finance fund, Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA), that will pilot commercially viable projects for creating trade infrastructure (both physical and digital) as well as increasing access to Trade Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

TMA’s headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya. Operations and offices are in: EAC Secretariat – Arusha, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somaliland, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

More information about TradeMark Africa can be found at www.trademarkafrica.com

The Role Job Summary

Role: TMA Board of Directors, member of the Human Resource and Remuneration Committee and/or Audit, Finance and Risk Committee

Location: Flexible with occasional travel for Board meetings and occasional visits to countries in which TMA operates

Remuneration: US $20,000 per annum

Time commitment: Not likely to be less than 20 days a year on Board and Committee meetings, plus additional time spent on representational duties.

TMA is seeking to recruit two dynamic and visionary individuals with a deep understanding of trade issues on the African continent, extensive professional networks and regional influence, and previous private or public sector Board and strategic leadership experience to join TMA’s Board as Non-Executive Directors. Members of the Board will represent TMA at the highest level, oversee the strategy, policy, and direction of TMA, and so assist with the achievement of the organisation’s mission and objectives.

The Board, in partnership with the senior executive team, will be crucial to TMA’s success in supporting the aspirations of the AfCFTA to drive faster growth in trade volumes and to support linkages between regions across the continent. With the expansion of TMA’s previous core operational area of

East Africa and the Horn of Africa to also support countries in West and Southern Africa, the focus on reducing the barriers to trade and improving business competitiveness will continue to be a core element of tackling the trade challenges of the future as TMA pivots towards digitalisation of trade processes, creating green trade corridors and enhancing regional food security.

Responsibilities will include active participation in the Board and its committees, performing non-executive duties, and exercising the powers and functions which the Board may assign to the Board Member. Board meetings are held quarterly, and committee meetings will be held in conjunction with full Board meetings as required.

Candidate Profile

We are particularly interested in candidates with the following profile:

• Extensive relevant professional public or private sector experience and understanding of trade related logistics, information or regulatory issues such as trade facilitation, export promotion and investment attraction, and/or supporting the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements.

• Excellent high level relevant networks

• Previous experience of Board membership

• A minimum of 10 years’ management experience (including five at c-suite level) in an area relevant to TMA’s operations

• Professional experience and geographic expertise acquired in one or more of the countries in which TMA operates.

• Proven intellectual and strategic thinking skills.

• Strong strategy formulation and oversight skills including the ability to communicate effectively and concisely.

• Excellent visionary leadership

Additional Skills

• Ability to establish and maintain strong collaborative partnerships/ relationships with high-ranking government officials, investors, private sector organisations and other stakeholders.

• Adept at leading diverse teams, delivering change and demonstrating value for money.

• Ability to influence others to achieve objectives and gain consensus and collaboration.

• Sound decision-making and judgment capabilities.

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-052023-TMA or PatJones-CoverLetter-052023- TMA.

Timeline Closing date: 12th June 2023

First stage interviews: Week of June 26th, 2023

Final panel interviews: Week of July 3rd, 2023

Selection process

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Equality statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of TradeMark Africa’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at trademark-board-member@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

About Oxford HR

Exceptional leaders can inspire change and propel purpose-led organisations towards reaching their world-changing goals. Finding such leaders can be a challenge; and yet their transition into leadership is vital to an organisations mission and success.

Oxford HR is a global leadership consultancy dedicated to searching for and supporting remarkable leaders and teams in purpose-led organisations.

We understand the nuances of purposeled leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so, we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.