Senior Advisor, Tax & Trade, East Africa: East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) Jobs in Kenya

Job Title: Senior Advisor, Tax & Trade, East Africa

Reports To: Head of public and alcohol policy, Diageo Africa

Context/Scope:East Africa Community tariff & excise harmonisation

The East Africa Community (EAC) is an economic community which was established, operated and disintegrated in the 1970s but was revived in 1999. It comprises Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. At its peak the EAC held common currency, transport infrastructure and harmonised trading and tariff rules.

The members of the EAC signed protocols re-established a common customs and trading zone from January 2010 which will remove tariffs on intra-community trading and single entry point harmonised customs and tariffs for goods entering the community.

This alone will have significant strategic implications for the EABL business, as it will remove tariff barriers on goods and restrictions on people movement in the region, although procurement and infrastructure issues will remain a constraint for some time.

The location of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania at the northern end of the pilot $1 billion North South Corridor being established to remove trade barriers in Africa further increases the strategic potential of the EAC revival.

The corridor will improve road and rail infrastructure and harmonise and simplify customs procedure between the Tanzanian port, through DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana to the ports of South Africa, including spurs to the Great Lakes and Malawi.

In addition to the creation of a customs union, the EAC has embarked on a programme of tax harmonisation, which envisages the creation of a common excise structure for alcohol, tobacco, oil products, water & soft drinks. The EAC secretariat has established a working group and has retained consultants to advise on a harmonised excise system, which is currently reviewing the federal approach to excise in Germany in addition to the wider structural approach of the EU.

Purpose of Role

Support the EAC project steering group in delivery of project outcomes, with specific responsibility for engagement, advocacy and representation on behalf of EABL/Diageo on excise and trade harmonisation issues with EAC member states and Secretariat and their appointed advisors and agents

Top 3-5 Accountabilities

  • Support the EAC project steering group in formulating advocacy strategy to secure favourable outcome to EAC excise harmonisation.
  • Key accountability for delivery of stakeholder engagement across EAC member states and secretariat to secure support for balanced excise harmonization outcomes, which addresses regional, national and business needs.
  • Assist in the creation and refining of econometric modelling of excise options to identify most balanced proposal likely to secure favourable terms for the business, balanced with regional economic needs. Identify and meet other decision critical data points or needs for stakeholders to support advocacy activity
  • Identify means to secure widest possible coalition of stakeholders (industry, Agri, NGO’s, think tanks etc) to support excise harmonization

Qualifications and Experience Required

  • 8- 10 years working experience in public policy / public affairs specialist / consultant with established relationships across EAC member state governments and EAC secretariat
  • Degree qualified with a mix of training/ qualifications in government, business and/ or NGO. Economic background an advantage
  • Financially literate - ability to manage data, build tax and duty scenarios.
  • Experience and knowledge of African societies, systems of government and cultural attitudes
  • Capability to develop / capture and shape research and data (academic and statistical) and concepts around policy development

Barriers to Success in Role

  • Lack of appropriate relationships / advocacy experience
  • Inability to think/act strategically, creatively and proactively
  • Requirement for extensive direction
  • Inability to see the bigger picture and understand business goals

How to apply

Visit the Diageo Recruitment website here to make an online application