The Local Government Revenue Initiative (LoGRI) is recruiting a Technical Lead. The lead technical expert within the LoGRI team will be responsible for leading the provision of technical expertise and support to government partners and the development of technical tools and resources to support reform programs.
To ensure a broad, inclusive and well-designed search, we are inviting initial expressions of interest from candidates with relevant experience working on property tax reform, or who have closely related technical skills and an interest in working to support effective, equitable and accountable property tax reform efforts. More details about the LoGRI program can be found here, while a more detailed description of the services required follows below. If interested, please write to [email protected].
Position Summary
The successful candidate will be the lead technical expert within the LoGRI team, responsible for leading the provision of technical expertise and support to government partners and the development of technical tools and resources to support reform programs. This will imply leading projects providing direct support to government partners, supporting other members of the LoGRI team in providing technical support to partners and developing related technical tools. They will work closely with the LoGRI Research Lead to ensure that technical support is guided by existing research and evidence, and that a strong learning component is embedded within the provision of technical support to governments.
The primary focus of the role will be on providing technical support related to the reform of property tax systems. That work will build on insights developed during the first 5 years of the APTI/LoGRI program related to, among others, (a) approaches to effective property identification and registration for tax purposes, (b) locally appropriate approaches to property valuation, (c) the development of effective billing, compliance and payments systems, and (d) the design and implementation of effective IT solutions to support property tax reform. Concrete projects are expected to include:
- Supporting the implementation of pilot projects with partners – particularly the operational and technical aspects of innovative property tax reform strategies – as part of LoGRI’s program of applied research and learning
- Providing technical support and guidance to an existing property tax reform project in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and providing technical support to newer projects, including reform diagnostic and pilot projects in Malawi, Zambia and Cameroon
- Developing concrete tools to support reform programs across countries – for example technical manuals, applications, etc.
- Assessing information technology platforms for supporting property tax reform, making LoGRI a repository of knowledge, resources and advice for reformers
- Working closely with government partners as a trusted advisor to support reform efforts over the medium-term
- Participating in seminars, international meetings and capacity-building programs to support the broader development of expertise related to local government revenue raising
Requirements of the Role
The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of relevant experience working in lower-income countries, including experience in programme and project management and some knowledge of property tax reform. Reflecting ICTD’s commitment to mentorship and leadership development, we will consider applications from more junior candidates, or candidates without specific experience of property taxation, where they have relevant skills, demonstrable leadership potential and commitment to the goals of the program.
More specific skills and experience required for the role include:
- Possession of an MA/MSc/MPA/MPP or PhD degree in fields relating to public financial management, development economics, public administration, taxation, public policy, or a related discipline, with a focus on lower-income countries. Acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
- At least 5 years of experience living and/or working in lower-income countries, including experience managing programmes and projects in collaboration with local partners and stakeholders. We particularly invite applications from individual from Africa and South Asia
- Knowledge of – or demonstrated ability to quickly acquire – technical skills related to data analysis, survey implementation and GIS systems
- Excellent written, oral communication and presentation skills
- Demonstrated ability to engage with and gain respect from policy makers, public administrations and reform partners
- Knowledge and experience related to sub-national revenues and public financial management highly desirable
- Positive mind set, entrepreneurial approach, initiative, and drive to push the organization to accomplish its mission
- Passionate about improving local government revenue systems to benefit the wider community
- Bilingual and multilingual candidates are preferred, with a special emphasis on English and French
Details of the role:
The successful candidate is expected to be hired as a contractor via the University of Toronto, on a one-year contract initially but with expectation of continued renewal based on success in the role. As the program grows there may be opportunities to explore the creation of a permanent staff role at one of the LoGRI or ICTD hubs.
The role will involve significant travel in Africa, and potentially South Asia, to work with partners. The contractor may be based anywhere in the world but will be expected maintain close communication and collaboration with the leadership of the LoGRI team. There is a corresponding preference for individuals based at the LoGRI/ICTD hubs (Toronto, Canada or Brighton, UK) or in the countries in which we work, primarily in Africa.
The expected budget range for the role is from US$70,000 to $95,000 per annum on a service contract, depending on relevant experience, with core expenses of the role (travel etc.) covered separately by the program.