ADB: Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist – Manila

 

Reference Number: 250957

Position Grade: TI2

Department: Sectors Department 2

Division: Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office

Location: Asian Development Bank Headquarters

Date Posted: Friday, December 5, 2025

Closing Date: Friday, December 19, 2025 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a difference in the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist is assigned to the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SD2-AFNR) within the Sectors Department 2 (SD2).

You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines and relocation is required. All reasonable relocation expenses will be covered.

You will report to the Director, SD2-AFNR and may oversee junior team members.

Your Role

As a Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, you will contribute and lead in the formulation and articulation of policy, strategies, projects and programs on agriculture and agribusiness development, agrifood system transformation, and natural resources management in developing member countries (DMCs). You will lead in identifying, developing, processing, implementing and administering loans, grants, TA projects, and provide relevant stakeholders with necessary technical supports and knowledge.

You may be designated to lead portfolio management and be responsible for project reviews to ensure effective implementation, accomplishment of project and subsector results, and development impact. You will provide oversight and guidance to project teams, specifically in areas of project implementation and development effectiveness, in designing, and processing of loans, grants, TA projects.

You will:

• Lead the assessment of AFNR sector development policies, strategies, and programs with a view of ensuring comparability to international best practices, smart solutions and technological advances, climate needs, and responsiveness to emerging development needs of DMCs. Based on country dialogues, identify AFNR sector investment opportunities. Introduce effective solutions and identify appropriate modalities for ADB’s assistance to DMCs.
• Lead preparation, processing, and administration of regional and DMC specific loans, grants, and TAs in any of the following areas: agriculture and agribusiness development, natural resources management, integrated rural development, and agrifood system transformation.
• Lead conduct of policy dialogue with senior government officials and development partners to leverage policy, regulatory and institutional reforms in the AFNR sector.
• Represent AFNR and contribute to the development of Country Partnership Strategies and country operation review missions.
• Identify and introduce innovative solutions in specific loans, grants, and TAs to address food-climate-nature nexus and enhance climate resilience, and scale up cross-sector approach to promote agrifood system transformation and enhance food and nutrition security for replication in AFNR sector and beyond.
• Develop AFNR sector country assessment, strategy, and road map.
• Work with regional and subregional agriculture and natural resource management programs and country teams to integrate regional initiatives into country strategy and pipelines.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners (e.g., development partners, universities, international organizations, and private sector entities) related to agrifood system transformation and natural resource management for knowledge and project opportunities and fully use the strategic partnerships to generate new project ideas.
• Represent ADB and participate in government and development partners’ meetings and working groups and other events on AFNR for knowledge sharing and coordinating and promoting ADB’s AFNR initiatives.
• Generate and disseminate knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices, and country or region-specific cross-learning in the AFNR sector. Lead relevant in-house studies and knowledge generating and sharing activities and prepare knowledge products, reports, or policy briefs.
• Take the role of mentor to develop capabilities/potential of reporting staff.
• Supervise and support reporting staff, including their performance and development. Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in your workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in engineering, food and agriculture sciences, economics or related fields; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in IFIs, UN organizations, or development partners in operations, strategy, finance, or related fields in Asia. Additional experience in corporate lending, investment banking or private equity in the agriculture and natural resources sector would be a bonus
• Excellent financial modelling, corporate and project finance, and other core investment and project design and management skills
• Extensive knowledge and operation experience in developing sovereign and private sector projects in the agriculture and natural resources sector
• International experience working in several countries
• Written and verbal proficiency in English.
• Please refer to the link of ADB Competency Framework for Technical International Staff Level TI2.

Benefits

ADB offers a rewarding salary and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
• Expatriate benefits (if applicable)
• Relocation (if applicable)
• Retirement plan
• Medical and health benefits
• Paid leave (including parental)
• Life and other insurance plans
• Staff development

Additional Information

This is a re-advertisement. If you have previously applied, you do not need to resubmit an application. Applications received in response to previous posting will be considered together with applications received in response to this advertisement.

This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew, initially for a period of up to 3 years, or up to the Normal Retirement Date (NRD), whichever comes earlier, for the purpose(s) and conditions determined by ADB, in accordance with Administrative Order No. 2.01 (Recruitment and Appointment). After the initial fixed-term period, ADB may choose to renew the appointment for up to an additional 3 years or not renewed. This decision will be made in the overall interest of ADB, based on factors including but not limited to the requirement of Staff’s particular blend of skills and experience for the medium-term work program of the organizational unit, sufficient funding to cover the renewed period, and Staff’s performance and suitability for employment. There is no limit to the number of renewals up to NRD. However, this appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment.