Associate Project Officer

As an Associate Project Officer, you will provide technical and operational support, and inputs in general administration, portfolio management, project administration, and project processing activities related to loans and TA projects for water and urban development (WUD) sector. This includes engaging in sector dialogue with the government, development partners, and civil society.

You will:

• Support the processing, implementation, and administration of investment projects and TA projects, and assist in portfolio management and sector work and activities, focusing on the WUD Sector.
• Support portfolio management and project administration with tasks including, but not limited to: (i) monitoring the progress of assigned projects and preparing project performance reports; (ii) preparing annual forecasts of contract awards and disbursement, identifying factors responsible for shortfalls, and expediting achievements of target levels; (iii) identifying issues related to project implementation and taking action in close coordination with executing agencies (EAs), implementing agencies (IAs), contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries; (iv) preparing measures and implementing them to address the issues; (v) preparing internal procurement papers, reviewing procurement documents including draft technical designs and cost estimates, and papers for extension of loan closing dates; (vi) reallocating loan proceeds, changes in scope and implementation arrangements, and other project administration tasks, and (viii) conducting review missions with the government counterpart.
• Analyze the team’s water and urban development sector portfolio performance, project administration workload, and provide guidance to other members of the team. Closely coordinate with the project administration teams across the sector office.
• Contribute to the analysis and review of mission reports and aide memoires, progress reports, and other available project performance indexes on a regular basis and ensure quality through conducting special loan or TA review missions, and prepare country portfolio review missions and tripartite portfolio review meetings. Contribute to addressing project administration red flags for timely corrective actions.
• Monitor annual forecasts of contract awards and disbursement, identify factors responsible for shortfalls, and analyze issues related to project implementation through interaction with EAs, contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries, and prepare measures to address the project administration issues
• Review loan/grant/TA processing and administration documents to be endorsed and approved by the designated Technical International staff and Director, SG-WUD, following established quality assurance guidelines and relevant policies.
• Engage in dialogue with government officials and key stakeholders of the WUD sector, including the private sector and civil society.
• Maintain effective liaison and working relationship with government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate formulation, processing, administration and monitoring of ADB-financed WUD loans and TAs.
• Organize, contribute, support, and participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops, related to water and urban development sectors.
• Participate in and contribute to project inception, review, mid-term review, special loan administration missions, and project completion review missions, as required.
• Contribute to sector assessments and provide appropriate advice on project procurement and sector policies and institutional reforms.
• Provide guidance and support in project processing missions in designing project implementation arrangements, including procurement/disbursement procedures and project management set up, and review of financing plans.
• Contribute to sector work in the field by assisting in conducting research, updating information on the WUD sector, analyzing financial, institutional, or economic uses, and preparing reports on the subjects.
• Participate in and contribute to country programming and review missions to monitor performance of WUD sector projects, including preparation of the related pre- and post-mission documentation. Facilitate timely processing and approval of assistance pipeline (loans, TAs, and grants).
• Support in undertaking knowledge management products for the team and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor and support junior Technical Local staff.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned as reflected in the workplan.

Qualifications:

You will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economics, engineering, public administration, or related disciplines; preferably with advanced training.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in portfolio management, project administration, budget preparation/monitoring, and/or project processing activities related to loans and TA projects.
• Familiar with good industry practices and guidelines within area of expertise.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and cross-cultural skills.
• Sound understanding of ADB procedures and practices related to TA and loan/grant project processing and administration, including safeguards compliance.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Proficiency with computer-based applications.

Source: https://www.adb.org/careers/250276