Director, Procurement Services and Financial Management Division (PFM)  – Rome, Italy

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation. 

The Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic financial, strategic and responsive business partner and service provider fully supporting IFAD in developing its financial strategy and managing its financial, investments and material resources. FOD ensures that these resources are efficiently, economically and effectively used to achieve IFAD’s objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. 

The Financial Operations Department (FOD) comprises three divisions (i) Procurement Services and Financial Management Division (PFM), (ii)  Financial Controller’s Division (FCD) and Treasury Services Division (TRE).

The Procurement Services and Financial Management Division (PFM) anchors two of IFAD’s  fiduciary functions for operations, project financial management and project procurement. In this context, the PFM develops and oversees fiduciary policies for procurement services and financial management practices in IFAD-funded operations, including project procurement, project financial reporting, project audit, project liquidity management and overall project fiduciary oversight. In addition to oversight, the PFM oversees training through corporate learning programmes, as well as fiduciary performance monitoring and results reporting. The PFM division is responsible for IFAD’s project financial management and project procurement workforce, which are located across IFAD’s headquarters and regional offices, including ensuring an adequate certification system and cadre of accredited consultants to support country and regional operations.

The Director, PFM works under the direct supervision of the Associate Vice President (AVP), FOD.The incumbent will need to ensure collaborative and productive working relationships with other departments and divisions in IFAD. The Director, PFM is responsible for ensuring a client focused problem-solving approach, and support close and efficient working relations with Operations, in particular ensuring strong operational support to the regional divisions and other operational and technical divisions and project staff. 

Directors are responsible for managing a division or office. The main focus of Director positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, they are responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division’s programme of work within an allocated budget.

The Director, PFM has a pivotal role in leading the division to provide project procurement and project financial management services for IFAD projects, and to maintain strategic partnerships with other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the areas of procurement, financial management, policy and administration. 

The PFM supports IFAD’s development effectivenenss through a twofold mandate: (i) to provide  assurance that the funds provided by IFAD are used for the intended purpose; and (ii) to assist country teams and client countries to ensure robust procurement and financial management arrangements in all project designs, providing  a pro active support to  resolve implementation issues, and building and strengthening national Procurement and Financial Management (PFM) systems and capacity, and to drive an increased use of national systems.

The Director, PFM is responsible to ensure that IFAD’s fiduciary oversight, and operational support and capacity building, are delivered effectively in an increasingly challenging environment shaped by a high lending volume,growing active portfolio, changing demands from clients (Borrowers/Receipients), and growing fragile context. The delivery of these functions needs to take place with recognition of an increased focus on governance and anticorruption concerns by donors, IFAD’s evolving systems, processes and tools, and a challenging budget environment that emphasizes maximizing operational efficiencies and gains. 

1.VISION AND STRATEGY: Directors at IFAD are responsible for developing and promoting a strategic vision that translates the organization’s corporate and departmental mandates, strategies, goals, and objectives into a divisional programme of work. They ensure that the division’s activities are integrated with the overall Fund mandates and strategies and participate in the design of IFAD’s strategic approaches. Directors set and communicate clear objectives and are accountable for the division being seen as a credible and trusted partner in managing for results and as an innovator in its field.

2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVICE: Directors provide leadership in the development and interpretation of major policies, regulations and rules, and systems that govern the work of a division and ensure they support divisional goals and objectives within the overall Fund mandates and strategies. Directors also serve as a trusted business/programme advisor with a significant role in authoritative policy advice within the Fund at the senior management level as well as in policy dialogue in their representational activities.
 
3.PROGRAME MANAGEMENT: Directors provide leadership in 
(a) all phases of the division’s medium term planning and management, including operational requirements such as (i) establishing annual work plans, (ii) ensuring regular programme assessment and (iii) identifying opportunities for innovation and implementation of best practices generated within the Fund as well as in peer organizations, both private and public; 
(b) reviewing and innovating core processes of the division in order to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, as well as financial sustainability, of operations; 
(c) enhancing synergy among divisional staff and holding staff accountable for results and (d) ensuring the preparation of all divisional publications, reports and governing bodies documents. 

4. MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: Directors are responsible for ensuring the transparent, equitable, and efficient management of IFAD’s resources, including human, financial, and material resources. This includes managing staff through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, and career development. Directors are also responsible for managing the division’s budget, ensuring accountability and fiduciary integrity. Additionally, they are responsible for managing material resources and promoting knowledge and content management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost-effective processes. Directors also leverage information technology to improve business results, reporting processes, and client services 

5. REPRESENTATION AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Directors serve as designated representatives of the Fund. They catalyse effective partnerships with a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, international financial institutions (IFls), non-governmental organizations and academic  institutions  for the purpose of programme co-operation,  knowledge sharing,  policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. Directors represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in IFls, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and Global conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international institutions.

The key responsibilities of the Director, PFM include: 

STRATEGY AND EFFECTIVENESS MANAGEMENT: The Director PFM provides overall strategic direction for the development of IFAD’s fiduciary oversight function, ensuring that procurement activities and the financial management undertaken by clients (Borrowers/Recipients) in the context of IFAD-financed projects are conducted effectively and efficiently and are consistent with applicable policies and guidelines. The Director PFM participates in the design of IFAD’s corporate strategic approaches and ensures that corporate strategies are fully integrated in the design of assigned activities. The Director PFM sets and communicates clear strategic and operational objectives for IFAD’s fiduciary functions and is a credible and trusted partner in managing for results and as an innovator in the field of fiduciary oversight and support. The Director PFM defines the principles and requirements for the management of project external auditing and accountability for projects financed by IFAD, manages preparation of, standard bidding documents and other knowledge and operational fiduciary materials and negotiates their application with country authorities, to comply with the IFAD’s procurement policies while coordinating the evaluation and validation for the use of national fiduciary systems.

QUALITY CONTROL AND ASSURANCE: The Director PFM strategically guides the organization, delivery and continuous improvement of fiduciary oversight and support services across IFAD’s portfolio, ensuring an appropriate chain of fiduciary and quality controls, and consistent application of IFAD’s fiduciary standards. The Director PFM is responsible for implementing, executing and continuously improving effective and streamlined Project Fiduciary Management (including IT systems) across the lifecycle of IFAD projects, ensuring high quality project procurement and financial management processes, oversight, project-level controls and risk mitigation, including the assessment of fiduciary performance criteria, monitoring and corrective actions as appropriate. 

POLICY DIALOGUE: The Director PFM promotes constructive dialogue and advances partnerships on public procurement matters and financial management. The incumbent attends high-level policy meetings in order to exchange best practices and actively promotes fiduciary reform dialogue within IFAD and champions continuous improvements, working in close collaboration with different functions of the organization such as IFAD’s Regional Divisions, the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of Audit and Oversight. The Director, PFM maintains strategic partnerships with other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in the areas of project procurement, financial management and project administration to support harmonization efforts on Procurement and Financial management policies and operational practices where applicable.

CAPACITY BUILDING: The Director PFM is responsible for overseeing adequate capacity building of both external stakeholders, including government and project staff, auditors, as well as IFAD workforce; and leads related capacity building programmes, and tools development. This includes ensuring a problem-solving approach to implementation support for on-going projects.

Directors establish IFAD’s priorities and provide leadership to division-level programme and operational management activities, ensuring a results-based approach to meeting assigned goals and objectives.

Leadership activities include the optimal utilization of human, financial, technology, and material resources for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

The Director, PFM is responsible for the successful achievement of divisional goals and objectives and for providing project procurement and financial management services for IFAD projects.

Directors are responsible for building and maintaining strong working relationships both within and outside of IFAD. Internally, Directors provide strategic advice to senior management and collaborate with other divisions to ensure effective coordination of programme planning and activities. Externally, Directors develop strategic partnerships with a range of institutions, including borrowers, development agencies, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations, for the purpose of programme cooperation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, and resource mobilization. Directors also represents IFAD in official committees, meetings, and conferences, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public, and international financial institutions. 

The Director, PFM serves as the lead strategic advisor on fiduciary issues, advising senior management in the areas of project procurement services, project financial management strategies, including on related systems and standards. In addition to the compliance role, the Director of PFM is responsible for ensuring a client focused problem solving approach, and support close and efficient working relations with Operations, in particular ensuring strong operational support to the regional divisions and other operational and technical divisions and project staff. 

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships – Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating – Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership – Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients – Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff – Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information – Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making – Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development – Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working – Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Level – Advanced university degree* from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. 
  Areas – finance, business administration, project procurement, or other technical related area.
  Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php
  (*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures. 

Certifications:

• A professional qualification in finance is required – chartered accountant (CA) qualification, certified public accountant (CPA) qualification or equivalent from a recognized Institute of Accountancy an advantage. A certification in procurement is highly desirable.

Experience:

• At least twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience in project procurement, accounting, or financial management,  in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope. Experience in project design and implementation in the development sector is an advantage;
• At least five (5) years’ experience in strategizing, developing and implementing fiduciary controls and operational policies, preferably with an MDB or IFI or similar institution working in the international public sector sphere. 
• Demonstrated experience and ability at leading and managing multicultural teams, and work experience across multiple geographic regions is desired.

Languages:

• English (4 – Excellent)
• Highly desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic 

Skills:

• Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors
• Written communication: Ability to use written communication as a main tool in profession, including for speech writing; clear, succinct and convincing written communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD’s activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
• Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions
• Confidentiality & Discretion: Establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a “Culture Carrier” demonstrating IFAD institutional conscience through his/her work.
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one’s area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management

The structure of IFAD is currently undergoing a recalibration process. The definite set-up of the Procurement Services and Financial Management Division is being finalized and is subject to confirmation of institutional processes requirements, which will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.  See here. 

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. https://webapps.ifad.org/members/eb/134/docs/EB-2021-134-R-9.pdf ; https://www.ifad.org/documents/38711624/42415556/SEA_e_web.pdf/85275c4d-8e3f-4df0-9ed8-cebaacfab128?t=1611326846000

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