Senior Advisor to the AVP Corporate Services Division

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Description

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• The incumbent provides substantive contribution to the overall function of the Office of the President and Vice-President. This includes but is not limited to: 
• Provide technical input, synthesis and advice based on review and analysis of initiatives and proposals submitted to the Vice-President for decision and/or consideration. This involves pre-reading documents received and following up with relevant originators, preparing briefings on content as appropriate, and progressing draft versions of documents for the Vice-President. 
• Develop plans/strategies to support special corporate projects or initiatives by consulting and cooperating with all IFAD Directors as well as other relevant stakeholders as required. This includes tracking and monitoring progress on corporate initiatives to ensure effective and timely action, facilitating collaboration and providing guidance in problem-solving. 
• Anticipate the needs regarding events and meeting opportunities for the Vice-President and manage his involvement, as well as the involvement of key stakeholders. Prepare concise info packs of relevant material which includes formulating and/or coordinating the production of policy papers, reports, speeches, presentations, publications, position papers, guidelines, talking points and other documentation involving the Vice-President in committees, conferences, workshops, media events, meetings with key stakeholders, etc. 
• Review, analyse and provide input on documents submitted to the Vice-President.
• Contribute to processes of institutional change and reform, consulting internally to build shared understanding of, and to ensure regular communications pertaining to, ongoing and planned changes related to corporate strategies, standards and rules.

• Support the Vice President in the coordination of the front office workflow and administration, demonstrating good judgment with a sense of priority and effective sequencing of activities or tasks. 
• Coordinate any special project(s) assigned by the Vice President by tracking and monitoring progress on the commitments made by the Vice President. 
• Advise and prepare periodic analyses on a variety of issues of relevance to the work of the Vice President. Serve in institute-wide committees or task forces and represent the Office of the President and Vice President in internal meetings, whenever required. 
• Coordinate, create and manage linkages across IFAD; advise and support in identifying priorities, issues, constraints and opportunities in the process of achieving commitments made.

• Represent the Office of the President and Vice-President in meetings on corporate initiatives, coordinate action notes and follow ups if required. 
• Coordinate the preparation background information on important stakeholders and issues and gather information and data from internal and external sources that may aid in the development of partnerships and improve IFAD’s positioning that the Vice-President will be promoting on his missions. 
• Participate in the missions, as required, ensuring appropriate protocol, profile, representational opportunities, and visibility for the visits. 
• Represent IFAD at external meetings, as required.

• The incumbent understands and applies the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. At this level, the incumbent advocates change through consultations with all IFAD offices to build understanding of and to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes.

• The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes People Management through technical leadership/capacity development.
• Position specifics:  The Senior Advisor to AVP, CSD provides substantive contribution to the overall function of the Corporate Services Department and consults and cooperates with CSD Directors as well as other relevant stakeholders as required; this includes
• identifying issues in the annual portfolio review that can be routed to other departmental resources for action
• advising and preparing periodic analyses on issues of relevance to the work of CSD and
• managing the budget and SWP process of the front office
• building partnerships with UN/IFI networks and specialized departments of other development agencies as potential operational and strategic partners
• strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication in the areas related to CSD including representing IFAD at international and inter-agency meetings
• collaborate with and provide substantive inputs to the department’s Knowledge Management agenda
• assisting the AVP, CSD in leading the alignment of departmental resources with institutional priorities and integration of corporate initiatives in the department. Also, the incumbent provides support to the Associate Vice-President/CSD during missions, if required.

• 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

• Advanced university degree 
• Economics, International Development, Political Sciences, Management, Rural Development or any related field.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php 

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in administrative, management or advisory capacity or related role including experience within an international financial institution, development cooperation agencies.
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience:  An understanding of country-level operations and policy engagement and international policy frameworks related to global issues as well as experience at strategic and operational levels is highly desirable. Quality publications in the area of responsibility is an advantage. Proven exposure to high-level inter-agency debate fora.

• Required English 4 – Excellent
• Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic 3-Good

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