Senior Advisor to the AVP, Corporate Services Division – P4

Organizational Setting

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 Corporate Services Department (CSD), led by the Associate Vice-President, CSD, provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security, information technology resources and medical support services required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people overcome poverty. The work of the CSD is undertaken by three divisions: (i) Administrative Services Division (ADM); (ii) Human Resources Division (HRD); and (iii) Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) and three units: (a) Front Office CSD (FCS); (b) Field Support Unit (FSU); and (c) Medical Services Unit (MSU). 

The Senior Advisor works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance, and supervision of the Associate Vice-President (AVP).

The position is located in the Front Office CSD (FCS) division and the Senior Advisor to AVP, CSD works under the direct supervision of AVP, CSD. 

 

Job Role

Senior Advisors are accountable for authoritative provision of qualitative technical support and guidance to the AVP and the departmental Team in general. The incumbent advises and supports the AVP and divisions on the programme, goals and objectives through coordination, monitoring and reviewing of all initiatives, policies and papers in the department. They will assume responsibility for organizing, and coordinating operations involving the Office of the Associate Vice-President, as well as monitoring any corporate agenda items. The incumbent will provide substantive contribution to the overall functions of the Office of AVP and provide coordination to its workflow and administration. The incumbent will also work closely with all IFAD Directors in general, to ensure proper communication flows, build consensus and ownership of departmental plans/strategies. 

Work at this level is characterised by the provision of policy-level expertise and keeping abreast of the evolving corporate services standards and best practices at the international level. 

In specific, the Senior Advisor to AVP, CSD, provides policy, technical and operational support and advice to the AVP keeping CSD vision and mandate at the forefront of decision-making and actions. 

 

Key Functions and Results

1. SENIOR-LEVEL ADVICE ON CORPORATE POLICY AND STRATEGY: 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: 
(i) 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. 
(ii) 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. 
(iii) 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. 
(iv) Review, analyse and provide input on documents submitted to the Vice-President.
(v) 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.

2. COORDINATION, MONITORING AND REPORTING: The incumbent assists in coordinating activities of the Vice President as required and supports strengthening synergies and collaboration within the Office of the President and Vice-President and across the organization. The accountabilities may include: 
(a) 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. 
(b) Coordinate any special project(s) assigned by the Vice President by tracking and monitoring progress on the commitments made by the Vice President. 
(c) 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. 
(d) Coordinate, create and manage linkages across IFAD; advise and support in identifying priorities, issues, constraints and opportunities in the process of achieving commitments made.

3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: The incumbent contributes to partnership building. The incumbent supports joint advocacy and knowledge sharing to contribute to enhancing the Fund’s profile. The accountabilities may include: 
(i) Represent the Office of the President and Vice-President in meetings on corporate initiatives, coordinate action notes and follow ups if required. 
(ii) 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. 
(iii) Participate in the missions, as required, ensuring appropriate protocol, profile, representational opportunities, and visibility for the visits. 
(iv) Represent IFAD at external meetings, as required.

4. AGENT OF CHANGE: 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.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: 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  (a) identifying issues in the annual portfolio review that can be routed to other departmental resources for action (b) advising and preparing periodic analyses on issues of relevance to the work of CSD and (c) managing the budget and SWP process of the front office (d) building partnerships with UN/IFI networks and specialized departments of other development agencies as potential operational and strategic partners (e) strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication in the areas related to CSD including representing IFAD at international and inter-agency meetings (f) collaborate with and provide substantive inputs to the department’s Knowledge Management agenda (g) 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.

 

Key Performance Indicators

Assignments require the provision of authoritative technical capacity both in terms of policy development and operational experience. The incumbent at this level makes recommendations to senior staff in the Office of the Associate Vice-President and other IFAD fora on questions related to the corporate agenda of IFAD. The incumbent is accountable for authoritative provision of qualitative technical support and guidance to the Office of the Associate Vice-President in general through coordination, monitoring and reviewing all corporate initiatives and respective commitments made. The key performance indicators for the Senior Advisor to the AVP include leadership, both technical and team across departmental divisions and units. 

Position specific:  The Senior Advisor to the AVP, CSD is accountable for authoritative provision of qualitative technical support and guidance to the AVP, CSD and the CSD Team in general. The incumbent advises and supports the AVP, CSD and divisions on the CSD programme, goals and objectives through coordination, monitoring and reviewing of all CSD initiatives, policies and papers.

 

Working Relationships

Senior Advisors ensure for timely, efficient and consistent political alignment of the Office of the Associate Vice-President. The work relationships involve the provision of authoritative technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in analysis of initiatives, proposals submitted to the Office of the Associate Vice-President and commitments made by the Office of the Associate Vice-President. The incumbent collaborates and coordinates with senior officials related to any missions, special events or initiatives, in which the Office of the Associate Vice-President, will be involved.

Position specific: The work relationships of the Senior Advisor to AVP, CSD involve the provision of authoritative technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in analysis of initiatives and proposals submitted to the AVP, special projects and initiatives, etc. Work relationships are established and maintained with counterparts both inside as well as outside the Fund. Contacts are with counterparts and senior officials within other United Nations organizations and research institutes and academia.

 

Job Profile Requirements

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
• Areas – 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

 

Experience:

• 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.

 

Languages:

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

 

Skills:

• 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
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented
• 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
• 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)
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD’s core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD’s goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• Project/Programme management (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation

 

Other Information

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.

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. 

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org

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. 

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.

Candidates may undergo pre-screening tests and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

 

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