Director & Chief Risk Officer

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 Office of Enterprise Risk Management (RMO) is a dynamic, strategic and responsive service provider, leading IFAD's second line of defence by fully supporting the management of all risks across the organization. The RMO implements, monitors, and maintains an efficient and effective Enterprise Risk Management programme, supporting IFAD's strategic vision and mandate. The RMO aims to enable better informed risk taking by using consistent risk management best practices across the organization to achieve the Fund's objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. The Office is responsible for oversight and monitoring of risk exposures and enabling clear reporting of IFAD's risk profile.

The mission of RMO is to monitor IFADs Risk environment across all of its Risk generating areas and oversee the design and implementation of the ERMF. RMO helps IFAD accomplish its Strategic Framework by bringing a consistent approach to monitoring and improving the Risk Management process.  RMO supports IFADs strategic objectives and sustainable financial position from a Risk perspective, especially the commitment to defend IFADs credit rating.

RMO is comprised of two main units, the Operational Risk and Programme Delivery Risk Management Unit and the Financial Risk management Unit.

Directors are responsible for managing a Fund 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.

As the Director RMO and Chief Risk Officer, the incumbent supervises the risk managers and has management responsibility for the risk management teams. The incumbent serves as the senior executive in charge of the second-line-of-defence risk team and oversees risk management for all Level 1 risk domains, including strategic, financial, programme delivery operational, and cross-cutting risks such as reputational and legal. The incumbent has the independence and stature to challenge first-line risk management. As a member of IFADs Executive Management Team, the Director RMO and Chief Risk Officer has a corporate responsibility for the Fund. 

1. STRATEGIC ADVISORY ROLE: Directors provide strategic direction 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 trusted business/programme advisors 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. 

2. 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. 

3. 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 

The key responsibilities of the Director, RMO and Chief Risk Officer include:

• Providing intellectual and technical leadership in the area of risk and overall control of the delivery of risk management-related activities.
• Leading the second-line-of-defence independent risk management team, which assesses aggregate risks being assumed by the Fund, challenges the effectiveness of first-line controls, enables the monitoring of such controls, and reports independently to the President and Vice President on aggregate levels of risk across IFAD.
• Ensuring the development and implementation of an adequate Enterprise Risk Management Framework and other risk-related policies, frameworks, and initiatives across the Fund. Assumes responsibility for the annual review and maintenance of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) policy.
• Overseeing the risk management programme and practices across the organization. The incumbent is also responsible for the integration of risk concepts and priorities into strategic planning.
• Chairing the Financial Risk Management Committee (FRMC) as well as the Non-Financial Risk Committee (NFRMC). 
• Strengthening IFADs overall risk culture by fostering accountability in the implementation of risk management strategies, risk identification and mitigation activities, by ensuring regular ERM training and consistent ERM communications. Fosters appropriate risk management frameworks to support innovative solutions and new business opportunities.
• Taking responsibility for and authorizing any changes to the enterprise risk taxonomy documents.
• Supporting the Vice-President in the role as Chair on the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC) and overseeing aggregate risk exposures and progress of mitigation efforts against IFAD's primary risks, enabling clear reporting of IFADs aggregate risk profile against Executive Board- approved appetite levels, in the context of IFAD's strategic objectives.
• Championing discussions and dialogues on risk-related matters with internal and external stakeholders and fostering an environment of measured risk taking.
• Ensuring, together with the other internal stakeholders, the defence and improvement of IFADs Credit Rating (currently AA+).
• Managing the development and implementation of the division's annual work programme and budget.
• Leading and managing the risk team within the division and closely collaborating with other relevant teams, providing oversight of and coordination on risk matters across all risk domains. 

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, RMO and Chief Risk Officer is responsible for IFAD's efficient enterprise risk management, providing strategic risk management leadership and assisting the President and Vice President.

The Director, RMO and Chief Risk Officer works with the executive management team to establish risk management goals and strategies, overseeing their implementation to ensure IFAD's sustainability in delivering risk management services in support of IFAD-funded programs and 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. 

As a member of IFADs senior management, the Director RMO and Chief Risk Officer, supports the President and Vice President in providing vision and risk management oversight, as well as risk reporting to governing bodies.

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. A PhD would be an asset. Areas - Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Risk Management, Banking Economics or other relevant areas. Risk management relevant certifications (IIA, ACFE, CFA) would be an asset.
  Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

Experience:

• Substantive relevant experience exceeding 15 years at an international level in an institution, which could include international organizations, private or public international financial institutions, ministeries of finance, central banks or other development finance-related organizations. 
• Progressively responsible management experience in senior positions is required. A thorough understanding of the international financial and risk landscape for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and International Financial Institutions (IFls) is an asset.

Languages:

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

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.
• Economic evaluation: Know-how relevant to specific role in Evaluation roles (e.g. Monitoring and managing evaluation processes and methodologies, carrying out Programme/Project evaluation, Impact evaluation, Corporate-level evaluation).
• IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work.
• IFAD partners: Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors.
• UN and IFI documentation & processes: Knowledge of the relevant policies, rules, regulations and guidelines on document processing and distribution within the UN and other IFIs.
• Risk & compliance: Know-how in asset liability management, risk reporting, capital adequacy, quality assurance and compliance (e.g. Anti-money laundering (AML), Know your customer (KYC) processes), etc.
• 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.
• Policy dialogue: Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD's mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society.
• Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources.
• 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.
• 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)
• Integrity and ethics: Strong emphasis on acting with honesty, not tolerating unethical behaviour, demonstrating equity, impartiality and sensitivity in exercising authority and interacting with staff, and other  stakeholders. Conduct must be guided by IFAD core values, the Code of conduct and a high sense of ethics.
• 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.
• 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.

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

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.