Director & Chief of Staff, Office of the President and Vice-President (OPV)

Organizational context

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.

Post's organizational accountability

As a member of the Executive Management Team, the Director and Chief of Staff reports to the President and has a corporate responsibility for the Fund.  S/he plays a pivotal role in providing strategic and intellectual leadership and management support at the highest level of the organization by managing and coordinating relations between the Office of the President and Vice-President, IFAD's senior management and the Fund's middle-level managers in the implementation of the Fund's mandate and programme of work. S/he translates the broad organizational objectives into creative effective delivery in collaboration with senior management colleagues ensuring the overall cohesion of the Fund in action. The accountabilities/key results include:

• Strategic advisory role on corporate planning, policy formulation and inter-agency relations
• Representation and external relations
• Management of Resources

Key results expected / Major functional activities

1.   STRATEGIC ADVISORY ROLE: The Director and Chief of Staff plays a critical and leading role in the day-to-day handling of business in the Office of the President and Vice-President.  This includes but is not limited to:

• Provide strategic and intellectual support the President and the Vice President in the day-to-day management of the Fund and on a wide range of sensitive and confidential matters affecting the organization and its relations with external partners and stakeholders; 
• Undertake coordination of the Office of the President and Vice-President, which includes the planning, organizing and integrating the work of OPV and developing and implementing work plans to achieve the mission and goals of OPV;  
• Review and ensure quality control and high-quality standards of all outputs and communications that emanate from OPV in terms of quality, political impact, substance or presentation; 
• Direct the planning and coordination of the President’s day-to-day activities; 
• Review agendas and brief the President for all meetings and conferences within and outside of IFAD that the President may attend; 
• Advise Executive Management on innovation and/or change management programmes, direction, etc., based on the Fund’s institutional performance and efficacy; and
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the President.

2. REPRESENTATION AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS: 

• In collaboration with relevant departments and divisions, provide strategic and intellectual support to IFAD's engagement with member states and external stakeholders and help assessing and mitigating risks facing the organization;
• Maintain relations with key stakeholders in Rome and in member states and provide strategic guidance in the preparation of materials for meetings of governing bodies and member states; and
• Represent the Office of the President and Vice-President on corporate high-level meetings, such as the OMC.

3. MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES: The Director and Chief of Staff provides leadership to the team in the Office of the President  and Vice-President to ensure that the Office provides efficient service to the President, Vice President and to the organization as a whole. This includes:

• People Management through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of P and GS staff: 

(a) Identifies best qualified candidates for vacancies, with appropriate regard for gender balance and geographic distribution;

(b) Motivates, coaches and supports staff of the division, wherever they are located, to create cohesive teams that work effectively to achieve common divisional goals and objectives;

(c) Manages staff performance and development through regular performance feedback, mentoring and career planning. 

• Divisional Budget Management by leading divisional strategic and data inputs into the departmental budget preparation exercises and by ensuring accountability and fiduciary integrity in the Division’s budget execution;
• Material Resources Management through accountability for the material resources assigned to the Division.
• Knowledge and Content Management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost effective processes as well as to promote the generation, validation and dissemination of knowledge by ensuring (a) knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (b) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (c) appropriate and up-to-date information and tools are available as appropriate. 
• Information Technology Management through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, reporting processes and client services.

Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

The Director and Chief Staff is a member of the Executive Management Team with a corporate responsibility for the Fund.  The Director and Chief of Staff impacts on the efficiency and efficacy of the Fund’s operations and service in all initiatives and activities through the provision of effective intellectual and professional leadership for overall strategy, quality, delivery and results.

Representation / Work relationships

Internally, the Director and Chief of Staff is responsible for coordinating relations between OPV, IFAD's senior management and the Fund's middle-level managers in the implementation of the Fund's mandate and programme of work. S/he provides strategic and intellectual leadership to the Office of the President and Vice-President in the day-to-day management of the Fund and on a wide range of sensitive and confidential matters affecting the organization and its relations with external partners and stakeholders.

Externally, the Director and Chief of Staff develops strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships with counterparts spanning a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, IFIs, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization.

Competencies

Organizational

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Strategic leadership (Level 2)
• Demonstrating Leadership: Leads by example; initiates and supports change (Level 2)
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Challenges, innovates and contributes to a learning culture (Level 2)
• Focusing on clients: Contributes to a client-focused culture (Level 2)
• Problem solving and decision making: Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact (Level 2)
• Managing time, resources and information: Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources (Level 2)
• Team Work: Fosters a cohesive team environment (Level 2)
• Communicating and negotiating: Acquires and uses a wide range of communication styles and skills (Level 2)
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally (Level 2)
• Managing performance and developing staff: Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization (Level 2)

Technical/Functional

• Champion of IFAD’s values: results-orientation, professionalism, respect and integrity.
• Inspirational leader who is able to lead and manage major change and transition programmes and foster cooperative teamwork and outstanding achievement.
• Strategic and creative thinker who is able to recognize opportunities and propose solutions to problems.
• Results oriented decision-making ability with the ability to translate business strategies and needs into practical and effective finance management solutions and services. Effective in developing and successfully achieving the work programme.
• Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting.
• Client orientation – able to balance responsiveness and pro-activity in meeting internal client needs, to encourage staff to understand internal client needs and concerns, and to ensure provision of value added services as appropriate.
• Able to coach and develop professional finance management staff.
• High sense of integrity, trust and confidence.

Minimum recruitment qualifications

Education:

• Advanced University degree or equivalent higher-level qualification economics, international development, business administration, management or a related field.

Experience:

• Substantive relevant experience exceeding 15 years at an international level in an institution, which could include international organizations, international financial institutions, UN agencies or other development finance-related organizations.
• Progressively responsible management experience in senior positions is required.
• Strong speech giving/writing and report-writing experience and capabilities.
• Solid knowledge of inter-agencies relations within the UN System and with international financial institutions. 
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills, ability to develop a close and effective working relationship with the internal client at all levels. Able and competent presenter as well as a positive influencer of others.

Language requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.

Other information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

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 committed to achieving diversity and is seeking a balanced workforce from its Member States. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.