Director, APR

This position will be based in the IFAD Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific Region (location to be confirmed, tentatively in Beijing, China or New Delhi, India).

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 Programme Management Department (PMD) is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five (5) regional divisions and the Operational Policy and Results Division. Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Associate Vice-President of Programme Management department (PMD), the Director will lead, manage and motivate a team of managers/senior specialists who are also supervisors, specialists and assistants. 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 position is located in Asia Pacific Division and currently oversees active country programmes in the following countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh China, Mongolia, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Indonesia, PNG, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, and Solomon Islands. Additional countries may be added in future.

The Director will lead, manage and motivate a team of managers/senior specialists who are also supervisors, specialists and assistants, under the overall guidance and supervision of the Associate Vice-President  Programme Management Department.

Directors are responsible for managing a Funding division and office and serve on IFAD's senior management team. 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.

In particular, the Regional Director manages and co-ordinates the delivery of the Regional portfolio and priorities and is responsible for its human, financial and material IFAD’s resources.

1.    VISION & STRATEGY: Directors develop and promote a strategic vision for translating IFAD’s corporate and departmental mandates; strategies, goals and objectives into a divisional programme of work and for ensuring evolving divisional programme activities are integrated in the evolution of departmental goals and objectives. They participate in the design of IFAD’s and departmental strategic approaches and ensure that corporate strategies are fully integrated in the design of assigned activities. Directors set and communicate clear strategic and operational objectives and are held 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 & 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 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. 

3.    PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT: Directors provide leadership in 

• 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;
• reviewing and innovating core processes of the division in order to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, as well as financial sustainability, of operations;
• enhancing synergy among divisional staff and holding staff accountable for results and
• ensuring the preparation of all divisional publications, reports and governing bodies documents. 

4.    MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: Directors are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources (human, financial and material). This includes: People Management through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of P and GS staff:

• Identifies best qualified candidates for vacancies, with appropriate regard for gender balance and geographic distribution;
• 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;
• 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 (i) knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (ii) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (iii) 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.

5.    REPRESENTATION: 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 represents 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 builds organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international institutions.

In addition, the Regional Director coordinates activities and communications among people, agencies and international organizations in the Region assigned. For example, this could include coordination and communication with: (i) FAO Regional Office in Bangkok (and other UN regional offices); (ii) with IFI’s who have regional offices or HQs in the region (inter alia AIIB, New Development Bank, World Bank, Asian Development Bank); international public sector institutions based in the region (IRRI, ICRISAT, WorldFish, World Forestry Centre, etc); and,  (iv) civil society and farmer organizations based in the region.

Within IFAD's overall Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, Directors establish IFAD's priorities for and provide leadership to division level programme and operational management activities and are accountable for a results-based approach to meeting assigned goals and objectives. Leadership activities include the optimum utilization of human, financial, technology and material resources for the achievement of greater efficiency and effectiveness.

The incumbents' impact extends beyond the successful achievement of divisional goals and objectives to include larger departmental goals and objectives in strategic planning collaboration. The expected results directly and/or indirectly benefit the ultimate stakeholders, the rural poor in developing countries.

The key performance indicators for Directors include leadership in viable strategic planning, authoritative and relevant policy development and advice, sustainable programme decisions and integrity and accountability in the planning and management of the Fund's human, financial and material resources assigned to the division.

Within IFAD, Directors provide authoritative advice to senior management on the division's or office's vision, strategic planning, policy, and divisional programme and operational management. They are accountable for collaboration  and coordination  within  the Fund to ensure appropriate consultation, cross-functional synergy and coordination of programme planning and activities.

Externally Directors develop 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, IFls, non-governmental organizations and academic  institutions  for the purpose of programme co-operation,  knowledge sharing,  policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. They are also accountable for the provision of authoritative advice during Executive Board sessions, the annual Governing Council and related subordinate bodies including the audit and evaluation committees.

Directors represent the Fund in official  United Nations committees and networks, and in international financial institution, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private,  public and international financial institutions.

PMD Directors have additional responsibility for in country offices and ensuring a “one team” approach to operations across divisions.

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 clientfocused 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 - rural development, agriculture, rural finance, development policy or other job related fields, with a preference for economics.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

Experience:

• At least twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience in technically related area of operations in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Five (5) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience: Demonstrated experience and ability at leading and managing multicultural teams is required.

Languages:

• English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: Spanish, French 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
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented
• 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)
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• 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.
• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Is proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals.
• Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• Policy dialogue: Know-how in the effective dialogue with ministries of finance, explaining lending terms and providing advice for debt management
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management
• Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• 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
• 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
• 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.)
• Strategic mindset: Proactive, ongoing identification of strategic opportunities, potential synergies and partnerships
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
• Topical expertise - Programme Mgmt for Agricultural Development: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. For ethics office assistant, procedures outlined in the Code of Conduct, Discipline and Anti-harassment provisions of applicable rules and guidelines)

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, staff members are subject to the authority of the President who 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 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.

This position will be based in the IFAD Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific Region (location to be confirmed, tentatively in Beijing, China or New Delhi, India).