Senior Country Specialist - Asian Development Bank - Sydney, Australia

Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, Australia, Pacific Department

Closing Date: 19 February 2013 , 5:00 p.m. (1700 Manila Time, 0900 GMT)

 

Job Purpose:

The specialist will: (a) take a lead role in preparation of country partnership strategies (CPS) and country operations business plans (COBP), country economic analysis, and medium term forecasts; country performance analysis in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu; coordination with internal and external stakeholders; (b) undertake economic, thematic, and sector work (ETSW); (c) oversee the process of lending and nonlending operations to ensure timely delivery of the country programs; (d) undertake policy dialogue with the government; external relations; and dissemination of ADB’s knowledge products in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients.

Expected Outcomes

Strategy and planning

• Take the lead in preparation of the results-based CPSs, country programming and COBPs for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and recommend adjustments, in response to the country’s development priorities and conditions, in close coordination with the joint country strategy partners.
• Lead the implementation of the results–based CPS, country programming and COBP, including intensive interaction with all concerned government agencies and development partners in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
• Coordinate and engage with government and donor agencies in implementing the Paris high level forum’s agenda on alignment, harmonization, and development effectiveness.

Economic, Thematic and Sector Work

• Prepare CPS-related diagnostic assessments (e.g., governance assessment, poverty assessment) and other economic and sector work such as annual reports, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) and TA reports
• Collect relevant economic, social, and environmental statistics for PLCO countries and maintain appropriate databases
• Conduct of Asian Development Fund country performance assessment for PLCO’s countries.
• Undertake the Country Performance Assessment and supporting the Performance Based Allocation (PBA) exercise for countries under PLCO management.

Project management

• Oversee the process of lending and nonlending operations to monitor and ensure timely delivery of the country program and provide leadership in the administration of relevant loan and technical assistance (TA) projects.
• Provide guidance, advice and comment to project teams in the administration of sector and program loan and TA projects.
• Support socioeconomic, thematic, and sector studies, contribute to PLCO’s knowledge products and oversee their dissemination.
• Support and contribute to PLCO’s regional cooperation and integration work.
• Identify opportunities for collaborative work and facilitate liaison with development agencies.

Policy and project evaluation

• Identify key issues to be addressed in ADB’s policy dialogue and conduct related policy dialogue with senior government officials based on ADB’s ETSW in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
• Undertake donor coordination activities, including representing ADB in international donor meetings and exchanging information with multilateral and bilateral aid agencies.
• Contribute new or innovative approaches to policy and operational issues
• Establish networks and maintain effective communications with key national development stakeholders, including the media, academic and research institutions, NGOs and civil society to facilitate ADB’s operations and dialogue in the sector.

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Staff Supervision

• Take the role of coach to develop capabilities/potential of reporting staff.
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff with oversight from a more senior staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Plan and ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.

Educational Requirements:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­economics, finance or other relevant fields. University degree in economics, finance or other relevant fields combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

Work experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience related to development planning and policy formulation, implementation and coordination.
• International experience working in development in several countries.

Technical Knowledge
- Proven application of expertise within a specific area of ADB's operations (economic, sector or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area
- Able to utilize and share relevant knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community

• Familiarity with multilateral development bank’s policies and procedures.
• Strong conceptual, analytical, negotiation and organization skills.
• Keen enthusiasm and capacity to deal effectively with multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

People and Leadership Skills

• When required, able to act as a mission leader / team lead, exercising supervision coordination, and planning responsibilities over the assigned team, with oversight from the Director or a more senior team leader
• Act as a mentor to more junior team members, providing guidance on projects and processing of loans/technical assistance

Core Competencies:

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Provides supervision to others in completing their technical tasks
• Called upon for advice and guidance based on expertise gained by working in different countries and organizations
• Contributes advanced knowledge and expertise to different parts of the Department

Client Orientation

• Proposes effective services and solutions to staff beyond presenting issues and past challenges
• Assists colleagues adapt to the cultural and business norms of diverse clients and country situations
• Gains respect for the breadth and depth of expertise demonstrated in effectively managing diverse clients and country situations
• Called upon to resolve client situations that may impact their long-term ADB relationship

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Resolves situations where client needs are not being met
• Shares past experiences from different projects, organizations, and countries to help achieve quality results
• Ensures that thorough analysis includes current and relevant factors from different countries and contexts
• Sought out for guidance and experience in overcoming the most challenging situations
• Draws on long-term relationships with stakeholders to help plan for and achieve results

Working Together

• Addresses team members not contributing to required standards
• Commits to delivering timely and high quality work to assist in the team’s success
• Develops and maintains good internal and external peer and senior level relationships
• Helps teams understand common features to build rapport and overcome challenges

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Provides stakeholders with the level and quality of information required to achieve outcomes
• Encourages others to seek long-term solutions to address feedback opposed to focusing on immediate concerns or reactions
• Uses breath of multi-country and multi-client knowledge to equip clients and staff for more effective outcomes
• Designs and implements project and program knowledge and services

Innovation and Change

• Consistently seeks more effective and practical ways for the Departmental delivery of services, products, and processes
• Proposes new ways to improve the quality and relevance of products and services
• Includes the core benefits and reasons for change when developing comprehensive change roll out plans
• Influences and persuades decision makers by presenting business cases supporting the proposed changes

Immediate Reporting Relationships / Other Information:

• Supervisor: Regional Director, PLCO
• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:
  • National Staff
  • Administrative Staff
• Women are encouraged to apply

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