Lead Portfolio Advisor - P-5 (Based In Rome)

This position is based in Rome, Italy.

Job Role

The Lead Portfolio Advisor provides authoritative expertise and technical leadership on programmes at the global, regional and national levels through spear heading relevant corporate processes to enhance the efficiency of IFAD-funded operations

Key Performance Indicators

The Lead Portfolio Advisor’s provision of authoritative professional expertise and technical leadership has a direct impact on programmes at the global, regional and national levels through spear heading relevant corporate processes to enhance the Fund’s business model, with a particular focus of enhancing institutional efficiency and efficiency of IFAD-funded operations. The Lead Advisor represents the position of IFAD in national, regional as well as global fora and conferences. Innovation is required in the adaptation and development of approaches and methods to evolving portfolio contexts. Work at this level is considered as substantially complex and of critical concern to the Fund. In particular, portfolio advisory work requires in depth identification and consideration of a full range of factors relevant to the examination and discussion of programme problems and policies in the solution of methodological problems or in the formulation of policy proposals and project recommendations.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

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

Education:

Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in Rural Development, Finance, Economics, Public Policy or related field is required (*):

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

• Four (4) years in a multi-cultural organization, rural development/financial institutions or government services, in the area of implementation and supervision of rural development programmes.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience.

Languages:

• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic
• Required English (4 – Excellent)
• Position-specific requirement: Working knowledge of French is an advantage (3 –Fluent).

Skills:

• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance, learning management, establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD
• Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision to external actors
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management
• 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
• Project coordination: Identification of key-priorities, ability to work with others, coordinate and structure work to meet deadlines and adjustment of workplan/resource allocation when needed, identification and management of project-related risks
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• 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
• Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
• 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)
• 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)
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions

Other Information

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.

This position is included in IFAD internal reassignment exercise and advertised externally in parallel. Should a suitable staff member be identified during the reassignment exercise and the reassignment decision accepted, the recruitment process will be cancelled. In case no suitable candidate is identified through reassignment, the recruitment process will continue.

Click "Apply" to read the full job description and submit your application.

Deadline for applications: 02 July 2023

Ref: VA 13293