Senior Country Officer

Job Vacancy | Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position is assigned in the Samoa Pacific Country Office (SAM PCO). SAM PCO is one of the five Pacific Country Offices under the Pacific Subregional Office in Suva, Fiji (SPSO). SPSO was established in 2004 and is responsible for maintaining client relations, country programming, coordination with development partners, and portfolio management across sectors for the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. SPSO is also providing oversight for the administrative, financial, and country operations in the five pacific country offices in the South Pacific, including SAM PCO.

You will report to the Regional Director, SPSO and may also supervise national and administrative staff.

Your Role

As a Senior Country Officer, you will be responsible for client relationship and will represent ADB in Samoa on a day-to-day basis. You will support external and internal relations, coordination, and consultation initiatives with external partners, and relevant departments in ADB. You will monitor and report on Samoa’s political, economic, and social developments and coordinate ADB portfolio implementation, including overall coordination of processing and administration of loans, grants, and technical assistance projects (TAs). You will support several investment projects in Samoa and assist in formulating country strategy, in consultation with Samoa country management team and Pacific Department (PARD) management. You will provide in-depth technical expertise in financial, budgetary, and administrative functions for management of SAM PCO.

You will:

• Coordinate and represent ADB in strategic policy dialogues with government, private sector, civil society, development partners, and other stakeholders on macro-economic development, public finance management, and other country issues.
• Support relationship management with the government, development partners, the private sector, civil society and other key stakeholders.
• Contribute to development of new or innovative approaches to policy and operational issues.
• Provide strategic support in the formulation, implementation, and review of the Pacific Approach in line with Samoa’s needs and priorities.
• Support the preparation and regular updating of economic, sector, and thematic assessments. Review and analyze socio-economic developments including macroeconomic performance and economic policy reform issues.
• Contribute in ensuring quality of design and support the coordination of loans, grants, and TAs under processing following local priorities and requirements.
• Assist in identifying and processing cofinancing opportunities for loans and TAs and act as project team leader for several investment initiatives and TAs under implementation in Samoa.
• As country team leader, coordinate programming and resource allocation priorities for Samoa. Coordinate ADB’s portfolio in the country including loans, grants, and TAs under implementation and coordinate country portfolio review meetings.
• Support the preparation of country performance assessment and lead the preparation of country-level reports and briefing materials.
• Support Regional Cooperation Specialist to implement relevant regional initiatives with the government as well as through facilitating collaboration with SPREP (based in Apia).
• Support country level development and implementation of the Pacific Differentiated Approach Climate Change Action Plan and other similar strategic initiatives.
• Provide logistical support to high-level visits and ADB missions in Samoa.
• Support the onboarding and familiarization of new staff and consultants on country operations, country management team’s processes, civil society engagement, gender mainstreaming, and ADB business processes and systems.
• Supervise and review the work of staff, consultants, and contractors and ensure quality of their work outputs.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned as reflected in the incumbent’s workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in economics, public finance, business administration, or equivalent; or Bachelor’s Degree in economics, public finance, business administration, or equivalent and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience including regional, country and sector project experience and at least 6 years of supervisory experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to adjust style and approach to respect and serve different clients
• Ability to think innovatively and proactively to propose solutions for addressing work challenges
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for National Staff Level 5.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

· Paid leave (including parental)

· Medical and health benefits

· Life and other insurance plans

· Staff development

· Retirement plan

· Housing and education allowance (if applicable)

· Expatriate benefits (for international staff)

Additional Information

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of three (3) years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on an exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

At the end of the initial period, ADB, as its discretion may: (a) renew a fixed term appointment or assignment, or (b) not renew a fixed term appointment

ADB will be rolling out a new job grading structure on 1 January 2025, which may result in a change of the position grade and title with no change in the terms of reference. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge and accept all changes resulting from the new job grading structure.

This opening is a local staff position. It is open only to nationals and residents of Samoa.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Visit ADB Careers FAQ for more information.

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