Senior Quality Assurance Specialist - Rome, Italy

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.

Corporate Services Support Group (CSSG) comprises of:  (i) Office of the President and the Vice-Presidents (OPV) (ii) Office of the General Counsel (LEG), (iii) Office of Audit and Oversight (AUO); (iv) Office of Strategic Budgeting (OSB), (v)  Quality Assurance Group (QAG), (vi) Change, Delivery and Innovation Unit (CDI); (vii) Office of Enterprise Risk Management (RMO) and (viii) Ethics Office (ETH), a stand-alone unit.
The Quality Assurance Group (QAG) has three core functions: 1. To support the IFAD President, Vice President and Associate Vice President PMD as Chairs of the Operational Strategy and Policy Guidance Committee (OSC) in the review, clearance and further development of Country Strategic Opportunity Papers (COSOPs), loan and grant concept notes and operational strategies/policies for IFAD’s Governing Bodies; 2. To support the IFAD Vice President and/or Associate Vice President PMD to ensure the quality of the loans and grants programs through review and clearance of design documents and President’s Reports prior to approval; and 3. To deliver robust knowledge products and facilitate knowledge sharing with IFAD, based on lessons learned from all quality assurance review processes.

The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance and supervision of the Director QAG.

The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for providing oversight and quality assurance support for loan and grant programmes as well as for contributing to the knowledge management agenda of QAG. As an integral member of the team, s/he works collaboratively to ensure the quality of COSOPs, and loans and grants programmes and to provide consistent and high quality operational strategic and technical advice.

1. SENIOR LEVEL OPERATIONAL ADVICE ON STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMMES: The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist provides technical leadership to ensure the effective delivery of divisional programs. S/he (a) provides technical advice and leadership in the preparation of arms-length reviews of Country Strategic Opportunity Papers (COSOPs), loans and grant Concept Notes (CNs), and design reports presented to OSCs and/or Design Review and Quality Assurance Meetings; (b) ensures the quality and content of QAG review notes and decision memos, and lead quality assurance reviews on final COSOPs and grant and loan funded projects and programmes before submission to the Executive Board and/or the President for decision.

2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist  (a) identifies cross-cutting and systemic issues, good practices and lessons learned based on QAG quality assurance reviews, for generation and dissemination of knowledge products; (b) makes substantive contribution and technical guidance in internal and external knowledge and learning events, workshops and conferences, and presentations and engage in a dialogue on knowledge and lessons based on QAG reviews; (c) contributes to the analyses on specific themes, partnerships and/or issues of corporate interest and strategic relevance in promoting sustainable and inclusive rural transformation; and (d) organizes and/or contributes to training and/or capacity building activities.

3. MONITORING AND ANALYTICAL REPORTING: The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist (a) provides strategic and technical advice and leadership in the preparation of quality at entry ratings for loan and grant-funded projects; (b) leads the development and implementation of QAG’s annual reporting exercises (e.g. through the RIDE, to PMC and EMC sessions, etc.); and (c) contributes to the further development of QAG’s quality assurance methods, processes and guidelines.

4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes, among others, people management through support to recruitment of technical specialists and technical leadership/capacity development, coaching and mentoring of new and/or more junior staff, supervisory role and evaluation of performance of professionals and general service staff under his/her purview.

Assignments require the provision of authoritative strategic and technical expertise with regard to IFAD’s programme of work as well as knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts. The impact of work by the incumbent directly affects loans, grants and programmes and contributes to the Fund’s operational and corporate policy and strategy. The impact on the overall IFAD operational and corporate programmes is significant in ensuring the quality of delivery of the Fund’s programmes and projects. The work is intricate in that it requires consideration of a wide range of technical factors and related data, and technical leadership and guidance in proposals undergoing quality assurance review and related activities, and systematic capture and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices. The work is considered highly complex, requiring in-depth technical analysis and reporting skills. The Senior Specialist provides oversight of external consultants, participates as experts in field missions and in the servicing of intergovernmental and expert group meetings of a technical nature. The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist exercises independence and initiative in carrying out his/her work programme.

The work relationships of Senior Quality Assurance Specialist involve the provision of authoritative strategic and technical advice and guidance on quality assurance processes and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in the process. S/he serves as an expert in his/her field of specialization and works with full technical independence in the provision of strategic and technical expertise and methodological guidance at various levels.
The Senior Quality Assurance Specialist develops and builds collaborative working relationships with IFAD colleagues and other partners to enhance effectiveness of all review processes for COSOPs, loans, grants, and corporate policies and strategies. QAG main internal partners are:
a) Colleagues in PMD, SKD and ERG Departments as well as LEG and FMD;
b) The President, Vice President and Associate Vice President PMD as Chairs of the review meetings;
c) IFAD’s Executive Board Members, who rely on quality assurance reviews for approval of country strategies, loans and large grant-funded operations.
The Senior Specialist inter-alia, helps develop partnerships and networks, promotes a culture of quality in development cooperation, as well as shares knowledge and lessons on substantive and methodological issues.
Externally, the Senior Quality Assurance Specialist benchmarks with other international organizations, including IFIs and UN agencies to share information, and promote best practice. S/He represents IFAD in conferences and fora at national, regional and international levels as required by Director QAG.

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 client-focused 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 from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field (*):  in a job related field. An advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) plus at least four additional years of relevant professional experience, over and above the minimum number of years of experience.
• Areas - agriculture, and rural development, international cooperation, business administration, economics, agricultural economics, or related disciplines. 

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

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in an international development agency, working on issues related to rural transformation.
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope. 
• Position specific: Direct experience gained in operations of rural development projects is an asset

Languages:

• Required English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good)

Skills:

• Risk & compliance: Know-how in asset liability management, risk reporting, capital adequacy, quality assurance and compliance (e.g. Anti-money laundering (AML), Know your customer (KYC) processes), etc.
• Economic analysis: Know-how in Programme/Project economic analysis
• Economic evaluation: Know-how relevant to specific role in Evaluation roles (e.g. Monitoring and managing evaluation processes and methodologies, carrying out Programme/Project evaluation, Impact evaluation, Corporate-level evaluation)
• 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
• Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• Integrity and ethics: Strong emphasis on acting with honesty, not tolerating unethical behaviour, demonstrating equity, impartiality and sensitivity in exercising authority and interacting with staff, and other  stakeholders. Conduct must be guided by IFAD core values, the Code of conduct and a high sense of ethics.
• 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.
• Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• Written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.)
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management

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, the President 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 accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.  See here.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

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.

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 in line with its IFAD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and IFAD policy to preventing and responding to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse

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