Chief of Staff, Office of the President and the Vice-President (OPV) – 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.

The Office of the President and Vice-President (OPV) provides strategic oversight and direction to the entire Organization, including all decentralised offices, and is responsible for IFAD’s strategic leadership, and all departments and offices reporting to it. Most importantly, OPV is the highest-level of political and strategic engagement with IFAD Member States, Rome-based agencies, and other UN agencies and IFIs, leveraging the Fund’s resources, knowledge, relationships, and reputation to ensure IFAD achieves its mandate through IFAD-funded programmes and non-lending activities providing sustainable impact to its target groups. The Office also serves as the primary liaison with the Senior Executive Management Team and supports the general governance of the organization. The Office of the President and Vice-President leads the implementation of the strategic plan for the organization, as well as develops or champions new initiatives to improve organizational efficiency, visibility, and organization-wide leadership development.

The position is located in the Front Office of OPV and the Chief of Staff reports directly to the President of IFAD.

The Chief of Staff serves on IFAD’s senior management team. The main focus of such positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, the Chief of Staff is responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division’s programme of work within an allocated budget. This role requires a leader who can build trust, cultivate a positive and inclusive organizational culture, and always operate with transparency and accountability. The ideal candidate will embody the highest ethical and professional standards.  The role requires someone who upholds integrity, demonstrates unwavering commitment to ethical principles, and shows deep respect and empathy for diverse perspectives.

As a member of the Executive Management Team, the Chief of Staff has a corporate responsibility for the Fund.  The position plays a pivotal role in providing strategic and intellectual leadership and management support at the highest level of the organization by managing and coordinating relations between the Office of the President and Vice-President, IFAD’s senior management and the Fuvind’s middle-level managers in the implementation of the Fund’s mandate and programme of work. The position translates the broad organizational objectives into creative effective delivery in collaboration with senior management colleagues ensuring the overall cohesion of the Fund in action. In addition, the incumbent has management responsibility for the team providing strategic support to the President and coordinates the Office of the President and Vice President to ensure its efficient operations and communication with internal and external stakeholders. The Chief of Staff ensures the President is fully informed of all developments within the organization and with Member States that have an impact on the strategy and key objectives of the Fund.

1. STRATEGIC ADVISORY ROLE: The Chief of Staff provides strategic direction 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. The Chief of Staff also serves as a trusted business/programme advisor 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.

In particular, the Chief of Staff plays a critical and leading role in the day-to-day handling of business in the Office of the President and Vice-President and the implementation of major initiatives and delivery of IFAD’s business.  This includes but is not limited to:

1. Providing strategic support and implementation to the President and the Vice President in the day-to-day management of the Fund and on a wide range of sensitive and confidential matters affecting the organization and its relations with external partners and stakeholders;
2. Ensuring the effective direction and integrated management of all the Fund’s activities in line with the strategic vision and guidance of the President;
3. Supporting the coordination of Departments and Offices, ensuring the implementation of a well-articulated policy for the reporting and management of executive management meetings;
4. Advising Executive Management on innovation and/or change management programmes, direction, etc., based on the Fund’s institutional performance and efficacy, assisting, and communicating with executives throughout the decision-making and implementation stages;
5. Overseeing the internal management of the Fund on behalf of the President, including the development of, advice on and promotion of policies on management issues;
6. Ensuring the proper conduct of processes critical to the delivery of mandate implementation, particularly strategic planning, policy coordination and senior level decision-making; ensuring a clear understanding between substantive priorities and support capacities; acting as an integrator by connecting work streams that would otherwise remain siloed;
7. In coordination with the Vice-President, the Chief of Staff ensures an integrated approach to the results-based budget process, including alignment with strategic and operational plans and adequate provisions to meet resource requirements, and oversees the process as it relates to substantive mission components;
8. Coordinating the development and implementation of cross-cutting and management policies among the various departments of the Fund, in coordination with the Vice-President, as appropriate and improving the Fund’s ongoing processes and organising procedures to ensure optimal efficiency and productivity;
9. Undertaking the coordination of the Office of the President and Vice-President, which includes the planning, organizing and integration of the work of OPV and developing and implementing work plans to achieve the mission and goals of OPV;
10. Managing the development and implementation of the OPV’s annual work programme and budget;
11. Leading and managing the OPV team and closely collaborating with other relevant teams, providing oversight of and coordination on matters related to the efficient running of OPV’s Front Office;
12. Representing the President of IFAD, when requested; and
13. Performing any other duties as may be assigned by the President.

2. REPRESENTATION AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS: The Chief of Staff serves as a designated representative of the Fund and catalyses 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.

In particular, the Chief of Staff:

1. In collaboration with relevant departments, offices and divisions, provides strategic and intellectual support to IFAD’s engagement with member states and external stakeholders and helps assessing and mitigating risks facing the organization;
    
2. Maintains relations with key stakeholders in Rome and in member states and provides strategic guidance in the preparation of materials for meetings of governing bodies and member states; and
    
3. Represents the Office of the President and Vice-President on corporate high-level meetings.

3. MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: The Chief of Staff is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD’s resources, including human, financial, and material resources. This includes managing staff through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, and career development. Additionally, the Chief of Staff is responsible for managing material resources and promoting knowledge and content management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost-effective processes. The Chief of Staff also leverages information technology to improve business results, reporting processes, and client services. In particular, the Chief of Staff, oversees the activities of all entities located in the Office of the President and Vice-President.

The Chief of Staff’’s 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 the Chief of Staff 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.

Leadership activities include the optimum utilization of human, financial, technology and material resources for the achievement of greater efficiency and effectiveness. The Chief of Staff is a member of the Executive Management Team with a corporate responsibility for the Fund.  The Chief of Staff is tasked with ensuring maximum impact for the efficiency and efficacy of the Fund’s operations and service in all initiatives and activities through the provision of effective intellectual and professional leadership for overall strategy, quality, delivery, and results.

The Chief of Staff is responsible for building and maintaining strong working relationships both within and outside of IFAD. Internally, the incumbent provides strategic advice to the President and Vice-President and collaborates with other departments, offices and divisions to ensure effective coordination of programme planning and activities. Externally, the incumbent develops strategic partnerships with a range of institutions, including borrowers, development agencies, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations, for the purpose of programme cooperation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, and resource mobilization. The Chief of Staff also represents IFAD in official committees, meetings, and conferences, and builds organizational networks with peers in major private, public, and international financial institutions.

More specifically, the Chief of Staff is responsible for coordinating relations between OPV, IFAD’s senior management and the Fund’s middle-level managers in the implementation of the Fund’s mandate and programme of work. The Chief of Staff provides strategic and intellectual leadership to the President and Vice-President in the day-to-day management of the Fund and on a wide range of sensitive and confidential matters affecting the organization and its relations with external partners and stakeholders.

Organizational Competencies – Level 2

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

Education:

Level – Advanced university degree.

Areas – international relations, business administration, economics or any other relevant field from an accredited institution. (*)

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

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

Work experience:

• At least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible, relevant professional experience in a development finance or international financial institution or multilateral organisation with proven experience in project management and/or change management processes, integrating work streams and/or working with an executive team or advising executives in decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to lead and manage multicultural teams, preferably in an international financial institution, through a combination of corporate and field-based experience.
• Experience in improving the corporate organizational structure of an international institution and a deep understanding of organizational culture management in a multi-cultural organization would represent a strong asset.
• Demonstrated capapcity for managing development and implementation of strategic initiatives, as well as for ensuring that people, finances and ways of working are geared to delivering high-quality work

Languages:

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

Skills:

• 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; 
• Political acumen, Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice; 
• Change management, Role modelling, anticipation of key risks and conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented; 
• Planning, Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources; 
• 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; 
• Policy dialogue, Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts — line ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society; 
• Evidence-based policy, Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation); 
• Strategy implementation, Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions;
• 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);
• Confidentiality and 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;
• 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;
• 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; (e.g. reputational)
• Resources Management, Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources; 
• Programme/Project development, management, Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management;

Position specific:

• 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; 
• 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.); 

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 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

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