Deadline: 02 September, 2022

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking applications from eligible applicants for the post of Director, Strategy and Delivery, Office of the President.

AfDB’s mission is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its regional member countries (RMCs), thus contributing to poverty reduction.

Responsibilities

• Work with other members of the president’s cabinet as well as across the bank to ensure a coordinated and effective approach in the implementation of the bank’s overall strategy, the ‘high fives’ operational priorities and associated corporate targets and performance indicators
• Ensure that internal processes and initiatives related to project delivery are aligned with overall corporate strategy and the president’s priorities
• Maintain effective engagement with the relevant departments and units across the bank and provide strategic advice to the various management and delivery teams across the complexes on being strategy-focused and results-oriented, particularly on solving challenges of high-visibility, corporate-wide initiatives
• Monitor progress of corporate wide transformative initiatives and targets and provide prompt updates to the president
• Work with the various complexes to manage, estimate, and continually improve delivery management processes and procedures
• Arrange briefing meetings for the president with the senior management group and/or other teams/complexes, as necessary
• Work with senior management and with others across the bank to find solutions that deepen the quality of operations and minimise reputational risk as per the president’s guidance
• Conduct analysis of implementation challenges with concerned complexes and recommend improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Work with regional and sector operations to take ongoing ownership of all operations-related data in the bank’s corporate systems and ensure accuracy of reporting to the president related to progress, challenges and results
• Regularly provide the president with detailed, data-driven, technical write-ups with respect to the bank’s strategy implementation, delivery and performance, including on what is going well, the key challenges and how to fix them
• Work closely with the development impact and results department to develop proprietary dashboards for timely decision-making for the president, particularly on the bank’s lending operations but also in other areas
• Work with other members of the cabinet to effectively represent the president in various statutory and or ad hoc committees of the bank
• Help set the tempo, attitude and approach articulated in the president’s expectations in terms of proactivity, approachability, inclusiveness, accountability and professionalism
• Work closely with senior management, and with the corporate strategy and policy department, particularly to articulate the president’s vision in the development of the TYS 2.0
• Help shape the strategy, sense and interpret shifts in the bank’s operating environment, and otherwise help lead the strategic planning process
• Take a lead role in the TYS 2.0 choreography and roll-out, including internal and external consultations with various stakeholders and always channel the president’s vision, priorities and direction
• Work closely with the bank’s senior leadership, and with the corporate strategy and policy department on bringing to the president’s attention outdated policies that need updating or eliminating
• Regularly scan the horizon to ensure that the bank’s policies and practices are ahead of, or in line with lessons learnt as well as best practices at sister institutions
• Work with the regional and sector operations management to engage with and listen to the bank’s delivery teams on the ground to better understand how to drive positive morale necessary for enhanced efficiency and productivity as well as frontline impact and client satisfaction
• Advise the president, as necessary, on the needs and interests of the bank’s delivery teams throughout the organisation
• Seek to understand issues affecting the bank’s task managers and their teams
• Work with senior management team to create and implement a coherent and solutions-focused, on-the-ground delivery strategy, including improvements to efficiency, budgets, and processes as the institution scales its operations to allow delivery of maximum impact and value to beneficiaries, partners and shareholders

Requirements

• Master’s degree, minimum, in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics or a related field
• Ten years, minimum, of relevant experience, with five years, minimum, in a managerial role acquired in an international development organisation
• Track record in strategy, delivery, performance management and reporting with solid understanding of results-based management approaches, corporate and operational performance issues
• Strategic mindset and capacity to translate strategic thinking into a compelling plan of action
• Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions, taking due account of stakeholder interests and perceptions
• Excellent listening skills and cultural sensitivity, a clear commitment to diversity and capacity to initiate and manage innovation and change
• Proven experience in coordination activities with demonstrated ability to work across institutional boundaries with various teams, build and lead a team of professional staff, and utilise talent and expertise of team members in a productive way
• Sound people management skills combined with the ability to multitask and demonstrate sound judgment
• Ability to think clearly and write to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, individuals and across teams, including senior management team
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments, with excellent technical and analytical skills
• Ability to provide strategic leadership and drive results and execution
• Proven ability to communicate both orally and in writing with high level individuals/stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and lead teams
• Ability to collaborate with a highly diverse senior management teams and respond to needs of multiple stakeholders, with excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French
• Competence in the use of bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, SAP and/or other integrated document management system)

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: Paul Kagame