Chief, Quality Assurance and SECAP Unit

IFAD; Roma; In loco; EUR 120.000 - 170.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

IFAD in Rome seeks a Director to direct and manage the Quality Assurance and Safeguards Unit (QAS), ensuring the quality assurance of IFAD operations, including project design and implementation for loans and grants. This role oversees QA policies, knowledge activities, and stakeholder relationships across a multicultural organization.

The ideal candidate brings strategic leadership, risk management expertise, and extensive experience in program development, with strong leadership of

Competenze

• Advanced degree in economics, development studies or related field.
• Proven leadership in quality assurance and safeguards in a multicultural setting.
• Strong track record in strategic planning, policy formulation and program development.
• Experience with loans and grants and knowledge of pro-poor approaches.

Mansioni

• Lead and manage the QAS unit as the corporate QA platform for operations and investments.
• Oversee QA reviews for COSOPs, concept notes, PDRs, PARs, PCRs and grants.
• Manage the QAS team, secretariat functions, and internal support services.
• Drive continuous improvement of QA policies, systems and knowledge management.
• Foster coherence between QA, safeguards, grants, and operational effectiveness.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Conoscenze

Strategic leadership

Quality assurance

Safeguards compliance

Risk management

Knowledge management

Institutional learning

Partnership building

Resource management

Policy formulation

Programme development

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Change management

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Formazione

Advanced university degree in economics, development studies, or closely related field

Descrizione del lavoro

Organizational context

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized UN agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger by investing in rural people. The Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE) ensures IFAD-supported projects achieve maximum impact and serve as learning opportunities, enhancing accountability, efficiency, and strategic resource allocation.

Job purpose

To direct and manage the Quality Assurance and Safeguards Unit (QAS), ensuring the quality assurance of IFAD operations, including project design and implementation for loans and grants. This involves overseeing quality assurance processes, managing knowledge activities, building partnerships, and managing the Unit's administrative functions.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the QAS function as IFAD's corporate quality assurance platform for operational strategies and investment operations. Oversee quality assurance reviews for various products (COSOPs, concept notes, PDRs, PARs, PCRs, grants). Manage the QAS team and internal support functions, ensuring coherence and quality. Oversee secretariat functions for QAS and grants. Lead continuous improvement of quality assurance policies and systems. Promote coherence between quality assurance, safeguards, grants management, and operational effectiveness. Lead knowledge management and institutional learning from review processes. Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Manage the Unit's human, financial, and material resources effectively and transparently.

Education

Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in economics, development studies, or a closely related field.

Work experience

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in a technically related area of operations in a multicultural organization providing global support. Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting, proven leadership capacity to lead interdisciplinary teams, and experience in building strategic alliances. Knowledge of pro-poor approaches and loan/grant preparation, with extensive field experience in agricultural and rural development, and expertise in programme development, management, and rural project management.

Skills

Strategic leadership, quality assurance, safeguards compliance, risk management, knowledge management, institutional learning, partnership building, resource management, business process improvement, performance management, change management, client orientation, confidentiality, integrity, ethics, political acumen, negotiation, synthesis of complex information, evidence-based policy formulation, programme/project development and management.

Required languages

English (Excellent)

Desired languages

French, Spanish, Arabic (Good)