Chief, Quality Assurance and SECAP Unit Rome, Italy, P

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 Development Effectiveness (ODE) ensures that IFAD's supported projects are set to achieve their maximum impact and serve as a learning opportunity for future ones. Specifically, ODE is responsible for managing, measuring, and facilitating the effectiveness of IFAD operations, including adequately incorporating knowledge into operations. Through the systematic integration of research findings, lessons learned, innovations and best practices into IFAD's project design, implementation, and self-evaluation processes, the effectiveness and impact of IFAD-supported

initiatives are enhanced. ODE contributes to three key corporate objectives:

• Enhancing accountability and transparency of operations.
• Driving operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Supporting the strategic prioritization and allocation of resources.

Chiefs are responsible for managing a Fund division or office and serve on IFAD's senior management team. The main focus of Chiefs positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, they are responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division's work programme within an allocated budget.

The Chief, Quality Assurance and Safeguards (QAS), is responsible for directing and managing the QAS division and serves on IFAD's senior management team. The incumbent ensures the quality assurance of IFAD operations, including project design and implementation for loans and grants. This includes serving as Secretary of the OSC and overseeing quality assurance processes for both loans and grants. The incumbent also manages the Unit's knowledge management activities, builds strategic partnerships, and oversees the Unit's administrative management, including human resources, budget and planning.

• Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on  in economics, development studies, or a closely related subject.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in technically related area of operations in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope;
• Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting, combined with ability to achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners.
• Proven leadership capacity and ability to lead interdisciplinary teams.
• Builds strategic alliances and enhances IFAD identity with clients.
• Knowledge of policy oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches and loan and grant preparation.
• Extensive field experience related to agricultural and rural development.
• Senior expert in programme development and management as well as specific expertise in rural project management and market development.
• Proficiency in English (4 - Excellent) is required. Proficiency in another UN language (French, Spanish, or Arabic) is desirable.

• Advocacy:
  Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision to external actors
• IFAD partners:
  Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate, such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors
• Policy dialogue:
  Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society
• Business process improvement:
  Know-how in business process improvement to advise and support clients to build systems and processes with sound internal controls and business efficiency.
• 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
• Strategy implementation:
  Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
• Performance…