Senior Project Officer (Infrastructure), Pakistan

Closing date: Friday, 22 April 2016

Reference Number: 160313

Department: Central and West Asia Department

Division: Pakistan Resident Mission

Location: Pakistan Resident Mission

Date Posted: Friday, April 8, 2016

Closing Date: Friday, April 22, 2016 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

Job Purpose

Actively contributes to the Pakistan Resident Mission (PRM) by leading loan and technical assistance (TA) administration associated with ADB's Mid-Term Review (MTR) implementation particularly infrastructure projects and related operations, and supports PRM's relevant country portfolio management activities.

Expected Outcomes

Contributes independently to PRM by covering all or a combination of the following functions related to the MTR implementation (focusing on all infrastructure projects) and related operations, taking the lead role in their administration, under the guidance of the designated International Staff supervisor and working closely with the PRM and ADB headquarter staff, government officials, and other external stakeholders.

Project & TA Preparation and Appraisal

• Provides support to fact-finding and appraisal missions, including but not limited to review of technical designs and cost estimates, liaison with government officials, data and project costing, procurement packaging and related technical issues.

Project & TA Administration

• Where assigned to assume the lead role in the processing and administration of specific loans and TAs, actively takes initiative and responsibility to engage with RM, HQ and field offices of ADB, Government agencies, development partners, private sector partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate the successful formulation, processing, administration and monitoring of ADB-financed loan and TA projects.
• Provides team leadership (where assigned as lead) by facilitating work planning, delivery and reviews with the team.
• Monitors the progress of assigned projects and prepares project performance reports.
• Prepares and updates forecasts of contract awards & disbursements, identifying factors responsible for shortfalls and expediting achievement of target levels where possible.
• Identifies issues and takes actions to address them through interactions with executing agencies (EAs), contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries; prepares measures to address the issues and implementing the measures.
• Prepares internal procurement papers, review of procurement documents including draft technical designs and cost estimates, and papers for extension of loan closing dates, reallocation of loan proceeds, changes in scope and implementation arrangements, and other project administration tasks.
• Provides advice to government ministries, executing agencies (EAs) and sector entities on ADB guidelines on procurement, recruitment of consultants, preparation of tender documents, etc. to ensure effective implementation.
• Assists EAs in the areas listed above for project administered by various sector divisions in the HQ.
• Assists in the preparation of Project Completion Reports and TA completion Reports as assigned.
• Supports or participates in Project Review or Country Portfolio Review missions as a mission member when required
• Provides support for policy dialogues with government on policy matters and institutional issues.
• Maintains close cooperation with other international donors and undertakes meetings and consultations with them, especially in areas relating to donor coordination and harmonization in sector work.

• Contributes to sector work in the field by assisting in conducting research, updating information on the assigned sector, analyzing financial, institutional or economics uses, and preparing reports on the subjects.
• Assists in the preparation of sector assessments within the context of development aid effectiveness and national sector strategy to be utilized for programming purposes.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge base of future Government investment plans and approval processes, organizational structure and policies relevant to the assigned sectors.
• Prepares inputs for sector database for portfolio management.
• Where required, acts as the focal point for the assigned sector(s) and maintains close relationships with the relevant Government agencies and HQ staff.

Other Operational Support

• Helps to organize, contributes to, supports, and participates in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Organizes and conducts training workshops for EAs in areas relating to procurement and project administration/management.
• Produces reports, as required, on the tasks undertaken in relation to the above.
• Performs other duties that may be assigned as reflected in the incumbent's workplan.

Core Competencies Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Applies updated advancements in own knowledge area to relevant tasks
• Applies knowledge and practical skills to independently perform some complex tasks
• Conveys the need to use updated project approaches

Client Orientation

• Delivers Divisional contributions across a variety of products and services to meet the needs of different clients
• Proposes options to clients that may better meet their needs than current approaches
• Defines and delivers to agreed standards with clients

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Conducts detailed research and analysis to determine appropriate methods for addressing the causes of issues
• Self-monitors achievement of results according to work plans
• Identifies different stakeholder needs and desired outcomes when planning for outcomes
• Independently solves problems and makes recommendations

Working Together

• Maintains collaborative relationships within the Department
• Works effectively with diverse colleagues in own and other Divisions and Departments
• Flexibly alters positions and adjusts previously stated points of view to support the group consensus
• Follows through on team priorities in the absence of a team leader

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Checks with audience's level of understanding and awareness of required follow up actions
• Consistently seeks and addresses feedback on own performance
• Creates knowledge products endorsed for wider distribution
• Independently amends and clarifies messages and documents

Innovation and Change

• Actively supports work improvement and/or organizational change by work and deed
• Develops and adopts change plans to support Division initiatives on which one works
• Considers current and future client needs in proposing ideas
• Vocalizes early support for change
• Recommends inputs to new policies, systems and processes in immediate work area

Qualifications

Education RequirementsBachelor's degree in related disciplines; preferably with Master's Degree or equivalent

Relevant Experience Work experience

• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in project management and implementation; and at least 4 years of supervisory experience

Technical knowledge

• Demonstrated expertise and experience within the assigned sector
• Experience & knowledge of various stages of the project cycle (project planning / feasibility analysis / detailed design / project implementation / construction supervision / contract management) is desirable
• Sound knowledge of government administrative systems and procedures
• Familiarity with accepted best practices of procurement and disbursement processes
• Effective report-writing and communication skills in English

People and leadership skills

• Able to mentor junior National Officers (NO) and Administrative Staff (AS) to facilitate work planning, delivery and quality review
• Able to liaise and work effectively with government officials within own work location
• Able to work collaboratively with teams as a constructive team member.
• Strong oral and written communications skills

Reporting Relationships

Supervisor: Designated International Staff

• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:o Administrative Staff

We encourage diversity in our workplace and support an inclusive environment.