Senior Public Management Economist, Manila

Closing date: Monday, 2 May 2016

Reference Number: 160320

Department: South Asia Department

Division: Public Management, Financial Sector, & Trade Division, SARD

Location: Asian Development Bank Headquarters

Date Posted: Friday, April 8, 2016

Closing Date: Monday, May 2, 2016 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

Job Purpose

Identify, design, process and administer loans (both program and project loans), technical assistance (TA), and non-lending products and services (NLPS) in the areas of public resource management. Lead policy discussions with the concerned Government officials and contribute to the formulation and articulation of fiscal policies, public management strategies, and regulatory issues for South Asia Department developing member countries (DMCs). Develop the division pipeline and lead in overall program implementation. Create high quality knowledge products on the relevant issues pertaining to economic management and to support ADB's activities. Work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients.

Expected Outcomes

a. Strategy and Planning

• Develop policies and strategies to strengthen finances of the Governments (national, sub-national and local), and improve public financial management in the context of sustainable economic development, poverty reduction and service delivery improvements.
• Lead the dialogue with the government officials to develop reform measures in the areas of revenue mobilization including tax administration, expenditure rationalization, state owned enterprises restructuring, pension reform and other areas pertaining to finances of governments at all levels.
• Lead the discussions with Government officials to build the division pipeline.
• Write technical papers and conduct economic, thematic and sector work related to (i) public finance; and (ii) macroeconomic management.
• Participate in country teams and provide sector inputs for Country Partnership Strategies (CPSs) and PSM roadmaps.
• Coordinate with Resident Missions for consistency of approach, exchange of experiences, and continuous improvement of practices and integration of issues/policies pertaining to (i) Governments' finances; (ii) public financial management; and (iii) overall macroeconomic management.

b. Project Management

• Design, process and administer loan and TA projects with focus on public resource management.
• Design innovative projects with clear demonstration effects in the areas of public expenditure rationalization, tax mobilization, municipal finance reforms, state-owned enterprises reforms, etc.
• Provide advice to executing agencies on project preparation.
• Liaise and coordinate with development partners on TAs and program loans in the relevant areas.
• Ensure that key technical, economic, financial and crosscutting issues are incorporated into projects.
• Build supporting fiscal programming spread sheets to justify fiscal space creation under a policy-based loan and to quantify development financing requirements.
• Explore contributions to the innovation agenda in the public sector management space.

Assess the revenue augmentation, expenditure control, and debt management capacity of the national, sub-national, and local Governments and provide recommendations for improvement and capacity building.c. Capacity Building

• Contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building in the areas of public financial management.

d. Economic, Sector and Thematic Work

• Create high quality knowledge products on contemporary issues including macroeconomic management in the DMCs.
• Regularly interact with the executing agencies, other departments and offices in headquarters for smooth implementation of projects.
• Provide inputs for CPS as required.

e. Knowledge Sharing

• Participate in and contribute to internal and external training and conferences and other activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building.

f. Staff Supervision

• Provide leadership and support to reporting staff.
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.

Core Competencies

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Provides supervision to others in completing their technical tasks
• Called upon for advice and guidance based on expertise gained by working in different countries and organizations
• Contributes advanced knowledge and expertise to different parts of the Department

Client Orientation

• Proposes effective services and solutions to staff beyond presenting issues and past challenges
• Assists colleagues adapt to the cultural and business norms of diverse clients and country situations
• Gains respect for the breadth and depth of expertise demonstrated in effectively managing diverse clients and country situations
• Called upon to resolve client situations that may impact their long-term ADB relationship

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Resolves situations where client needs are not being met
• Shares past experiences from different projects, organizations, and countries to help achieve quality results
• Ensures that thorough analysis includes current and relevant factors from different countries and contexts
• Sought out for guidance and experience in overcoming the most challenging situations
• Draws on long-term relationships with stakeholders to help plan for and achieve results

Working Together

• Addresses team members not contributing to required standards
• Commits to delivering timely and high quality work to assist in the team's success
• Develops and maintains good internal and external peer and senior level relationships
• Helps teams understand common features to build rapport and overcome challenges

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Provides stakeholders with the level and quality of information required to achieve outcomes
• Encourages others to seek long-term solutions to address feedback opposed to focusing on immediate concerns or reactions
• Uses breath of multi-country and multi-client knowledge to equip clients and staff for more effective outcomes
• Designs and implements project and program knowledge and services

Innovation and Change

• Consistently seeks more effective and practical ways for the Departmental delivery of services, products, and processes
• Proposes new ways to improve the quality and relevance of products and services
• Includes the core benefits and reasons for change when developing comprehensive change roll out plans
• Influences and persuades decision makers by presenting business cases supporting the proposed changes

Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Master's degree, or equivalent, in economics or other related fields.
• University degree in economics or other related fields combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master's degree

Relevant Experience

Work experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the above field, preferably in a reputed research institution or in a multilateral agency.
• Experience in working on the issues pertaining to finances of national, sub-national and local Governments
• Experience of working on similar issues in multiple countries, preferably in South Asia

Technical knowledge

• Evidence of independent research and publications in the relevant areas
• Proven application of expertise within a specific area of ADB's operations (economic, sector or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area
• Able to utilize and share relevant knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community
• Ability to prepare fiscal analysis based on simple fiscal models and fiscal programming tools.

People and leadership skills

• When required, able to act as a mission leader / team lead, exercising supervision coordination, and planning responsibilities over the assigned team, with oversight from the Director or a more senior team leader
• Act as a mentor to more junior team members, providing guidance on projects and processing of loans/technical assistance
• Act as a coach to develop the capabilities/potential of more junior colleagues
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Reporting Relationships

• Supervisor: Director, SAPF
• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:
  • Administrative Staff
  • National Staff

We encourage diversity in our workplace and support an inclusive work environment. Women are especially encouraged welcome to apply.