Chief Strategy Officer, Finance - COSP at the African Development Bank (AfDB)

African Development Bank (AfDB) established to strengthen dialogue between the Bank and the Government, is recruiting to fill the vacant position of:

Job Title: Chief Strategy Officer, Finance - COSP

Reference: ADB/15/175
Location: Nigeria
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50055027

Objectives

• The Primary role of the Strategy Department (COSP) is to contribute to policy and strategy development, including annual plans and the Medium and Long-Term strategies of the Bank. COSP advices the President and Senior Management on strategy and policy issues of the Bank.
• COSP assists with the communication of the strategy to all stakeholders, and monitors and facilitates the implementation of related Presidential decisions.
  

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the general supervision of the COSP Director, the main responsibility of the Chief Strategy Officer is to provide strategic advice and support on COSP matters to the Director and the rest of the Department team in planning, organizing and coordinating the activities of the Department. He/She will:

• Participate as part of the core COSP team in corporate strategy development and its subsequent monitoring, reporting, updating and refinement in line with sustainable lending and resource options.
• Lead, in particular, in the area of finance and risk analysis. Within this framework, review the financial reports issued or submitted by the Bank’s Asset and Liabilities Committee and/or the Bank Credit Risk Committee, prepare notes for COSP effective participation in these committees.  Provide leadership in the review of Bank Group’s non-sovereign operations.
• Lead in the assessment of Regional Member Countries’ creditworthiness and eligibility to Bank Group’s financing, in view of their reclassification. Lead in the preparation of country special risk assessment for Low-Income Countries, within the framework of the Amendment of the Bank Group’s Credit Policy.
• Lead in the monitoring of Regional Member Countries debt sustainability.
• Keep the Department up-to-date on issues such as access to capital markets, financial products and innovative financing
• Coordinate the preparation of major COSP strategy reports such as the Annual Strategy Review, for Senior Management, including preparation of the mid-term review and periodical and special updates and reports. Contribute to/coordinate the preparation of Board documents on selected process enhancement recommendations.
• Provide support to Senior Management in the formulation of strategic policy objectives, and ensure their alignment with the strategic planning orientations and the Bank Strategy 2013-2022.
• As part of the core COSP team, ensure that all new policy proposals and initiatives, across the Institution, are aligned with the Bank’s planning directions and strategy.
• As part of the core COSP team, participate in and coordinate the Bank’s Strategy and policy development work, as and when required.
• Provide support to the office of the President as required, in particular on recent policy developments, and on the Bank’s response to emerging international issues.
• Prepare as requested planning and strategy documents.
• As part of the COSP core team, assist Operations Vice-Presidencies, Research, Finance and Corporate Management Vice Presidencies to formulate their work programs and specific strategies driven by the planning and strategy.
• Provide, as requested, up to date research on environment and business trends and keep up to date on new ways of doing strategic planning itself.
• Participate (on behalf of the COSP Department) in the preparation of selected Bank’s country and regional strategies and mid-term reviews.
• Represent the department as requested at key policy decisions and institutional reforms meetings and initiatives.
• Represent the COSP department as requested at selected key strategy meetings and on important missions. Serve as a focal point and spokesperson, as requested, on strategy issues to internal and external constituencies and expert strategy groups.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Minimum of Master's degree (or its university equivalent) in economics, macroeconomics or development economics, finance, strategic management, engineering or related development fields and a broad knowledge in development issues.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience; proven combination of hands-on operational experience with solid analytical skills; good understanding of development economics and specificities of Regional Members countries (RMCs); previous exposure to international, multicultural contexts would be an asset.
• Proven exposure to the Bank’s operations and mission with a good understanding of the Bank’s overall strategy.
• Proven exposure to financial risk analysis as well as debt sustainability
• Ability to provide advice, assistance, and coaching on Strategy related matters.
• Good leadership skills, and lateral thinking; high sense of professionalism. Good command of budgetary and operational management matters.
• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous and shifting demands, priorities and tight deadlines. Capability to work within specified time limits. Capacity to diagnose and resolve multiple, concurrent problems.
• High level skills in communication and negotiation as well as ability to build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interest of clients within and outside the Bank.
• Excellent written and verbal communications in English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of ERP Systems (preferably SAP) and standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), and good knowledge of operational management systems.

Application Closing Date
15th December, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online