Country Operations Head

Overview Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific****, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Uzbekistan Resident Mission (URM) within the Central and West Asia Department (CWRD). CWRD is responsible for maintaining client relations and delivering ADB assistance to countries in the Central and West Asia region. URM’s responsibilities include country reporting, country strategy and program formulation, coordination of ADB's activities with the government, donors, NGOs, academic institutions, private sector, and other members of civil society, financial and administrative activities, project administration support, economic and sector work, and programming support, and external relations and information dissemination.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose The Country Operations Head, URM will assist the country director in the sound management of operations in the assigned resident mission. The incumbent will coordinate country programming, business planning, quality assurance and portfolio monitoring and organize the provision of operations services to project teams.

The incumbent reports to the Country Director (CD), URM with a matrix reporting to the Regional Operations Coordination Head of the Central and West Asia Department and supervises International, National and Administrative staff.

Responsibilities Country portfolio management and programming • Leads the country portfolio performance review. Responsible for management, monitoring and reporting on sovereign and non-sovereign operations (programming, pipeline and portfolio management) at country level to achieve country KPIs. Provides high-level guidance on operational issues and compliance with ADB policies. Actively takes part in operations and portfolio networks, facilitated by Regional Operations Coordination and PPFD. • Guides project teams on country-specific project and portfolio management issues and leads portfolio, programming and pipeline related missions and activities with government. Oversees project related communication and coordination with government and stakeholders. Consulting with clients to swiftly resolve country-wide issues, and coordinating the resolution of project-specific issues, in collaboration with the solutions departments/offices. • Supports CD, URM in assuring project/TA implementation arrangements are designed to meet country context. Guides sectors in the design and processing of projects to ensure that they are effectively delivered advance ADB’s regional and country priorities, meet DMC needs, and fit the local context. • Leads the country programming. Programs the allocation of operational resources in the country in collaboration with sector groups, Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD)/Office of Markets Development and Public-Private Partnership (OMDP) and the regional operations coordination office. Works closely with CMTmembers to create a portfolio of cross-cutting and innovative projects that meet client needs and advance ADB’s priorities, e.g., climate change and PSD. • Maintains pipelines and oversees progress of lending and non-lending by monitoring, supporting and facilitating the work of solutions departments for the timely delivery of the country program. Develops country private sector development programs spanning upstream, midstream, and downstream activities. Liaises with development partners on co-financing opportunities. Provides inputs into Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) and CPS reviews from a programming, pipeline and portfolio management perspective. • Advises the CD, URM and backstops the quality of project-level documentation, concurrences and decisions for sovereign operations and technical assistance, as determined by Staff Instructions and Project Administration Instructions. Liaises closely with Regional Operations Coordination Head on all matters of quality assurance.

Work planning • Supports CD and the country management team in preparation of the Resident Mission’s work plan and alignment with regional department KPIs. • Serves as head of the secretariat to the country management team, supporting the country director to set standard operating procedures for its effective functioning {as applicable due to size of RM}. • Organizes and advises on the provision of certain operations services (e.g., safeguards, procurement, financial management) and thematic services (e.g., climate change, gender), to ensure adequate support to project teams delivering operations in the country.

Capacity development • Organizes and provides operational capacity development to staff and external clients on sovereign operations management. • Manages the performance of teams and individuals providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance. • Provides coaching and mentoring to team and individuals and ensures their on-going learning and development. • Undertakes other activities as designated by CD, URM and Regional Operations Coordination Head. Coordinates with Head Regional Operations Coordination and Head Regional Cooperation and Integration, Lead Economist and Head, Private Sector Development.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements