Senior Financial Sector Specialist
Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship The position of Senior Financial Sector Specialist is assigned to the Finance Sector Office (SG-FIN) within the Sectors Group (SG). You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines SG aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients. The SG, which is comprised of seven sector offices, supports the delivery of sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RD) and resident missions (RM) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.
SG-FIN leads policy development and dialogue, knowledge management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance processing and administration in the finance sector including sustainable and climate finance. Key areas of focus are financial inclusion, capital markets and contractual savings, digital finance and innovation, and sustainable finance. Digital finance is an important driver of the rapidly changing finance sector landscape and supports ADB’s innovation work, financial inclusion, and other tech-related applications, including climate change.
You will report to Director, Finance Sector, and will oversee National Staff (NS) and Administrative Staff (AS).
Your Role As a Senior Financial Sector Specialist, you will oversee the formulation and articulation of finance sector policy and strategies, engaging Developing Member Country (DMC) governments in policy dialogue, conducting ADB’s activities to support finance sector policy and reforms, lead and support financial sector operations, engage in knowledge production and dissemination, and undertake other tasks in South Asia and Central West Asia. The Specialist will assist the Director in overseeing the finance sector workstream and help coordinate and respond to strategic initiatives in the bank, as well as undertaking operational reviews and assessments. The position will support collaboration with ADB’s regional and non-sovereign operations departments to accelerate the four shifts in ADB’s New Operating Model—realizing ADB’s ambition to be the region’s climate bank; catalyzing private sector development; delivering holistic, knowledge-driven, innovative, and integrated solutions; and modernizing ADB’s approach to work by becoming more efficient, agile, and collaborative.
You Will * Oversee and support the development of strategies for the finance sector in DMCs, covering areas such as banking sector, non-bank financial institutions, contractual savings, capital markets, financial infrastructure, financial governance, project finance, public-private partnerships, digital finance, housing finance, municipal finance, among others, in consultation with relevant government agencies and Resident Missions (RMs). * Lead lending operations in the finance sector in a variety of modalities including policy-based lending, financial intermediary lending, sector development program and contingent disaster financing. * Propose, develop, oversee, supervise, and support innovative projects and TAs in the finance sector and related operations on private sector development. * Lead and support knowledge production and dissemination. * Coordinate across ADB, especially with the Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) to achieve a “one ADB” approach to incorporating international good practices and new innovations in finance sector development. * Support the Financial Sector to interface, coordinate, and respond to other departments and offices on operational reviews and evaluations, strategic and procedural issues, development coordination, and other activities. * Lead and support the preparation of Country Partnership Strategies (CPSs) and Country Operations Business Plans (COBPs), as needed. * Maintain communications with and represents the Financial Sector in meetings with senior level government staff within the finance sector. * Lead and support regional financial cooperation in CAREC, subregional cooperation groups, and other regional fora. * Participate in external conferences and events and serves as a liaison to industry standard setting bodies. * Coach and mentor teams and individuals within the Financial Sector, and across the department as necessary to ensure their on-going learning and development. * Take other responsibilities and perform other tasks needed by the Financial Sector, the Solutions Group, and ADB.
Qualifications
You will need: * Master's Degree, or equivalent, in Finance, Economics, or related fields. A university degree in related fields and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree. * At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in finance sector development, with good knowledge of the South Asia and Central West Asia regions and international experience working in several countries. Direct work experience in South Asian or Central West Asian is an advantage. * Experience in emerging areas of finance, such as sustainable and climate financing, is a plus. * Ability to steer ideas and projects to improve linkages between finance sector development, investment, and financial inclusion. * Significant expertise within a specific area of ADB's operations (finance sector), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area. * Expertise with recognized ability to lead projects and to share knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community. * Ability to perform effectively as a mission leader or team leader; proficiency in supervision, coordination, and planning responsibilities over multi-disciplinary team/unit. * Ability to effectively mentor and coach team members. * High level of maturity and ability to serve as an effective Officer-in-Charge when required. * Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. * Excellent capabilities in relationship management, strong client and impact orientation, effective communication skills, strong problem solving and solution-oriented approaches, strong ability for collaboration and teamwork, and a high degree of responsiveness and reliability.
Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 5.
Benefits ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience. ● Paid leave (including parental) ● Medical and health benefits ● Life and other insurance plans ● Staff development ● Retirement plan ● Housing and education allowance (if applicable) ● Expatriate benefits
Additional Information This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of (3) years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on an exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.
This position has been created as part of the Workforce Rebalancing Framework, which is a multiyear initiative (2022-2027) aimed at increasing in-house expertise in key operational areas that was previously sourced from consultants through ADB’s technical assistance. The goal is to strengthen in-house expertise to enhance the quality of ADB’s policy dialogue, operations, and knowledge solutions delivery by collaborating closely with developing member country clients. Expected candidates are seasoned experts in the advertised area(s) with strong field experience who can lead policy dialogue and project work with emphasis on providing knowledge solutions. Staff may undertake short-term assignments in other groups, departments or offices only when the expertise in the advertised area(s) is needed by those groups, departments or offices.
About Us 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.
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