(Senior) Water Resources 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) Water Resources Specialist is assigned to the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SG-AFNR) within the Sectors Group (SG). You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

You will report to Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development and will oversee National Staff and Administrative Staff.

Your Role

As a (Senior) Water Resources Specialist, you will coordinate and communicate projects and activities in AFNR sector, and participate in the identification, development, implementation, and administration of loan and technical assistance (TA) projects in developing member countries (DMCs). To achieve climate change adaptation targets, you will lead climate and disaster related sector assessments to guide sector road maps, strategies, and country water action plans and guide technical, institutional and policy options in the regional countries and integrate them into ongoing and pipeline projects. The position will incorporate climate resilience and adaptive solutions in the activities supported by ADB, including strategy and policy development, preparing investment and technical assistance projects and community participation. To ensure effective, climate adaptive, and sustainable development results, the position shall operationalize climate change adaptation and introduce knowledge and innovations in AFNR operations in accordance with the relevant climate change and sector strategies, based on close collaboration and consultation with the governments, civil societies, communities and other key stakeholders. Interventions will reflect progressive solutions and best technical judgement on the components and activities under the proposed interventions to manage risks in water resources interventions. This is to ensure effective, climate adaptive and sustainable development results.

You will:

● Collaborate with staff at headquarters, including relevant climate and nature focals and resident missions in preparing suitable designs and implementation of modernized and climate resilient water sector projects, including meeting project readiness and quality at entry requirements. ● Represent AFNR sector in meetings and consultations with ADB stakeholders including government counterparts and local partners and actively contribute to new or innovative approaches to policy and operational issues which incorporate climate change adaptation in water resources management especially integrated and innovative solutions. ● Contribute to country programming and project development by supporting upstream diagnostics for climate and disaster risks in water resources sector, in a national or regional context for the relevant DMCs. This will include working closely with climate and other specialists to contribute to project specific adaptation pathways and strategies for the water resources sector. ● Identify necessary and appropriate water sector interventions, including basin-wide approaches, and nature based and other innovative solutions, which support climate change adaptation. These include investments, policy and institutional reforms, and capacity building for increased knowledge and resilience, which may be considered by ADB. ● Contribute to the development, processing and administration of loan and TA projects in the ANR sector, particularly climate adaptive integrated water resources development, river basin management, modernized irrigation and drainage, flood risk management, and landscape and nature-based solutions to respond adequately to the concerns and expectations of the client governments, ADB Management and the Board of Directors with adequate attention to due diligence and delivery of development results. ● Ensure key technical, social, economic, financial, and crosscutting issues such as climate change, natural capital, biodiversity and water use trends, poverty, social and gender are appropriately incorporated into projects. Ensure technical, procurement, disbursement, and contract administration issues are resolved timely during loan and TA implementation. ● Lead missions and lead on specific sector related areas. ● Prepare regular project updates and periodic reporting to supervisor and other project staff, teams, and project administration unit. Regularly coordinate and work closely with Climate Team to develop innovative and adaptive project designs and pipeline contributions. ● Lead in the preparation of consultant terms of reference and bid documents and coordinate consultant activities as appropriate. ● 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.

Qualifications

You will need:

● Master's Degree in Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, Environment or other related fields. Alternatively, a university degree in Civil Engineering and/or other related technical fields and at least 8 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered ● At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in water resources sector. International experience working as a water resources/related field engineer in several countries. Experience in Central and West Asia countries is an advantage. ● Good knowledge of climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and water resources development, including basin-wide approaches, nature-based solutions, flood risk management and natural resources management, community resilience and participation, infrastructure modernization, capacity building and institutional strengthening, integrated approaches to resource management, that are relevant to Central and West Asia countries. ● Strong technical skills and experience in climate change adaptation and water resources sector. Ability to contribute to reviewing designs of water resources interventions and associated rural infrastructure facilities, prepared/proposed by consultants or the government agencies, including cost estimates, implementation arrangements and other relevant technical aspects. ● Ability to synthesize technical, institutional, economic, social, and safeguard outputs into a coherent project design. ● Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including interpersonal skills, necessary to forge consensus among diverse stakeholders over various, and often contentious, development issues. ● Please refer to the links of ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level IS4 and IS5.

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 (for international staff)

Additional Information

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.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of 3years 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.

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.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

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