Chief, Quality Assurance and SECAP Unit

The Chief, Quality Assurance and Safeguards Unit (QAS), leads and manages IFAD's corporate quality assurance platform, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of IFAD operations including project design and implementation for loans and grants. The role involves strategic leadership, knowledge management, partnership building, and administrative management within the Office of Development Effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the QAS function as IFAD's corporate quality assurance platform for operational strategies, investment operations, grants and related review processes.
• Oversee planning, coordination and delivery of quality assurance reviews for COSOPs, sovereign and non-sovereign concept notes, project design reports, project appraisal reports, additional financing proposals, project completion reports, grants and other operational documents.
• Manage the QAS team of reviewers and internal support functions, ensuring coherence, consistency, timeliness and quality in review services.
• Oversee secretariat functions including QAS secretariat, grants secretariat and related committee or corporate review processes.
• Lead continuous improvement of quality assurance policies, procedures, guidance, tools and systems, including platforms and knowledge products.
• Promote coherence between quality assurance, safeguards, grants management and operational effectiveness by coordinating with relevant divisions and corporate functions.
• Lead generation, management and dissemination of knowledge from quality assurance, safeguards and related review processes.
• Ensure review findings, lessons learned, systemic issues and good practices are captured and translated into practical guidance and learning products.
• Promote effective use of systems and platforms including AI and digital technologies to support evidence-based reviews and institutional learning.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support quality, relevance and effectiveness of QAS services.
• Provide strategic advice and direct support to the Vice-President and engage with IFAD counterparts and Executive Board members.
• Accountable for effective, transparent and equitable management of the Unit's human, financial and material resources.
• Lead work planning, budget preparation and monitoring, performance management, staff development, contract management and administrative processes.
• Foster a cohesive, collaborative and results-oriented team culture and ensure internal management systems enable timely delivery and accountability.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in economics, development studies, or a closely related subject.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in technically related area of operations in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Recognised management skills in a multicultural setting, combined with ability to achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners.
• Proven leadership capacity and ability to lead interdisciplinary teams.
• Builds strategic alliances and enhances IFAD identity with clients.
• Knowledge of policy oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches and loan and grant preparation.
• Extensive field experience related to agricultural and rural development.
• Senior expert in programme development and management as well as specific expertise in rural project management and market development.
• Required English language proficiency at level 4 (Excellent).
• Desirable proficiency in French, Spanish and/or Arabic at level 3 (Good).
• Advocacy skills to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision to external actors.
• Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate, including public sector, non-state actors, and private sector actors.
• Know-how in policy dialogue and representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner.
• Experience in business process improvement to advise and support clients in building systems and processes with sound internal controls and business efficiency.
• Risk management skills including identification, assessment, and mitigation of potential liabilities and risks.
• Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD and respective divisions.
• Performance management skills to ensure staff deliver on objectives and meet development needs.
• Resources management skills for human, financial and material resources.
• Change management capabilities including anticipation of risks and formulation of contingency plans.
• Strong client orientation with critical thinking and communication skills.
• High level of confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive matters and driving good governance.

Skills

• Program Development
• Market Development
• Rural Agricultural Project Management
• Policy Dialogue
• Loan and Grant Preparation
• Business Process Improvement
• Risk Management
• Strategic Leadership
• Performance Management
• Resource Management
• Change Management
• Advocacy Skills
• Client Orientation
• Quality Assurance
• Knowledge Management
• Partnership Building
• Multi-Cultural Management
• Confidentiality and Discretion

Languages

English, French, Spanish, Arabic