Advisor to Vice President (Corporate Services and Human Resources) at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Full Time

Job Title: Advisor to Vice President (Corporate Services and Human Resources)

Position Number: 50070060
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL2

The Complex

• The Vice-President, Corporate Services and Human Resources, ensures the delivery of efficient, people-centered, client-oriented, corporate services to ensure overall institutional effectiveness in all aspects of the Bank’s corporate services.
• The Complex leads efforts to digitalize and transform the Bank into a knowledge-driven workforce, promote human resources policies that enhance talent, drive a performance -driven culture, and ensure the competitiveness of the Bank as the employer of choice.
• The Complex ensures that all Human Resources and Corporate Services are re-aligned to drive greater corporate performance and execution of the Bank’s strategic vision and priorities.
• The Complex is responsible for providing leadership in the formulation and implementation of Bank’s strategies on People, IT, General Services and Institutional Procurements, Language Services, Business Continuity and Health and Safety strategies.

The Hiring Department

• The Vice-President, Corporate Services and Human Resources front office is composed of different experts, including the Advisor to the Vice President, Corporate Services and Human Resources.
• The front office staff members are responsible for advising and assisting the Vice President to  coordinate resources and deliver the work program for the Complex.
• As part of the Front office of the Vice President, CHVP, the Advisor plays an advisory role to support the Vice President in ensuring an effective and efficient management of the Vice Presidency work program.

The Position
The job scope is wide, and it involves provision of advice and support to the Vice President on Corporate Services Management, Human Resources Management and Development, Procurement of Goods and Services, Information Technology, Business Continuity, Languages Services, Staff Welfare and Medical Services, Staff Association and Legal and Ethics Advice. Therefore, the job deals with various rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures pertaining to the execution of this variety of functions. The Advisor will therefore:

• Provide advice and support to the Vice President in developing, implementing and safeguarding Bank Group policies, directives and guidelines related to Human Resources and Corporate Services Management.
• Provide advice and support to the Vice President in managing, delivering and monitoring the work programme and budget for the CHVP Vice Presidency.
• Provide advice and support to the Vice President on corporate services delivery including Information Technology, General Services and Procurement, Business Continuity, Medical Services and Health and Occupational Safety.
• The position aims to strengthen the Vice-Presidency to improve its capacity to respond to institutional needs and deliver the corporate services in an effective and efficient manner.
• Provide quality control for the delivery of the CHVP Vice Presidency work program.

Key Functions
Corporate Services Policies, Strategies ad Guidelines:

• Advise the Vice President on and initiate, develop and review Bank Group’s Corporate Services policies, rules, regulations, processes and standards.
• Provide critical analysis of Corporate Services policies, and directives and advise the Vice President on procedures, approaches for the implementation of the complex mandate.
• Evaluate the continued applicability of existing Bank corporate services policies and guidelines and provide advice, suggestions and recommendations to the Vice-President on amendments.
• Review the fiduciary, judiciary controls, and governance framework related to CHVP Operations.
• Review contracts as well as procurement and information technology issues to ensure effectiveness and compliance with Bank Group policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and fiduciary controls.

Advice on Human Resources Management:

• Advise the Vice President on and initiate, develop and review Bank Group’s Human Resources policies, rules, regulations, processes and standards.
• Evaluate the continued applicability of existing Bank Group’s Human Resources policies and guidelines to provide advice, suggestions and recommendations to the Vice-President on amendments.
• Review the fiduciary, judiciary controls, and governance framework related to CHVP Operations.
• Review human resource issues, to ensure effectiveness and compliance with Bank Group policies, rules, regulations, procedures and fiduciary controls.

Advice on Management of Languages Services:

• The Advisor to the Vice President will be the lead contact in the front office on all issues concerning the management of the Languages Services Department.
• The Advisor will provide critical analysis of language services policies, and directives and advise the Vice President on procedures, approaches for the implementation of the languages services mandate.

Budget and Activites Management in the Front Office:

• Lead on managing the Budget of the CHVP Complex in support of the Vice President.
• Lead on supervising, monitoring the administrative functions of the front office including Town Hall meeting, Senior Management Meetings and Vice President Missions.
• Participate or represent the Vice President in external missions and Lead the preparation of Vice President mission briefs.
• Support coordinating and harmonizing the preparation of the Complex work plan in collaboration with the Directors and the Budget Coordinating Officer in order to ensure consistency with the Complex Strategic Plan.
• Advise the Vice President and monitor the implementation of decisions made by the Board, President and the Vice President in respect to Departments and Units/Divisions under the Vice Presidency.

Review of Position Papers:

• Advise the Vice President, undertake quality control, review and monitor preparation of Complex papers for the Board and SMCC and undertake any follow-up actions.
• Advise the Vice President on various reports/documents submitted by the President’s Office, and other Complexes and undertake any follow-up actions.
• Prepare briefs on operational policy issues of concern to the Complex and coordinate the input of the Complex Departments and Units/Divisions.

Audit:

• Advise and offer support to the Complex Departments and Units/Divisions in preparation of Audit Action plans.
• Follow up, monitor and advice the Vice President on the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Prepare implementation progress reports for the Vice President and the Board on the Audit recommendations.

Participation in Meetings:

• Participate and support the Vice President in Board meetings including Board Committee and SMCC.
• Advise the Vice President and participate in inter and intra Complex meetings as requested by the Vice President.
• Advise the Vice President and participate in meeting with external clients as requested by the Vice President.
• Represent the Complex in external meeting as requested by the Vice President.
• Review meeting documents and draft speeches, talking points and briefs for the Vice President.

Staff Appeals:

• Advice and offer solutions to the Vice President on staff appeals in consultation with other Departments such as Ethics Offices, Ombudsman and Legal, in the interest of staff member and the Institution.
• Examine and respond to the concerns of staff members, in the strict observance of Bank rules and of confidentiality regarding their rights and working conditions.

Special Assignment:

• Lead inter and intra Complex task teams as requested by the Vice President.
• Engage key stakeholders within and outside the Bank, to ensure successful outcome of CHVP papers and policies at the Board and Senior Management Committees.
• Undertake ad hoc assignments and any other tasks as requested by the Vice President including membership on task teams as a representative of the Complex.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• At least a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Organisational Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Public Sector Management, Finance, Law, Strategic Management or related discipline.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant work experience preferably in an International organization.
• Have professional competence, conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills.
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Experience should encompass management and support of organizational transformation of the Human Resources and Corporate Services Complex.
• Experience in projects management.
• Integrity, efficiency and discretion in handling of the Human Resources and Corporate Services Complex dossiers, most of them being of sensitive and confidential nature.
• Client and results oriented individual holding “a can do attitude”.
• Effective consulting and advisory skills that enable clients and help them build their confidence and skills to deal with HR issues.
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision as well as part of a multicultural team.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other language.
• Proficient in the use of standard MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Practical knowledge of SAP systems will be an advantage.

Application Closing Date
14th November, 2021.

Note: This position is classified international recruitment and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.