Associate Project Officer / 250474

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 Associate Project Officer is assigned to the Human and Social Development Sector Office (SD3-HSD) within the Sectors Department 3 (SD3). SD3 aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in finance, human and social development, and public sector management and governance sectors the region and with ADB’s clients. SD3, which is comprised of three sector offices, delivers or supports sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.

SD3-HSD leads policy dialogue, initiatives, and solutions in the human and social development sectors (education, health, social protection, and in broader social development initiatives). SD3-HSD is responsible for (i) conceptualizing, processing, and administering lending, grant, and technical assistance (TA) operations; (ii) developing and delivering knowledge services and products to DMCs; and (iii) leading technical work on sector diagnostics and road maps and contributing to business development efforts.

You will be based at our India Resident Mission (INRM) in New Delhi.

You will have a primary reporting line to the designated Technical International staff or Director, SD3-HSD on operational and policy-related matters and have a matrix reporting line to the Country Director, INRM on day-to-day administrative matters. You will oversee junior team members.

Your Role

As an Associate Project Officer, you will provide technical and operational support and inputs in general administration, portfolio management, project administration, and project processing activities related to loans, grants, and technical assistance (TA) for the human and social development sector. This includes engaging sector dialogue with the government, development partners, and civil society.

You will:

• Co-lead, and/or support the processing, implementation, and administration of investment projects, TA projects, and assist in portfolio management and sector work and activities, focusing on the human and social development sector.
• Support portfolio management and project administration with tasks including, but not limited to: (i) monitoring the progress of assigned projects and preparing project performance reports; (ii) preparing annual forecasts of contract awards and disbursement, identifying factors responsible for shortfalls, and expediting achievements of target levels; (iii) identifying issues related to project implementation and taking action in close coordination with executing agencies (EAs), implementing agencies (IAs), contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries; (iv) preparing measures and implementing them to address the issues; (v) preparing internal procurement papers, reviewing procurement documents including draft technical designs and cost estimates, and papers for extension of loan closing dates; and (vi) reallocating loan proceeds, changes in scope and implementation arrangements, and other project administration tasks, and (viii) conducting review missions with the government counterpart.
• Analyze the team’s human and social development sector portfolio performance, project administration workload, and provide guidance to other members of the team. Closely coordinate with the project administration teams across the sector office.
• Contribute to the analysis and review of mission reports and aide memoires, progress reports, and other available project performance indexes on a regular basis and ensure quality through conducting special loan or TA review missions and prepare country portfolio review missions and tripartite portfolio review meetings. Contribute to addressing project administration red flags for timely corrective actions.
• Monitor annual forecasts of contract awards and disbursement, identify factors responsible for shortfalls, and analyze issues related to project implementation through interaction with EAs, contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries, and prepare measures to address the project administration issues
• Review loan/grant/TA processing and administration documents to be endorsed and approval by the designated Technical International staff and Director, SD3-HSD, following established quality assurance guidelines and relevant policies.
• Engage in sector dialogue with government officials and key stakeholders on human and social development, such as the issues of social security, social protection, aged people, and skills development, including the private sector and civil society.
• Maintain effective liaison and working relationship with SD3-HSD, government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate formulation, processing, administration and monitoring of ADB-financed human and social development loans and TA projects.
• Organize, contribute, support, and participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops, related to the human and social development sector.
• Maintain and update knowledge base of future government investment plans and approval processes, organizational structure, and policies relevant to the sector.
• Participate in and contribute to project inception, review, mid-term review, special loan administration missions, and project completion review missions, as required.
• Contribute to sector assessments and provide appropriate advice on project procurement and sector policies and institutional reforms.
• Provide guidance and support in project processing missions in designing project implementation arrangements, including procurement/disbursement procedures and project management set up, and review of financing plans.
• Contribute to sector work in the field by assisting in conducting research, updating information on the human and social development sector, analyzing financial, institutional, or economic uses, and preparing reports on the subjects.
• Participate in and contribute to country programming and review missions to monitor performance of human and social development sector projects, including preparation of the related pre- and post-mission documentation. Facilitate timely processing and approval of assistance pipeline (loans, grants and technical assistance).
• Liaise with national and local governments and ADB Headquarters to facilitate invitation and participation of government officials to ADB training and conferences in India and abroad.
• Mentor and support to junior team members.
Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in your workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, social science, finance, business administration, public administration, education, public health, or related fields, preferably with advanced training.
• At least 5 years work experience in human and social development sector, such as social security, social protection, and skills development, and/or in development partner-financed project preparation and administration in those areas.
• Two years of relevant experience outisde ADB within the past five years is required. Years as an ADB-engaged consultant or contractor are considered experience outside of ADB.
• Extensive knowledge of government policies, reforms and programs in the human and social development sector with a focus on the above-indicated areas. Familiarity with government procedures, structure and institutions. Work experience within relevant ministries mandated in the above-indicated areas, or state-level governments would be an advantage.
• Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and stakeholders.
• Sound understanding of ADB or other multilateral development bank procedures and practices related to TA and loan and grant project processing and administration, including safeguards compliance.
• Ability to work effectively, proactively and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Proficient in computer applications, especially word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, and SharePoint.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and local language.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for TL4.

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

Additional Information

This opening is a local staff position. It is open only to nationals and residents of India.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of three (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. At the end of the initial period, this appointment may be renewed for a period of up to three years, or not renewed. There is no limit on the number of renewals. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

This position is crucial to the Workforce Rebalancing Framework (2022–2027), a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing ADB's in-house expertise previously sourced from the external workforce. The role seeks seasoned experts with substantial field experience capable of leading policy dialogue, and projects focused on delivering knowledge solutions. Successful candidates may occasionally undertake short-term assignments in other groups or departments when required. This fixed-term appointment for three years is renewable under Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 on “Recruitment and Appointment”.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 members, 50 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 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

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