Associate Project Officer

Asian Development Bank • , , Philippines, Philippines • 3d ago

Job Description - Associate Project Officer (240663)

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 in the Water and Urban Development Sector Office (SG-WUD) within the Sectors Group (SG). 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, 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. SG-WUD leads policy development and dialogue, knowledge management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance processing and administration in the water and urban development sectors. You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines and report to the designated international staff and senior national staff.

Your Role

As an Associate Project Officer, you will provide guidance and assistance in general administration, portfolio management, project administration, and project processing activities related to loans and technical assistance (TA) projects.

You will:

Support portfolio management by: (i) developing and maintaining a database of key performance indicators and project administration issues and actions; (ii) preparing consolidated and analytical portfolio management reports; (iii) ensuring that necessary actions are being taken by the concerned international and administrative staff without delay; and (iv) providing any stop gap support as necessary.

Analyze the team’s water and urban 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, conducting special loan/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 and review the accuracy and consistency of data to ensure the quality of individual Project Performance Reports (PPR); monitor and analyze the team’s projection and performance on contract awards/disbursement, project completion report/technical assistance completion report programs; and make recommendations to achieve targets, when necessary. Prepare portfolio analysis reports in Excel and presentation format for effective communication both internally and externally. Review loan/grant/TA processing and administration documents to be endorsed and for approval by the designated IS and Director, following established quality assurance guidelines and relevant policies. Coordinate and provide inputs and feedback to WUD Sector Office and Sector Group initiatives in project administration, reflecting the operational issues and experience from the team and executing agencies (EAs)/implementing agencies (IAs) to ensure system improvement leads to more efficient portfolio outcomes. Ensure compliance with the checklist on the use of no objection procedure for loan, grants, guarantees, multitranche financing facility, policy-based lending, results-based lending, or any other newly introduced instrument’s quality. Take on project administration tasks for assigned loans and TAs, and support project administration of loan/TA projects, especially in procurement, consultant recruitment, and other project administration actions, and provide guidance to EAs on ADB’s procurement guidelines and policies. Participate in and contribute to project inception, review, mid-term review, special loan administration missions, and project completion review missions, as required. Provide guidance to project processing staff in the preparation of project processing reports, RRPs, and linked documents. Provide guidance and support in project processing missions in designing project implementation arrangements, including procurement/disbursement procedures and project management setup, and review of financing plans. Coordinate the preparation of annual portfolio management program (i.e., consolidates and prioritizes required project supervision missions), assess resource implications, and monitor the achievement of the program. Support the Director in monitoring quality at entry of various reports, drafting correspondences, and coordinating workload and other administrative support staff concerns. Work closely with the Director, provide support in the preparation of work program and budget resource requirements based on the Three-Year Rolling Work Program and Budget Framework and its related annual/mid-year budget estimates; monitor budget utilization; monitor progress and issues in budget utilization for efficient and effective resource use and ensure that deviations are properly accounted for and justified. Support in undertaking knowledge management products for the team and knowledge sharing. Mentor and support administrative staff. Perform other duties that may be assigned as reflected in the workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, economics, engineering, public administration, or related disciplines; preferably with advanced training. At least 6 years of hands-on experience in portfolio management, project administration, budget preparation/monitoring, and/or project processing activities related to loans and TA projects. Familiarity with good industry practices and guidelines within area of expertise. Strong analytical, interpersonal, and cross-cultural skills. Sound understanding of ADB procedures and practices related to TA and loan/grant project processing and administration, including safeguards compliance. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Proficiency with computer-based applications.

Benefits

Paid leave (including parental), medical and health benefits, life and other insurance plans, retirement plan, housing and education allowance (if applicable).

Additional Information

ADB will be rolling out a new job grading structure on 1 January 2025, which may result in a change of the position grade and title with no change in the terms of reference. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge and accept the possibility of such changes resulting from the new job grading structure.

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. 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.

Department : Sectors Group
Division : Water and Urban Development Sector Office
Staff Category : National Staff (HQ)