Senior Advisor to the President & Vice President

Position details

• Job ID: 38513
• Organizational unit: Office of President & VP
• Grade: P-4
• Appointment: Regular
• Schedule: Full-Time
• Assignment duration: 2 Years
• Application deadline: 10/22/2026 (Rome time)

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at local, national and international levels for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Office of the President and Vice-President of IFAD (OPV) provides strategic oversight and direction to the entire organization, including all decentralised offices, and is responsible for IFAD's strategic leadership, and all departments and offices report to it. OPV is the highest-level of political and strategic engagement with IFAD Member States, Rome-based agencies, and other UN agencies and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), leveraging the Fund's resources, knowledge, relationships and reputation to ensure IFAD achieves its mandate through IFAD-funded programmes and non-lending activities providing sustainable impact to its target groups. OPV also serves as the primary liaison with the Senior Executive Management Team and supports general governance of the organization. It leads the implementation of the strategic plan for the organization, as well as develops or champions new initiatives to improve organizational efficiency, visibility, and organization-wide leadership development.  OPV also specifically oversees the Corporate Services Support Group (CSSG) and supervises the Protocol Unit. The CSSG comprises: (a) the Office of Audit and Oversight (AUO); (b) the Ethics Office (ETH); and (c) the Planning, Organizational Development and Budget Division (POB).

This position is located in OPV (FOP) and the incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Vice-President of IFAD.

Job Role

The Senior Advisor will assume the responsibility for organizing and coordinating operations involving the Office of the President and Vice-President, as well as monitoring any corporate agenda items. Work at this level is characterised by the provision of technical and operational support and keeping abreast of the evolving corporate services standards.

In particular, the Senior Advisor to the President and Vice-President will provide technical and operational support and advice keeping IFAD vision and values at the forefront of decision making and actions. The incumbent will provide contribution to the overall functions of the Office of the President and Vice-President, in supporting the President and Vice-President provide coordination to its respective workflow and administration. The incumbent will also work closely with IFAD's senior managers to ensure proper communication flows, build consensus and ownership of departmental plans/strategies.  

Key Functions and Results

1. SENIOR-LEVEL ADVICE ON CORPORATE POLICY AND STRATEGY:
The incumbent provides substantive contribution to the overall function of the Office of the President and Vice-President. This includes, but is not limited to:  

1. Provide technical input, synthesis and advice based on review and analysis of operational and corporate initiatives and proposals submitted to the President and Vice-President for decision and/or consideration. This involves pre-reading documents received and following up with relevant originators, preparing briefings on content as appropriate, and progressing draft versions of documents for the Vice-President.  
2. Develop plans/strategies to support special projects or initiatives by consulting and cooperating with all IFAD Directors as well as other relevant stakeholders as required. This includes tracking and monitoring progress on corporate initiatives to ensure effective and timely action, facilitating collaboration and providing guidance in problem-solving.  
3. Anticipate the needs regarding events, official travels and meeting opportunities for the President and Vice-President and manage his/her involvement, as well as the involvement of key stakeholders. Prepare concise info packs of relevant material which includes formulating and/or coordinating the production of policy papers, reports, speeches, presentations, publications, position papers, guidelines, talking points and other documentation involving the President and Vice-President in committees, conferences, workshops, media events, meetings with key stakeholders, etc.  
4. Review, analyse and provide input on documents submitted to the President and Vice-President. 
5. Contribute to processes of institutional change and reform, consulting internally to build shared understanding of, and to ensure regular communications pertaining to, ongoing and planned changes related to corporate strategies, standards and rules. 
6. Provide substantive and coordination support for official missions undertaken by the President and Vice-President, including accompanying and staffing such missions, as required; liaising with relevant internal divisions and external counterparts on mission preparation and implementation; coordinating, reviewing and quality-assuring briefing packages and related documentation; and ensuring timely follow-up on mission outcomes, action points and related deliverables.

2. COORDINATION, MONITORING AND REPORTING: 
The incumbent assists in coordinating activities of the President & Vice President as required and supports strengthening synergies and collaboration within the Office of the President and Vice-President and across the organization. The accountabilities may include:  

1. Support the President and Vice President in the coordination of the front office workflow and administration, demonstrating good judgment with a sense of priority and effective sequencing of activities or tasks.  
2. Coordinate any special project(s) assigned by the President and Vice President by tracking and monitoring progress on the commitments made by the President and Vice President.  
3. Advise and prepare periodic analyses on a variety of issues of relevance to the work of the Vice President. Serve in institute-wide committees or task forces and represent the Office of the President and Vice President in internal meetings, whenever required.  
4. Coordinate, create and manage linkages across IFAD; advise and support in identifying priorities, issues, constraints and opportunities in the process of achieving commitments made.

3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING:
The incumbent contributes to partnership building. The incumbent supports joint advocacy and knowledge sharing to contribute to enhancing the Fund's profile. The accountabilities may include:  

1. Represent the Office of the President and Vice-President in meetings on corporate initiatives, coordinate action notes and follow ups if required.  
2. Coordinate the preparation background information on important stakeholders and issues and gather information and data from internal and external sources that may aid in the development of partnerships and improve IFAD's positioning that the Vice-President will be promoting on his missions.  
3. Participate in the missions, as required, ensuring appropriate protocol, profile, representational opportunities, and visibility for the visits.  
4. Represent IFAD at external meetings, as required.

4. AGENT OF CHANGE:
The incumbent understands and applies the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. At this level, the incumbent advocates change through consultations with all IFAD offices to build understanding of and to ensure open and regular communication pertaining to current and planned changes.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS:
The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes People Management through technical leadership/capacity development. The incumbent is a solutions-oriented and seasoned professional with solid business and political acumen. The incumbent understands that the work involves strictly confidential information, and always positions her/himself to defend the strategic and corporate views of OPV and of IFAD. The incumbent has knowledge of IFAD internal procedures and processes on budget, operations and corporate related matters, manages the Vice-President's Front Office budget, contributes to the overall budget practices in OPV, and leads by example, supporting IFAD's core values, gender equality and work-life balance.

Key Performance Indicators

The Senior Advisor is responsible for providing high-level strategic support and guidance to both the President and Vice-President. This role involves offering well-informed recommendations to senior management on matters related to the Office of the President and Vice-President, ensuring the effective execution of their mandate at the forefront of the Fund. The incumbent possesses exceptional diplomatic acumen and strong interpersonal skills to cultivate and manage key stakeholder relationships while sharing knowledge to address complex rural development challenges.

Working Relationships

Work relationships involve the provision of authoritative technical advice, and negotiation and resolution of problems which may arise in the analysis of initiatives, proposals submitted to OPV, and commitments made. The incumbent collaborates and coordinates with relevant senior officials and teams on missions, special events and OPV initiatives.

Internally, the incumbent provides authoritative advice on operational and corporate management matters sanctions, budget, quality assurance, finance and enterprise risk management, missions and event planning.

Externally, work relationships require collaboration and coordination with senior officials to support engagement in high-level events, supporting and safeguarding IFAD's corporate visibility and status.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. A first level university degree from an accredited institution in the above-mentioned areas in combination with at least four (4) additional years of relevant professional experience over and above the below-mentioned years of progressively responsible professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Areas - Business Administration, Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environment, Economics, Social Sciences, etc.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively relevant professional experience including experience within an international financial institution, development cooperation agencies and/or the United Nations system.
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience: A strong track record in rural development.

Languages:

• Required: English (4 - Excellent) 
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good) 

Skills:

• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact 
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment 
• Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD's vision to external actors
• Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies.
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.) 
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions 
• Policy dialogue: Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD's mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented 
• Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions
• Confidentiality & Discretion: Establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a "Culture Carrier" demonstrating IFAD institutional conscience through the work. 
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g.  budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities) Initiative and good judgment: High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters)
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective  guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model  for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and  effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice 
• Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector Project/Programme management (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation.
• Excellent drafting and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality briefs, talking points, correspondence and other written materials for senior-level review.
• Availability and willingness to travel on official mission, including at short notice, as required.
• Good knowledge of and proficiency in the use of AI-enabled tools to support research

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

In accordance with IFAD¿s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD¿s remuneration package, please visit IFADs compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its IFAD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and IFAD policy to preventing and responding to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse .

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org