Director, HRD - D1/D2 level

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 the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Corporate Services Department provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security and information technology resources required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people overcome poverty. 
 
The Human Resources Division (HRD) is fully integrated within the Corporate Services Department (CSD), servicing colleagues at Headquarters as well as in the field, with the ambition of being a strategic, business oriented and fully trusted professional partner with IFAD managers and staff. Its mission is to provide high quality HR expertise, nurturing a culture of excellence and contributing towards an inclusive and diverse workplace where People come first. We empower our People and support them throughout their career paths. We invest in our People to create a dynamic and high-performing workforce that is motivated and engaged to drive IFAD’s success in transforming the lives of small landholders and other rural people.. The division has three work units Talent Management, Policy and Strategic Support and HR Business unit and each unit has specific responsibilities to help achieve this vision and are bound with the same team-spirit, to offer comprehensive and seamless HR solutions to management and colleagues.

The Director, HRD, works under the direct supervision of the Associate Vice President (AVP), CSD.

Job Role  

Directors are responsible for managing a Fund division or office. The main focus of Director positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, they are responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division's programme of work within an allocated budget.

The Director, HRD is a member of the Senior Management team and provides strategic direction for the HR Division in a dynamic environment by planning, co-ordinating and directing human resources activities. Furthermore, the incumbent is a member of IFAD’s Operations Management Committee and other select Working Groups.

Position Specifics: The Director, HRD will play a critical role in attracting, developing and retaining a diverse and high-performing workforce, leading on workplace culture practices and providing expertise and support in the areas of Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Employee Relations, Employee Engagement, Learning and Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Policy and Procedure Development, and HR Compliance.

Key Functions and Results  

1.VISION & STRATEGY: Directors develop and promote a strategic vision for translating IFAD’s corporate and departmental mandates; strategies, goals and objectives into a divisional programme of work and for ensuring evolving divisional programme activities are integrated in the evolution of departmental goals and objectives. They participate in the design of IFAD’s and departmental strategic approaches and ensure that corporate strategies are fully integrated in the design of assigned activities. Directors set and communicate clear strategic and operational objectives and are held accountable for the division being seen as a credible and trusted partner in  managing for results and as an innovator in its field.

2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT & ADVICE: Directors provide leadership in the development and interpretation of major policies, regulations and rules, and systems that govern the work of a division and ensure they support divisional goals and objectives within the overall Fund mandates and strategies. Directors also serve as a trusted business/programme advisors with a significant role in authoritative policy advice within the Fund at the senior management level as well as in policy dialogue in their representational activities. 

3.PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT: Directors provide leadership in 
(a) all phases of the division’s medium term planning and management, including operational requirements such as (i) establishing annual work plans, (ii) ensuring regular programme assessment and (iii) identifying opportunities for innovation and implementation of best practices generated within the Fund as well as in peer organizations, both private and public; 
(b) reviewing and innovating core processes of the division in order to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, as well as financial sustainability, of operations; 
(c) enhancing synergy among divisional staff and holding staff accountable for results and (d) ensuring the preparation of all divisional publications, reports and governing bodies documents. 

4. MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: Directors are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources (human, financial and material). This includes: People Management through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of P and GS staff:
(a) Identifies best qualified candidates for vacancies, with appropriate regard for gender balance and geographic distribution;
(b) Motivates, coaches and supports staff of the division, wherever they are located, to create cohesive teams that work effectively to achieve common divisional goals and objectives;
(c) Manages staff performance and development through regular performance feedback, mentoring and career planning. 
Divisional Budget Management by leading divisional strategic and data inputs into the departmental budget preparation exercises and by ensuring accountability and fiduciary integrity in the Division’s budget execution; 
(i) Material Resources Management through accountability for the material resources assigned to the Division.
(ii) Knowledge and Content Management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost effective processes as well as to promote the generation, validation and dissemination of knowledge by ensuring (a) knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (b) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (c) appropriate and up-to-date information and tools are available as appropriate. (iii) Information Technology Management through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, reporting processes and client services.

5. REPRESENTATION: Directors serve as designated representatives of the Fund. They catalyse effective partnerships with a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, international financial institutions (IFls), non-governmental organizations and academic institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. Directors represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in IFls, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and Global conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international institutions.

Position specifics: 
6. STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: Under the guidance of the AVP for Corporate Services, the Director, HRD and their team will act as a champion for workplace culture and support management and team leaders, listening to staff and managers whilst providing guidance and advise in support of a fair and constructive dialogue, allowing all members of IFAD staff to develop and grow.

The Director, HRD, sets the Division’s strategy by:
a)    providing strategic direction and driving all aspects of the division’s work.
b)    positioning the organization to proactively anticipate, plan, and meet workforce needs in a dynamic environment.
c)    advocating and building awareness within the organization of the strategic importance of effective people management; and
d)    applying the highest standards of ethics, using result-based management skills and tools to support IFAD in implementing its strategic objectives in order to serve all stakeholders of the organization. 

The Director, HRD administers IFAD’s global workforce by managing staff relations and ensuring a) Strategic leadership; b) Integrated talent management; c) Policy development, including compensation; and d) Business partnering. Accountabilities include:
a)    Developing and implementing strategies to increase Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the organization.
b)    Partnering with internal stakeholders to implement strategies to improve employee engagement, retention, staff wellbeing and workplace culture.
c)    Providing Strategic guidance to Senior Management on all aspects of people management
d)    Ensuring alignment of HR practices with IFAD’s core values
e)    Overseeing the management of staff relations, conflict resolution and grievance procedures

In particular, the incumbent:
a)    directs execution of the delivery of comprehensive people management services in its key unit’s areas including Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Policy and Strategy Development, Benefits and Entitlements, Employee Relations, Workforce Planning, Performance Management, etc;  
b)    influences, facilitates and leads HRM organizational change and development using best practice human resources approaches and change management strategies; 
c)    leads a group of 40+ HR professionals in IFAD to deliver the HR strategy, effectively managing performance across the division and develops staff to ensure modern HR approaches are employed in their work.

Key Performance Indicators  

Within IFAD's overall Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, Directors establish IFAD's priorities for and provide leadership to division level programme and operational management activities and are accountable for a results-based approach to meeting assigned goals and objectives. Leadership activities include the optimum utilization of human, financial, technology and material resources for the achievement of greater efficiency and effectiveness. The incumbents' impact extends beyond the successful achievement of divisional goals and objectives to include larger departmental goals and objectives in strategic planning collaboration. The expected results directly and/or indirectly benefit the ultimate stakeholders, the rural poor in developing countries.

The key performance indicators for Directors include leadership in viable strategic planning, authoritative and relevant policy development and advice, sustainable programme decisions and integrity and accountability in the planning and management of the Fund's human, financial and material resources assigned to the division.

Working Relationships  

Within IFAD, Directors provide authoritative advice to senior management on the division's or office's vision, strategic planning, policy, and divisional programme and operational management. They are accountable for collaboration  and coordination  within  the Fund to ensure appropriate consultation, cross-functional synergy and coordination of programme planning and activities.

Externally Directors develop strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships with counterparts spanning a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, IFls, non-governmental organizations and academic  institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization.

They are also accountable for the provision of authoritative advice during Executive Board sessions, the annual Governing Council and related subordinate bodies including the audit and evaluation committees. Directors represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in international financial institution, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international financial institutions.

Job Profile Requirements  

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

Education:

Experience:

Certifications:

Languages:

Skills:

Other Information