Senior Operations Officer - Tanzania

• Job #122746
• Job TitleSenior Operations Officer - Tanzania
• Job FamilyOther
• Job TypeProfessional & Technical
• GradeGG
• LocationDar Es Salaam, Tanzania
• Recruitment TypeLocal Hire
• Language RequirementEnglish [Essential]
• Closing Date15-Jan-2013

Background / General description:
Background: The Africa Region, which is comprised of approximately 1,600 staff members of whom around 60% are based in 38 field offices, is committed to helping Africa realize its considerable development potential, with a focus on employment generation. Sub-Saharan Africa has a population of around 800 million people in 48 countries, and is a vibrant and changing environment for development work. Until the onset of the global financial and economic crisis, Africa had been experiencing a period of sustained and widespread growth. The overall policy environment in Africa continued to improve during the crises. Some countries even accelerated their reform programs. What is emerging as a result is a growing region, with setbacks from time to time, that is increasingly seen as a destination for investment as much as for aid; and one where leaders are increasingly willing to address problems of governance that harm development effectiveness. As a result it is possible that Africa is poised for a growth takeoff. The World Bank's Africa Region plans to seize this unprecedented opportunity to better support our clients in realizing the dream of a continent free of poverty. The World Bank Africa Strategy, titled ‘Africa’s Future and the World Bank’s Support to It’, is based on two pillars (Competitiveness and Employment, and Vulnerability and Resilience) and one foundation: Governance and Public Sector Capacity. Effective implementation of the Africa Strategy requires innovation, multi-sectoral approaches and keen attention to sub-regional solutions. The Country Management Unit (CMU) of AFCE1 oversees Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. The Country Director (CD), who is posted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, works closely with the Country Managers for Uganda and Burundi (based in Kampala and Bujumbura respectively), with Sector Leaders based in Dar es Salaam, and with the Washington-based CMU staff (a Country Program Coordinator and an ACS) who support the entire program. The Senior Operations Officer will be based in Dar es Salaam and will report to the CD. AFCE1 has a large and vibrant IDA program, including lending operations and AAA work. There are 41 active IDA financed projects in the portfolio in all major sectors with commitments of US$ 4.5 billion. IDA provides on average roughly about US$1 billion in new credits/grants annually to AFCE1, some of which is in the form of development policy operations. The trust fund portfolio is also sizeable with about $180 million of active grants. AFCE1 has been implementing innovative solutions to the development challenges in the three countries, which are all different. Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Based in Dar es Salaam, the SOO will be expected to support the programs in Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. The incumbent will have the following principal duties and accountabilities: Overall Responsibilities. The SOO will be expected to provide operational support/guidance and quality assurance on cross-cutting dimensions to task teams and the CMU management (CD, CMs, CPC and Sector Leaders) including advice on the implementation of operational policies and guidelines and the use of instruments. The SOO will also support the CD, CMs, CPC and the Sector Leaders to help track overall project implementation performance and facilitate resolution of portfolio problems. The SOO will maintain up-to-date information on portfolio performance for all AFCE1 countries in close collaboration with the Washington Anchor Unit. The SOO will be a member of the CMU Management Team. Specific duties include: Preparation and Implementation • Review and provide quality enhancement advice on all operations throughout the project cycle: identification, design, appraisal, implementation, and evaluation. Provide leadership and advisory support in all phases of operations. Facilitate resolution of cross-department and cross-sectoral problems. • Participate in operational missions and meetings and assist teams in resolution of difficult issues. • Work closely with the fiduciary teams to address key fiduciary issues that are generic to the portfolio. • Support quality enhancement, risk management and implementation issues, in collaboration with the CD, CMs, Sector Leaders and the CPC. • Assist the CMU management in the review of projects from the concept stage to final approval. Assist in the review of appraisal documentation prior to Board submissioon. Assist the CD, CMs, and CPC in the review of ISRs. • Advise the AFCE1 country teams on operational policies, instruments, and procedures and on complex operational issues. Portfolio Management • Organize or lead the Country Portfolio Performance Reviews for all three countries on a regular basis. Flag implementation problems for attention by clients and Bank management, and take the lead in resolving systemic portfolio issues in Tanzania and provide support to Uganda and Burundi. Follow-up with governments on recommendations in close consultation with the CD, CMs and Sector Leaders. • Interact directly with the Sector Leaders on daily work program issues, and provide operational support for problem or risky operations. • Lead the development of key training programs for the client at a portfolio level on fiduciary, safeguards, and the governance and anti-corruption work, drawing on fiduciary, safeguards and governance specialists. Country Strategy Formulation and Implementation • Support the CD, CMs and CPC in formulation of the Country Strategies and in preparing CPS Progress Reports and Completion Reports. • Support the CD. CMs and CPC in managing relations with clients and partners (including monitoring trust funds). Country Office Management (Dar es Salaam) • Play a key role in overall management of the Tanzania country office, especially in regard to office administration. Support the CD in the management of the Dar es Salaam office. • Support the work program for ACS staff in the Dar es Salaam office; and also mentor junior staff, particularly on operations and portfolio issues. • Work closely with the CPC and with the CAO’s Office on issues such as audits of the Dar es Salaam country office. In addition to the below selection criteria, the following competencies are expected of the successful candidate: Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making Assesses risks, benefits, impact and strategic intent in decision-making. Gathers varied and accurate input, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term. Defines objectives, resources and proper time scope for the complexity of the challenge. Anticipates the short- and long-term implications of decisions and actions on multiple programs and objectives within the Bank and seeks input from others. Knowledge, Learning and Communication Transfers knowledge and communicates effectively across boundaries. Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners. Leads in designing thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate. Articulates ideas, verbally and in writing, using appropriate language that is understandable and easily appreciated by a target audience that spans several client groups or departments. Provides a forum to mentor, guide and influence colleagues and/or client groups to share knowledge across boundaries. Applies expertise and experience to proactively innovate and challenge the status quo. Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions Department-wide. Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion Seeks to improve team collaboration and inclusion. Reaches out to contribute to the work of others in the department. Addresses challenges to effective teamwork contributing to the team staying organized and focused on work, even under stress. Shows leadership in ensuring the team actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. Directs and identifies the collaboration needed across boundaries, internally and externally in order to have lasting impact. Keeps teams fully informed to ensure integration and work consistency. Facilitates an open exchange of ideas among team members and across teams to select beneficial solutions among alternatives. Drive for Results Creates conditions to achieve challenging results. Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and communicates the importance to business outcomes. Finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables. Actively employs risk analysis and mitigates risk, making high-quality decisions on resource allocation and setting priorities for highest impact. Collaborates with others to make needed adjustments to work methods or systems to improve performance. Client Orientation Identifies WBG solutions to meet client's needs and goals. Considers the changing environment and sometimes competing client demands in the forefront of all work activities. Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and proposes sustainable solutions based on good diagnosis; applies best knowledge and evidence-based advice. Seeks resources and skills to meet challenging and unexpected client needs. Formulates effective development solutions that are sensitive to cultural values and beliefs of varied client groups and is able to resolve differences, negotiate and bring client to closure in a culturally sensitive manner. Delivers new insight and recommends actions or viable solutions for multiple client groups and future needs related to goals and Department-wide results.
Selection Criteria:
• A Master’s degree or equivalent and a minimum of 8 years of relevant and progressively substantive operational experience, combined with a good knowledge of World Bank strategic directions. • Knowledge of key Bank Group operational policies and procedures, and experience relevant to Bank portfolio management (e.g., direct experience with portfolio management, varied project experience) is a plus. • Ability to coach, mentor, and develop more junior staff. • Proven capacity to view project-level issues in a broader context where the sector setting and policies, the macro context, and the Bank’s country strategy all intersect. • Proven ability to work cooperatively with a multi-disciplinary team, other groups throughout the Bank, and development partners. Ability to work with, and relate to, a wide range of stakeholders-donors, clients, and staff. Ability to work across the matrix in a collaborative manner is essential. • Ability to contribute to strategic initiatives across the Bank Group and with external partners. Ability to carry out independent and innovative work. Qualified male and female candidates of diverse background (gender, religious, ethnic etc) are encouraged to apply.

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