Water Resources Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution that was established to foster economic growth and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Headquartered in Manila, Philippines, ADB was founded in 1966 and has grown to include 69 member countries, with 50 of these from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB's mission is to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development, focusing on creating a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific. The organization combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to achieve its goals, particularly under its Strategy 2030 framework, which aims to eradicate extreme poverty and enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the region. ADB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities and a respectful work environment, encouraging diversity and inclusion in its workforce.

Job Overview:
The Water Resources Specialist position is a critical role within the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SD2-AFNR) at ADB. The specialist will be responsible for coordinating and communicating various projects and activities within the AFNR sector. This includes leading the identification, development, implementation, and administration of loan and technical assistance (TA) projects in developing member countries (DMCs). The role requires the specialist to support the preparation of sector road maps, strategies, and country water action plans, guiding technical, institutional, and policy options in the countries involved. The interventions proposed must reflect progressive solutions and best practices in managing water resources, ensuring effective, climate-adaptive, and sustainable development results. The position demands a combination of skills in integrated water resources management, water system management, river basin flood risk management, coastal engineering, and irrigated agriculture, among others. The specialist will also be expected to lead and support the design and implementation of water sector projects, ensuring they meet project readiness and quality requirements, while collaborating with various stakeholders to achieve the sector and country strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Water Resources Specialist will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to: leading and supporting the design and implementation of water sector projects; ensuring project readiness and quality at entry requirements are met; collaborating with relevant AFNR sector country focal points and resident missions to ensure timely implementation of projects; representing the AFNR sector in meetings and consultations with ADB stakeholders and government counterparts; contributing to country programming and project development through analytical work in the sector; identifying necessary AFNR sector interventions tailored to country needs; leading the development, processing, and administration of grant, loan, and TA projects; ensuring due diligence and delivery of development results; resolving technical, procurement, disbursement, and contract administration issues during project implementation; preparing regular project updates and reports; coordinating with other offices to develop innovative project designs; preparing consultant terms of reference and bid documents; supervising reporting staff and ensuring their ongoing development; and performing other duties as assigned in the workplan.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Water Resources Specialist position must possess a university degree in Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, Irrigated Agriculture, or related fields, preferably at the post-graduate level or its equivalent. Additionally, candidates should have at least 6 years of relevant professional experience in the water resources sector, with international experience in various areas such as integrated water resources management, irrigated agriculture development, and flood risk management. Strong technical skills and experience in the water resources sector are essential, along with the ability to review designs of water resources interventions and synthesize various outputs into coherent project designs. Proficiency in both spoken and written English is mandatory, and good interpersonal skills are preferred to facilitate consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in a relevant field such as Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Irrigated Agriculture. A post-graduate degree or equivalent qualification is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of the complexities involved in water resources management and related fields.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience in the water resources sector. This experience should include international exposure and expertise in areas such as integrated water resources management, flood risk management, and coastal engineering, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions in the field.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position, as candidates must be able to express ideas clearly in both spoken and written formats. While English is the primary language required, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the regions where ADB operates.

Additional Notes:
This appointment is a fixed-term position for an initial period of 3 years, with the possibility of extension for up to 2 additional years, conversion to a regular appointment, or termination at the end of the initial period based on ADB's needs and the candidate's performance. The position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including housing and education allowances (if applicable), expatriate benefits (if applicable), a retirement plan, medical and health benefits, paid leave (including parental leave), and life and other insurance plans. ADB is committed to hiring nationals from its 69 member countries and encourages all qualified candidates to apply, promoting diversity and inclusion in its workforce.