Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a leading multilateral development bank established in 1966, headquartered in Manila, Philippines. ADB is owned by 69 members, with 50 of them from the Asia-Pacific region. The organization is dedicated to fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. ADB collaborates with its members and partners to address complex challenges, utilizing innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard the planet. ADB is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities, encouraging all qualified candidates to apply, particularly women and underrepresented groups.

Job Overview:
The Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist position is a critical role within the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office of ADB. The specialist will be strategically assigned to the Mongolia Resident Mission for an initial period of three years, with potential relocation to ADB Headquarters in Manila or other Resident Missions based on business needs. The primary responsibility of this role is to lead the formulation and articulation of policies and strategies in the AFNR sector, engaging with the government of Mongolia and other developing member countries in policy dialogue. The specialist will also work closely with the private sector and other stakeholders to support ADB's operational approach on Agrifood Systems Transformation. This position requires a strong focus on sustainable natural resources management, climate-smart agriculture, and nutrition development, as well as agrifood value chain development. The specialist will be expected to lead the development of strategies, facilitate cross-sectoral coordination, and provide technical support to ensure the effective implementation of projects aimed at achieving environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic development and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist include leading the development of strategies for sustainable natural resources management and climate-smart agriculture, facilitating coordination between national strategies and ADB's country partnership strategy, reviewing policies and legal frameworks, and leading policy dialogues to assist governments in developing strategies for sustainable economic development. The specialist will also identify investment opportunities in the natural resource and agriculture sectors, develop conservation and management strategies, contribute to country programming, and ensure the incorporation of key environmental and climate factors into project analyses. Additionally, the specialist will lead multidisciplinary teams, supervise performance, provide coaching and mentoring, and ensure ongoing learning and development for team members.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for this position must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in agriculture development, agricultural economics, natural resource management, or related fields. Alternatively, a university degree in a relevant field combined with specialized experience may be considered in lieu of a Master's degree. A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in sustainable agriculture, including agro-enterprises development, value chain development, food security, and rural development, is required. Candidates should have international development work experience in the AFNR sector across several developing member countries of ADB, as well as demonstrated experience in coordinating with government and non-government agencies, development partners, and professional communities. Strong analytical abilities, multidisciplinary competence, and proven leadership skills are essential, along with a strong understanding of capacity development needs in developing member countries.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in agriculture development, agricultural economics, natural resource management, natural resource economics, rural financing, rural development, or other related fields. Candidates with a university degree in these areas, combined with specialized experience in similar organizations, may also be considered in lieu of a Master's degree.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of relevant professional experience in sustainable agriculture, with a focus on agro-enterprises development, value chain development, food security, and rural development. Candidates must have international development work experience in the AFNR sector in several developing member countries of ADB. Additionally, two years of relevant experience outside ADB within the past five years is required, and years as an ADB-engaged consultant or contractor are considered experience outside of ADB.

Languages:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the region may be considered advantageous but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This appointment is open to both internal and external applicants and is crucial to ADB's Workforce Rebalancing Framework (2022-2027). The role seeks seasoned experts with substantial field experience capable of leading policy dialogue and projects focused on delivering knowledge solutions. Successful applicants may occasionally undertake short-term assignments in other departments or offices as required. The position is a fixed-term appointment with the option to renew, initially for a period of up to three years, or until the Normal Retirement Date (NRD), whichever comes earlier. After the initial fixed-term period, ADB may choose to renew the appointment for up to an additional three years based on various factors, including the requirement for the staff's skills and experience, funding availability, and performance suitability.