Operations Officer (Project Manager)- Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Job #:	130105
Title:	Operations Officer (Project Manager)
Job Stream:	Technical Assistance & Advisory Services
Location:	Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Closing Date:	02/11/2013
Background / General description:
The 2.5-year Kyrgyz Investment Climate project will work with government counterparts and the private sector to implement reforms in (1) business inspections; (2) agribusiness regulation and investment promotion, and (3) governance issues. The project will start in April 2013 with bilateral donor funding.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Scope of the Position The Project Manager will be responsible and accountable for all aspects of Investment Climate project operations, implementation, and results. This will include managing project staff, IFC product specialists, consultants and client partnerships. Contract continuation will be based on project achievements and meeting reporting targets. Duties and Accountabilities • Lead the project team in developing recommendations and assisting the government in implementing improvements to regulatory procedures, with focus on inspections, agribusiness regulations, Investment Policy and implementation gap work.  • Work with government counterparts, along with donor and private sector stakeholders, to reform and strengthen government institutions for regulatory reform; develop partnerships to improve awareness of reforms and implementation of reforms throughout public sector.  • Coordinate project activities with the World Bank Group and with donor agencies working on investment climate issues, keep the project positioned at the centre of investment climate activities in Kyrgyz Republic; Link project activities to Global product specialists through cross-support, peer review, sharing information. Develop partnership with WB Country Office, Country Manager, and project teams to achieve IFC Project and AS country goals, including input on Country Assistance Strategy, Private Sector Development and Financial Sector Development strategy. Identify and encourage opportunities for cooperation within WBG.  • Regular, monthly project management report submitted to Regional Program Manager and Regional Business Line Manager including project narrative, identification of risks/ issues, project timeline and work plan against actual implementation. Track results on M&E targets, check all calculations for accuracy and compliance with guidelines. Monitor performance on Doing Business, World Competitiveness Report and other indicators as monitoring mechanism. • Manage staff and daily activities to ensure the project meets its objectives and implementation targets. Maintain day-to-day oversight of project activities and budget; complying with all IFC and WBG regulations and guidelines. Develop and maintain teamwork, communication, and project operations monitoring with dispersed local and international team through, inter alia, team meetings/ conference calls, work plan, and individual activity oversight; recruit new team members as needed, build team capacity. • Undertake initiatives to share project information and develop product experience across IFC AS projects in ECA region and throughout IFC IC Advisory Services. Ensure compliance with World Bank Group and donor regulations, prepare operational, donor and financial reports. Liaise with IFC AS teams on the ground to maintain awareness of ongoing IFC projects and initiatives. Undertake cross-support activities, as agreed with Regional Program Manager, with WBG projects and IFC AS projects. (Approximately 10-20%). • Ensure donor visibility in project operations and recommendation and compliance with IFC Communication guidelines. • In cooperation with regional management and regional strategist, support development and execution of the country strategy. Report on IFC project activities in the country to Program Manager, Regional Business Line Manager, WB Country Manager and IFC Country Officer.
Selection Criteria:
• At least 8 years of professional experience in public administration/ public policy/ technical advisory services particularly as relates to private sector development; and professional or educational background in investment, business operations reform, investment policy, insolvency/ bankruptcy, or agribusiness policy. • At least 3 years of demonstrated Project Management skills, with documented results. • Solid understanding of economic factors in public decision making and policy formation, cost/benefit analysis and applications and implementation of public policy; • Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in agribusiness policy, investment policy and regulatory reform best practices; • Three or more years of management experience, preferably managing teams in developing or transition economies;  • Advanced degree in business, economics, law, public administration, agribusiness or related field;  • Strong analytical skills with ability to take initiative; • Excellent presentation and facilitation skills; • Strong sense of diplomacy; • Excellent English written and oral communication skills. Fluency in Russian is preferred.

*** Applications must be submitted online. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Candidates can check the status of their applications by visiting www.ifc.org/careers.