Senior Operations Officer, Tokyo, Japan
Background / General description:
The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) is a partnership of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) system to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The HFA is the primary international agreement for disaster reduction, adopted by one hundred sixty-eight (168) governments and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank. The principal strategic goal of the HFA is to effectively integrate, in a coherent manner, disaster risk considerations into sustainable development policies, planning, programming, and financing at all levels of government.
GFDRR is managed by the World Bank on behalf of the participating donor partners and other partnering stakeholders. The work of the GFDRR is divided into three tracks. The GFDRR is organized along three tracks of operation to achieve its development objectives at the global, regional and country levels. Track I focuses on enhanced global and regional advocacy, partnerships, and standardization of disaster risk management tools and methodologies. Track II provides technical assistance for targeted countries to mainstream disaster risk reduction in strategic planning and development policies focusing on poverty reduction strategies. Track III provides rapid and predictable disaster recovery assistance through the Standby Recovery Financing Facility (SRFF).
A Single Donor Trust Fund (SDTF) within GFDRR will be established to support the implementation of the Japan-World Bank program for mainstreaming disaster risk management (DRM) in selected developing countries. The Program will be managed by the GFDRR Secretariat and operationalized by the World Bank's Regions, primarily through non-lending operations for analytical and advisory, technical assistance and capacity building activities. It will be implemented in seven years and will receive a financial contribution of US$100 million from the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Japan over 5 years (FYs 14-18). GFDRR Secretariat will establish a DRM Hub in Tokyo that will support the implementation of technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge mobilization activities of the initiative. The Hub will be housed within the World Bank Group External and Corporate Relations, Japan (ECRJP) in Tokyo. The Program will fund technical assistance, pilot projects, and special thematic initiatives along four of the five pillars of the DRM framework described in the Sendai Report - focusing on the ex-ante side of DRM. In addition the initiative will also strive to connect Japanese and global expertise in DRM with developing countries, and to scale up their best practices worldwide.
Note: This is an international term appointment in the Tokyo Office (HQ Satellite Office). The local salary scale applies, and standard expatriate benefits (home leave & education benefits) apply should a non-Japanese national be selected.
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:
General:
GFDRR is seeking a Senior Operations Officer who will contribute to and support the overall implementation of the Japan-Bank DRM Mainstreaming Program, under the supervision and guidance of the Special Representative, ECRJP, and under the managerial control of the Head of the GFDRR Secretariat, working in close coordination with the Track Team Leaders of GFDRR, Regional Coordinators for disaster risk management in the World Bank regions, World Bank Institute and other relevant units of the World Bank.
Specific Duties :
1. Build and maintain a network of centers of excellence in DRM in Japan and the regions in order to tap the good practices from the region for effective mainstreaming of DRM in eligible countries under the Program.
2. Liaise with and connect regional and Japanese centers of excellence in DRM with task teams during project design, development, and implementation.
3. Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building activities under the Program in cooperation with World Bank Institute and other relevant units; design and implement knowledge products, exchange, outreach and communication activities approved under the Program.
4. Coordinate with the World Bank teams, and support the monitoring and supervision during project implementation.
5. Support Special Representative, Japan in his role as representative of the Hub in Japan in its institutional relationships with the various stakeholders ranging from the government, private sector, civil society, and academia among others.
6. Liaise with MoF on behalf of GFDRR Secretariat under the supervision and guidance of the Special Representative, Japan on matters relating to the implementation of the Program and ensure coordination with relevant Japanese agencies including JICA both at headquarters and on the ground.
7. Manage engagement between World Bank task teams and JICA, and other development partners present in country to avoid duplication and maximize synergies.
8. Lead in providing inputs for the planning, design, execution, monitoring and evaluation of various activities under the program in close coordination with the World Bank regions and task teams.
9. Initiate and sustain effective professional relationships with key stakeholders including civil society, academia, private sector, government agencies and other relevant entities in close coordination with the ECRJP.
10. Prepare progress reports and briefings. Communicate developments both internally and externally to relevant stakeholders, represent GFDRR, as required, on the joint Japan-World Bank Program and GFDRR in general.
11. Provide inputs to and work with GFDRR's communication team as well as ECRJP for promoting activities and the DRM agenda through the traditional and social media in Japanese and non-Japanese languages.
12. Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Special Representative, Japan and the Head of the GFDRR Secretariat, including, if needed, deployment for cross support to Country teams.
Selection Criteria:
Competencies:
1. Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
2. Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
3.Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
4.Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
5.Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
6.Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
7.Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
8.Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.
9.Relationship Management and Partnership Development - significant experience or demonstrated proficiency to lead and manage relationships with various constituencies to foster strategic partnerships to strengthen the overall effectiveness of GFDRR in general and the Japan program in particular.
10.Willingness to travel as required.
Selection Criteria:
- Master's degree in Disaster Management, Public Policy/Administration, International Development, Social Science or related field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.
- Fluency in both written and spoken English and Japanese.
- Excellent computer skills, proficiency in use of standard Bank technology packages.
- Experience of working in an international or national development institution on the relevant issues is an advantage.
- Field experience in developing countries is a plus.
- Ability to work in a fast track environment, with efficiency, competence and integrity with people of different cultural background.
- Ability to perform efficiently and effectively in highly demanding working environments and meet very tight deadlines.
- Professional endurance and commitment to pursue and complete complex assignments.
- Good team player but also capable of operating independently when required
- Strong ability to analyze and resolve cross cutting issues covering different areas of specialization, with an understanding of how solutions affect the overall work program.
- Sensitivity to working in multi-cultural and matrix environments.
- Ability to build effective working relations with clients and colleagues, as team member, and to achieve results.
- Strong conceptual and analytical skills.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of practical project implementation issues.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to coach, train and mentor junior staff.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in strictest confidence.
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