Loans and Grants System Replacement (LGSR) Programme Manage

Duration of Assignment
	Two years (This position is bound to a two-year project)
	Organizational Context
	IFAD is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized Agency of the United Nations whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. IFAD’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and its staff work with poor rural people, their governments, communities and organizations in more than 80 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing rural productivity and incomes. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION The LGSR Programme Manager is responsible for running the programme on a day-to-day basis as directed by the Project Steering Committee by planning, directing, and coordinating the complete implementation of the LGSR Project. Main responsibilities include the effective use of assigned resources (people, budget, and systems) and the establishment of effective partnerships with the Fund's departments and Divisions. Reporting to the PSC, the incumbent ensures that the LGS Replacement Project produces the required products and outputs to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost, so as to achieve the benefits defined in the LGS Replacement Project business case and Project Initiation Document (PID). The position is highly visible and requires extensive communication and interaction with key stakeholders as well as an excellent understanding of IT system project implementation.
	Duties and Responsibilities
	Under the general supervision of the Chief Finance Officer, the incumbent will perform the following duties: PROGRAMME MANAGER • Planning and management of the activities of the LGSR Project ensuring efficient usage of assigned resources and adequate alignment of scope, schedule, budget and human resources. • Lead a distribute group of project teams and provide the vision required to deliver desired requirements of a large and complex system. • Ensure the application of industry best practices in programme and project management to achieve LGSR objectives, outputs, and results within the defined time, cost, and quality constraints • Liaise with corporate/programme management to identify and engage the appropriate personnel, when necessary, in a timely manner and appoint staff to the various project roles • Manage and communicate with Project Management Office (PMO) staff, functional and technical stream leaders and all other project team members including software vendor, other external consultants and project assurance unit. Build, develop, and grow relationships with the vendor and external consultants for the smooth execution of the project • Liaise with various internal departments for the successful execution of LGSR project / Communication to senior management • Identify and resolve programme issues and manage conflicts within the different groups • Define strategies for and manage contingency planning and risk mitigation • Monitoring and reporting on programme progress, schedule, deliverables and risks, when required through regular reports meetings, presentations and other communications. Prepare lessons learned and end project reports • Work with the PMO to manage emerging requirements necessitating management decision or intervention and prepare and present proposals to the appropriate level of management • Be responsible for an efficient and effective change control and for all the tools allowing an efficient governance of the programme • Hold the programme’s budget, and perform high level monitoring of the project costs and progress as well as project administration • Take responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiate corrective action where necessary. Approve deviations in terms of effort and planning that fall within the agreed tolerances (as specified by the agreed methodology) • Support effective and timely communication to, and involvement of, relevant stakeholders OTHER • Perform other tasks required for the success of the programme and as determined by the Chair of the Project Steering Committee
	Education and Experience
	• Advanced University Degree in IT, Business Administration, or other relevant fields. • Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional working experience. • Work experience in executing complex IT program and large projects in the financial services industry is required. • Relevant project management certification an advantage. • Professional financial management qualification would be an asset. • Experience in Core Banking Transformation project an advantage.
	Tech/Functional Competencies
	Leader and team worker/builder - you will possess excellent management skills, and will be able to deploy these in a multicultural setting. You will have the capacity of leading teams with a capacity to deliver high quality products within tight deadlines to achieve stretching objectives; Planner and organiser/decision-maker – you will have excellent and sound judgement and the ability to think strategically, assessing and responding to challenges in complex setting. You will be able to set clear priorities within a boundless and often challenging agenda with tight deadlines. Developer - you will take the responsibility to create a network of exchange information and knowledge. Facilitator of change – you will encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities and will also facilitate the implementation of change.
	Communication
	• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions. • Capacity to communicate effectively with different project stakeholders (internal and external).
	Other Information
	Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD. IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at the appropriate grade commensurate with experience and knowledge. Interested candidates are requested to apply through IFAD’s online system only by completing IFAD’s Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you so desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF. In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful. Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews. KINDLY NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM 02 JULY 2011 TO 16 JULY 2011

Loans and Grants System Replacement (LGSR) Programme Manage