African Development Bank (AfDB) -  the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. 

POSITION : Division Manager, Education, Human Capital and Employment

DESCRIPTION

The Hiring Department

• The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department, within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex will spearhead the achievement of the High 5s on “Improving the Quality of Life of People in Africa” and contribute to the other High 5s. The Department has two divisions:
  • Education, Human Capital and Skills Development Division which focuses on scaling-up of Bank’s support to education, human capital and employment/livelihoods; and
  • Public Health, Security and Nutrition Division focusing on strengthening health systems and nutrition for human wellbeing. It also hosts various pertinent initiatives and trust funds.
• The Education, Human Capital and Employment Division focuses on human capital development, skills training, employment creation and empowerment, poverty reduction for improved and sustainable wellbeing and livelihoods. The Division:
  • Leads the development and promotion of Bank’s policy and strategy work so that operations which are identified, developed and executed by the regional hubs effectively implement the Bank’s relevant sector policies and strategies;
  • Provides technical guidance/advisory services and expertise to regional hubs by generating relevant knowledge and gathering a pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide technical advice on complex transactions (Communities of Practice);
  • Fosters strategic partnerships with regional and global partners to leverage resources into the human and social development sectors. It also directly contributes to the work of the various initiatives and trust funds hosted under the department; and provides expertise to support Vice President’s role as the Bank’s spokesperson to external audiences, and;
  • Ensures coherence of the Bank’s action in human and social development across regions.

The Position 
The Division Manager Education, Human Capital and Employment, reports to the Director Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department. The Division Manager is in charge of providing leadership and supervising staff members to implement the activities of the Division and support related activities.  The main work objectives are:

• Develop access to basic and inclusive non formal education ;
• Promote education for peace, civics, and other democratic values;
• Development of Information and Communications Technology revolution strategy in Africa through Information and Communications Technology flagship models;
• Provide necessary technical support and expertise to all units of the Bank in terms of Education.
• Lead the Bank policy on Education in order to ensure that planned operations are implemented in conformity with Bank policies ;
• Provide strategic services and advice through Regional Centers to support Regional Members Countries in improving higher education pertinence and human capital production necessary for the transformation of Africa.
• Ensure development of Technical and Vocational Education employability and self-employment;
• Develop science, technology and innovation systems, in relation with the labor market needs;

Responsibilities
The Division Manager Education, Human Capital and Employment, under the oversight of the Director Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department, manages staff of the Division: plans, organizes, supervises and leads the activities so as to ensure effective service provision. The incumbent performs the following specific duties:

People/Staff Management:

• Supervise, control and follow-up the professional performance of the staff members based on their work programs and on general procedures for performance assessment;
• Promote and encourage team work within the Division in order to meet the expected objectives;
• Participate in staff selection, support human resource management, and facilitate full achievement of technical work;
• Identify training needs and capacity building;
• Lead, supervise and conduct strategic missions of the Division;
• Establish individual work programs of the Division staff members on the basis of strategic plan identification of the Bank operations, with key indicators to asses budgetary and human resources ;
• Set quarterly and annual objectives and priorities to be achieved in the Division
• Ensure mid-term review with each staff member of the Division ;

Provision of Technical Support:

• Participate in Departmental Meetings (DMT) and ensure follow-up of recommendations;
• Provide advice to the Director of the Department on questions relating to Education.
• Prepare the Division's budget;
• Establish an agenda for activities implementation ;
• Organize periodical Division meetings;

Other Work Units Functions:

• Promote collaboration with the Public Health, Security and Nutrition Division and the Jobs for Youth in Africa Team;
• Participate high level strategic meetings ;
• Provide expertise and leadership in policy development and review of policies, procedures of the Bank Group relating to Education;
• Manage cooperation programs with technical agencies of the United Nations in order to ensure coordination of sector activities with other donors ;

Selection Criteria

• Capacity to communicate and develop in action plans the strategy relative to the division.
• Experience in delivering high quality operational products and services (economic analyses, research advice, sector studies and reviews).
• Proven leadership and team building skills; results oriented and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence  in  the  use  of  standard  Microsoft  Office  applications  (Word,  Excel,  Access,  PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.
• Hold at least a Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Science, Education, Economics and other related disciplines;
• A minimum of eight (8) years of extensive and progressive experience in an internationally recognized financial or development Institution, three (3) years of which should be at a managerial level; PhD in relevant discipline will be a plus.
• Good knowledge of policies and actors in action-oriented themes in the fields of Education, Human Capital and employment in development countries especially in Africa.
• Experience of preparing and managing development projects and ability to introduce work methods to increase effectiveness in a changing environment;
• Experience in planning, organising, managing and coordinating the activities of similar units and supervising Division’s staff, organising teams, and providing managerial support;
• Client oriented: direct and oversee team processes and outputs, provide guidance, feedback and insight to improve quality of the Bank’s actions relative to Education, Human capital and Employment sector.