Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Division (SDCD) within the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC). SDCC provides leadership, innovation, and knowledge sharing for ADB’s sector and thematic work. SDCD leads the Bank’s work in responding to the growing need for innovative policies, institutions, and investments to lead the region to a low carbon, climate and disaster resilient future; and supports ADB’s operational departments to develop and implement climate and disaster resilience projects, integrate disaster risk and climate change considerations into their broader portfolio of projects, and access climate financing. 

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Disaster Risk Management Specialist will drive implementation of ADB's policy and operational and action plans pertaining to disaster risk management (DRM). He/she will provide advice, expertise and technical support to operations to mainstream DRM in ADB operations and ensure bank-wide implementation of ADB’s DRM approach. The incumbent will report to Chief of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Thematic Group concurrently Director, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Division, SDCC, and will supervise national and administrative staff

Responsibilities

a. Policies, Strategies and Frameworks

• Monitor the application and implementation of ADB’s Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy and related operational and action plans and contribute to related periodic reviews.
• Provide technical inputs to ensure that disaster and climate resilience considerations are incorporated in ADB country partnership strategies.

b. Operational Advice and Support

• Provide technical support to operations departments for developing country and sector approaches for strengthening disaster and climate resilience and integrating disaster and climate resilience considerations in program and project design
• Contribute to the development and application of disaster and climate risk screening tools and guidelines for ADB projects.
• Provide technical inputs to operations departments in processing and implementing disaster risk reduction and preparedness project outputs across all relevant sectors and themes.
• Provide technical inputs to operations departments in processing and implementing emergency assistance. 
• Provide support to senior management and the Board of Directors on DRM issues, including preparation of briefing notes and presentation materials, as requested.

c. Mobilizing and Managing DRM finance

• Support operations departments to access resources for DRM. 
• Contribute to efforts to mobilize external resources for DRM and to establish and implement trust and special funds.

d. Knowledge Generation and Sharing

• Develop and implement DRM regional technical assistance projects focusing on key gaps in DRM policy and practice in ADB’s DMCs and on innovation.
• Conduct DRM awareness training and capacity development programs for staff, executing agencies of developing member countries, and other concerned parties.
• Actively participate in external DRM networks and global and regional partnerships and inter-agency relations, and contribute to external knowledge sharing and harmonization efforts through conferences, external publications, and other knowledge products.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree, or equivalent in DRM, economics, social sciences or related fields. Alternatively, university degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience, including at the international level and with knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Familiarity with DRM operations, policies and procedures of multilateral financial institutions, a strong international DRM network, experience in urban development and/or adaptive social protection, and experience in processing and implementation of investment projects would be an advantage.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for IS4.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.

Important information

Close relatives* of ADB staff, except spouses of international staff, are not eligible for recruitment and appointment to staff positions. Applicants are expected to disclose if they have any relative/s by consanguinity/blood, by adoption and/or by affinity/marriage presently employed in ADB.

*Close relatives refer to spouse, children, mother, father, brother and sister, niece, nephew, aunt and uncle

Staff on probation are not eligible to apply. Applicants for promotion must have served at their position for at least one year and must have normally served at their personal level for at least two years immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date. Applicants for lateral transfer must have served at their position and personal level for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date (reference A.O. 2.03, paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9).

In the event that the staff appointed to a new category (i.e. from AS to NS, or from NS to IS) is rated at 2 or lower in the first two performance reviews after appointment at the new level, they will return to the level occupied immediately prior to their appointment in the new category.

This is a special fixed-term appointment for a period of three (3) years following Section 3.1 (c.) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

Important Notice:

1. Multiple positions at various levels will be filled from this vacancy announcement.
2. Actual position title and level will be based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and job scope that will be assigned to the selected candidates
3. The positions are to be assigned to the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Division (SDCD) within the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC) but selected candidates may be redeployed to the Operational Departments. 
4. If the successful candidate is an ADB staff member holding a regular appointment, his/her regular appointment will be converted to a special fixed-term appointment. A special fixed-term appointment will automatically and without prior notice expire at the end of the term.