Disaster risk management specialist

Job purpose:

Support ongoing development, coordination and monitoring of ADB's policies and strategies pertaining to disaster risk management. Provide intellectual leadership within ADB’s integrated disaster risk management (IDRM) framework that combines disaster risk reduction (DRR) with elements of climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk financing (DRF) to provide support to ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) in building up their DRM capacities. Provide support to operations to implement a more proactive risk management approach to disaster management. Apply technical excellence and ensure high quality of all DRM knowledge products, and strengthen the links between the Asia Pacific region and global disaster risk management networks. Work with broad policies and objectives, working directly with clients, with supervision for critical tasks.

Expected outcomes:

Policies, strategies and frameworks

• Monitor the application and implementation of ADB's disaster and emergency assistance policy (DEAP) and practices
• Support the development, promotion and implementation of an Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRM) framework.

Operational advice and support

• Provide technical advisory services to regional departments for (i) developing country and sector approaches to strengthening DRM; (ii) mainstreaming DRM in country partnership strategies (iii) processing DRM loan, grant and TA projects, and (iv) implementing DRM projects;
• Support development, coordination and implementation of country risk profiling requirements including exposure and vulnerability data on specific hazards for DMCs;
• Support the evaluation of disaster risk in public and private investments, and analysis of the costs and benefits in risk reduction;
• Develop approaches for incentivizing increased investment of public and private resources in DRM in DMCs;
• Process and implement regional technical assistance projects (RETAs) on DRM;
• Provide support to Senior Management and the Board on DRM issues, including preparation of briefing notes, as required.

Knowledge generation and sharing

• Strengthen global and regional partnerships and inter-agency relations in DRM;
• Represent ADB at international DRM forums, preparing and delivering presentations and interventions highlighting ADB's DRM policies, programs, and projects;
• Develop knowledge products that add value to further the understanding of issues and solutions for managing disaster risk;
• Design and deliver staff learning programs and briefing sessions on relevant DRM topics;
• Supervise the maintenance of databases, websites and other resources containing relevant information on DRM issues, policies and programs.

Staff supervision

• Provide leadership and support to reporting staff.
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

Educational requirements:

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Social or Environmental Sciences or related fields. University degree in Social or Environmental Sciences or related fields, combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Relevant experience and other requirements:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in DMCs with good knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of disaster risk management.
• Proven analytical, conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• International experience working in several countries.
• Experience in urban development, water resource management and/or disaster risk financing would be an advantage.

Core competencies:

Application of technical knowledge and skills

• Regularly shares knowledge on new international best practice trends in comparator situations
• Proactively applies relevant international best practices to own work
• Convinces others to adopt international best practice by explaining the situational relevance and benefits

Client orientation

• Helps colleagues work effectively with clients in different contexts and from diverse backgrounds and country situations
• Adapts own approach and style when interacting with clients, as opposed to requiring them to adapt
• Draws upon international best practice in exploring solutions with clients
• Confirms the clients’ understanding and agreement before progressing

Achieving results and problem solving

• Draws on own and others’ multi-country experience to identify viable courses of action when conducting analyses
• Helps internal and external clients achieve quality results beyond presenting problems and precedent
• Highlights possible solutions for project issues based on relevant multi-country and/or multi-client experience
• Regularly contributes insights and experiences to colleagues in the Division to help them achieve quality results
• Overcomes unexpected difficulties and challenges to produce desired outcomes

Working together

• Maintains collaborative relationships within the Department
• Works effectively with diverse colleagues in own and other Divisions and Departments
• Flexibly alters positions and adjusts previously stated points of view to support the group consensus
• Follows through on team priorities in the absence of a team leader

Communication and knowledge sharing

• Checks the audience’s level of understanding and awareness of required follow up actions
• Consistently seeks and addresses feedback on own performance
• Creates knowledge products endorsed for wider distribution based on lessons and multi-country experience
• Independently amends and clarifies messages and documents

Innovation and change

• Actively supports work improvement and/or organizational change by work and deed
• Develops and adopts change plans to support Division initiatives on which one works
• Considers current and future client needs in proposing ideas
• Vocalizes early support for change
• Recommends inputs to new policies, systems and processes in immediate work area