Director Chief Risk Officer Rome D-

This position is based in Rome, Italy.
Organizational Setting
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
The Office of Enterprise Risk Management (RMO) is a dynamic, strategic and responsive service provider, leading IFAD's second line of defence by fully supporting the management of all risks across the organization. The RMO implements, monitors, and maintains an efficient and effective Enterprise Risk Management programme, supporting IFAD's strategic vision and mandate. The RMO aims to enable better informed risk taking by using consistent risk management best practices across the organization to achieve the Fund's objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments. The Office is responsible for oversight and monitoring of risk exposures and enabling clear reporting of IFAD's risk profile.
The mission of RMO is to monitor IFADs Risk environment across all of its Risk generating areas and oversee the design and implementation of the ERMF. RMO helps IFAD accomplish its Strategic Framework by bringing a consistent approach to monitoring and improving the Risk Management process. RMO supports IFADs strategic objectives and sustainable financial position from a Risk perspective, especially the commitment to defend IFADs credit rating.RMO is comprised of two main units, the Operational Risk and Programme Delivery Risk Management Unit and the Financial Risk management Unit.
Job Role
Directors are responsible for managing a Fund division or office. The main focus of Director positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, they are responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division's programme of work within an allocated budget.
As the Director RMO and Chief Risk Officer, the incumbent supervises the risk managers and has management responsibility for the risk management teams. The incumbent serves as the senior executive in charge of the second-line-of-defence risk team and oversees risk management for all Level 1 risk domains, including strategic, financial, programme delivery operational, and cross-cutting risks such as reputational and legal. The incumbent has the independence and stature to challenge first-line risk management. As a member of IFADs Executive Management Team, the Director RMO and Chief Risk Officer has a corporate responsibility for the Fund.
Minimum Requirements
Substantive relevant experience exceeding 15 years at an international level in an institution, which could include international organizations, private or public international financial institutions, ministeries of finance, central banks or other development finance-related organizations.Progressively responsible management experience in senior positions is required. A thorough understanding of the international financial and risk landscape for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and International Financial Institutions (IFls) is an asset.Advanced university degree from an accredited institution. A PhD would be an asset. Areas - Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Risk Management, Banking Economics or other relevant areas. Risk management relevant certifications (IIA, ACFE, CFA) would be an asset.Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .Proficiency in English (Level 4 - Excellent) is required. Proficiency in another UN language (French, Spanish, or Arabic) is desirable.
Organizational Competencies:
Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally.Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills.Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change.Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture.Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture.Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization.Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources.Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact.Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles.Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment.
Skills:Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors.Economic evaluation: Know-how relevant to specific role in Evaluation roles (e.g. Monitoring and managing evaluation processes and methodologies, carrying out Programme/Project evaluation, Impact evaluation, Corporate-level evaluation).IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work.IFAD partners: Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors.UN and IFI documentation & processes: Knowledge of the relevant policies, rules, regulations and guidelines on document processing and distribution within the UN and other IFIs.Risk & compliance: Know-how in asset liability management, risk reporting, capital adequacy, quality assurance and compliance (e.g. Anti-money laundering (AML), Know your customer (KYC) processes), etc.Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategiesStrategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions.Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources.Policy dialogue: Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD's mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society.Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources.Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented.Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions.Confidentiality & Discretion: Establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a "Culture Carrier" demonstrating IFAD institutional conscience through his/her work.Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)Integrity and ethics: Strong emphasis on acting with honesty, not tolerating unethical behaviour, demonstrating equity, impartiality and sensitivity in exercising authority and interacting with staff, and other stakeholders. Conduct must be guided by IFAD core values, the Code of conduct and a high sense of ethics.Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice.Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector.Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation).Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management.
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🕧 Deadline to apply: Sunday, 06 September 2026 23.59 CET