Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist (Agribusiness) / 250542

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  • Added Date: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
  • Deadline Date: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
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Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist (Agribusiness)

Job Vacancy | Wednesday, July 2, 2025

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  • Reference Number 250542 Position Level TI2 Department Sectors Department 2 Division Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office Location Asian Development Bank Headquarters Date Posted Wednesday, July 2, 2025 Closing Date Wednesday, July 16, 2025 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

    Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

    Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

    The position of Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist (Agribusiness) is assigned to the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SG-AFNR) within the Sectors Department 2 (SD2). SD2 aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB's strategic agenda in the region. SD2, which is comprised of the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, the Water and Urban Development Sector Office, and the Digital Sector Office: delivers or supports sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with ADB's developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB's technical leadership internally and externally.

    AFNR leads policy development and dialogue, knowledge management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance (TA) processing and administration in the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development (AFNR) sector.

    You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines

    You will report to the Senior Director of SD-AFNR and may oversee technical local staff.

    Your Role:

    As a Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist (Agribusiness), you will contribute and lead in the formulation and articulation of policy, strategies, projects and programs on natural resources management and biodiversity conservation in developing member countries (DMCs). You will lead in identifying, developing, processing, implementing and administering loans, grants, technical assistance (TA) projects, and provide relevant stakeholders with necessary technical support and knowledge for projects.

    You may be designated to lead portfolio management and be responsible for project reviews to ensure effective implementation, accomplishment of project and subsector results, and development impact. You will provide oversight and guidance to project teams, specifically in areas of project implementation and development effectiveness, in designing, and processing of loans, grants, technical assistance (TA) projects.

    You will:

  • Lead the assessment of AFNR sector development policies, strategies, and programs with a view of ensuring comparability to international best practices, smart solutions and technological advances, climate needs, and responsiveness to emerging development needs of DMCs. Based on country dialogues, prepare and implement studies to identify the emerging areas in the AFNR sector investment opportunities. Introduce effective solutions and identify appropriate modalities for ADB's assistance to DMC(s).
Lead preparation, processing, and administration of regional and DMC specific loans, grants, and TAs in any of the following areas: natural resources management, ecosystem protection and management, biodiversity conservation, and agrifood system transformation Lead conduct of policy dialogue with senior government officials and development partners to leverage policy, regulatory and institutional reforms in the AFNR sector. Represent AFNR and contribute to the development of Country Partnership Strategies. Identify and introduce innovative solutions in specific loans, grants, and TAs to address nature-food nexus and climate resilience, and scale up cross-sector approach to invest in natural capital growth, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, food and nutrition security for replication in SG-AFNR and beyond. Support the development of nature-positive investments in the context of AFNR sector assessment, strategy, and road map. Work with regional and subregional natural resource management programs and country teams to integrate regional initiatives into country strategy and pipelines. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners (e.g., universities, international organizations, and private sector entities) related to agrifood system transformation and natural resource management for knowledge and project opportunities and fully use the strategic partnerships to generate new project ideas. Facilitate liaison and coordination with development agencies working on natural resource management. Represent ADB and participate in government and development partners' meetings and working groups and other events on AFNR for knowledge sharing and coordinating and promoting ADB's AFNR initiatives. Generate and disseminate knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices, and country or region-specific cross-learning in the AFNR sector in nature positive investments, circular economy, agriculture and rural waste management, management of plastic use in agrifood value chains, regenerative agriculture and net-zero agriculture. Lead relevant in-house studies and knowledge generating and sharing activities and prepare knowledge products, reports, or policy briefs on these emerging areas. Take the role of mentor to develop capabilities/potential of reporting staff. Supervise and support reporting staff, including their performance and development. Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff. Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff's workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

Master's degree or equivalent in engineering, climate sciences, environment, food and agriculture sciences, economics or related fields; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered. At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in IFIs, UN organizations, or development partners in operations, strategy, finance, or related fields in Asia. Additional experience in corporate lending, investment banking or private equity in the agriculture and natural resources sector would be a bonus Excellent financial modelling, equity valuation, corporate and project finance, and other core banking, investment, and risk management skills Extensive knowledge and experience in developing sovereign and private sector projects in the agriculture and natural resources sector Familiarity with legal documentation for typical banking and private equity transactions International experience working in several countries Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required. Please refer to the link of ADB Competency Framework for Technical International Staff Level TI2.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB's standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

Paid leave (including parental) Medical and health benefits Life and other insurance plans Staff development Retirement plan Housing and education allowance (if applicable) Expatriate benefits (for international staff)

Additional Information

This position is part of the Expert Pool Program, created to strengthen ADB's internal expertise in the key operational areas by acquiring updated and niche expertise in priority areas.

This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

Selected applicants will be subject to a one-year probationary period.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew, initially for a period of up to 3 years, or up to the Normal Retirement Date (NRD), whichever comes earlier, for the purpose(s) and conditions determined by ADB, in accordance with Administrative Order No. 2.01 (Recruitment and Appointment). After the initial fixed-term period, ADB may choose to renew the appointment for up to an additional 3 years or not renewed. This decision will be made in the overall interest of ADB, based on factors including but not limited to the requirement of Staff’s particular blend of skills and experience for the medium-term work program of the organizational unit, sufficient funding to cover the renewed period, and Staff’s performance and suitability for employment. There is no limit to the number of renewals up to NRD. However, this appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 members, 50 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 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

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.

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