Principal solutions architect - African Development Bank

• Position title: Principal solutions architect - OITC.3
• Grade: PL-4
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: ADB/15/145
• Publication date: 06/10/2015
• Closing date: 26/10/2015

Objectives

The Transport and ICT Department (OITC) is responsible for the Bank Group's public sector-based activity in the transport and ICT sectors.  In particular, the Department is responsible for the identification, appraisal and subsequent supervision of the Bank's lending and grants programme to Regional Member Countries for transport and ICT projects.  In addition, particularly in ICT, the department supports other operations of the Bank requiring sectoral advice.  The main objective of the ICT Division (OITC.3) is to build on the Bank's sector skills to become a leader in the development, financing and implementation of ICT projects and programmes across the African continent.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Division Manager, the post holder will be the solutions architecture expert within the team.  As such, he/she will be expected to lead or provide advice on all matter relating to solutions architecture, including hardware, software, applications and integration.  To that end, he/she will:

• review project proposals to verify the appropriate IT solutions identified or to make recommendations on prospective project designs in light of solutions architecture concerns.  Such project proposals may come via OITC.3 or from other Bank departments, development partners or the private sector;
• ensure that OITC.3 is properly briefed and current in its knowledge of solutions architecture as it relates to use in Africa;
• liaise with private sector ICT companies to understand their product roadmaps and the application of them to Africa; and to consider areas of joint Bank-private sector collaboration;
• create and maintain a technical capacity programme to ensure Regional Member Countries have available to them the rights skills and training to make solutions architecture-related decisions.

The post holder will also perform the normal functions of a task manager within the ICT team:

• Participate in project identification missions in selected RMCs in the ICT sector. Such missions normally lead to the development of a pipeline of bankable projects and technical assistance programs  to be considered by OITC.
• Prepare or oversee preliminary evaluation of project proposals to assess their feasibility for financial assistance and/or technical support by the Bank. This involves the screening of project applications, carrying out of desk reviews and evaluation of feasibility studies, preparing Project Concept Notes.
• Participate in identification, appraisal and negotiation missions. This includes coordinating the work of the mission team which usually includes professional staff from other departments within the Bank; carrying out independent research on the investment climate, project sponsors, management, economic, financial, marketing, technical, environmental and legal aspects of the project or policy. The work also includes assessing the risks of projects and advising governments on appropriate mitigating measures; structuring/restructuring of projects to minimize financial risks; participating in negotiations, or conducting preliminary negotiations with sponsors on financing terms and legal conditions for the proposed investment/loan by the Bank.
• Contribute to the preparation of Project Concept Notes and Project Appraisal Reports for presentation to peer reviewers, Country Teams, Operations Committee  and finally to the Board of Directors. The work involves overseeing the production of financial models for carrying out financial and economic analyses of the project; developing recommendations and justifications for the investments and defending these at the various management committees and Board of Directors.
• Process disbursements under approved projects on timely basis, while ensuring that all conditions precedent were fulfilled.
• Supervise portfolio projects, including review of progress reports, preparing project supervision reports for management review and recommending appropriate measures to deal with problem projects.
• Contribute to the development of strategic plans and programs; participate in Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) preparation missions for allocated countries; contribute to and participate in the preparation of policy papers on private sector operations and issues.
• Perform other ad hoc assignments relating to the ICT sector assigned by management, including the preparation of briefs, speeches and papers.
• Undertake any other task as the Manager may assign

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of a Master’s degree preferably in  IT or telecoms engineering and/or equivalent work experience;
• A minimum of six (6) years relevant professional experience in solutions architecting, project management and capacity building;
• Proven written and analytical skills in designing solutions architecture; ability to apply solutions architecting knowledge across industries and sectors (public/private); ability to initiate innovative approaches and originality at work; sound analytic, conceptual and strategic thinking;
• Excellent technical and analytical skills and established track record of excellence in operational work related to project implementation;
• Experience working on operations in the private sector and the public sector;
• Proven ability for team-working and multi-tasking; good communication and computational skills; resourcefulness, attention to detail and client orientation;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues; 
• Flexibility to undertake field missions to Regional Member Countries; 
• Competence in (or ability/willingness to become quickly familiar with) the use of various tools available and applied by the Bank such as SAP, and fluency in standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Power point);  
• Excellent written and oral communications in French. A good working knowledge of English is required.

Apply online

Apply for this position

To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs