African Development Bank Group (AfDB) – Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Legal Business Performance Officer, PGCL

Position Number: 50068964
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Grade: PL5

The Complex

• The President plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund (ADF) and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the AfDB and the ADF.
• The President supervises several Departments and Units including Office of the President (PRST0); Independent Development Evaluation Department (BDEV); Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department (PIAC); Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM); Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); Administrative Tribunal (BATR); Office of the Auditor General (PAGL); Group Risk Management Directorate (PGRM);  General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL); Communication and External Relations Department (PCER); Staff Integrity and Ethics Office (PETH) and Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat (PSEG).

The Hiring Department

• The General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL) delivers legal advice and services to all organs and units of the Bank. In addition, PGCL provides legal advice on the administration, operations and financial activities of the Bank.
• PGCL also ensures that the Bank’s activities and operations are consistent with the constitutive documents and other legal instruments of the Bank, its policies, the relevant norms and principles of international and commercial law, as well as the best practices of international development banking.
• PGCL protects the interests of the Bank from legal liability and as necessary provides legal defense in cases filed against or brought by the Bank.
• The Office of the General Counsel advises the statutory organs of the Bank group: from the Boards of Governors and Boards of Directors of the Bank Group to Senior Management, and all operational complexes on their most innovative and complex operations and initiatives.
• The General Counsel also advises on the most strategic and sensitive matters facing the institution.

The Position

• Working closely with the General Counsel and the PGCL Division Managers, the Senior Legal Business Performance Officer’s main responsibility is to ensure efficient use of budget resources and effective delivery of the Department Work Program.
• The Senior Legal Business Performance Officer coordinates all activities related to budget preparation and utilization as well as the execution of the Department Work Program and produces reports and statistics.
• The objective of Senior Legal Business Performance Officer is to provide operational and technical support to the General Counsel and the Department on day-to-day administrative, financial and operational activities pertinent to the smooth running of the Department and assist the General Counsel in monitoring the execution of PGCL’s Work Program.

Key Functions
Under the overall supervision of the General Counsel, the Senior Legal Business Performance Officer has the following responsibilities:
Operations Monitoring:

• Tracking and monitoring implementation of audit recommendations relating to the Department, including managing inputs in the Bank’s audit management tracking system.
•  Coordinating the preparation of the monthly Key Risk Indicators report.
• Contributing to the definition of the Department’s Key Risk Indicators, coordinate preparation of the Department’s risk register and act as focal point with PGRF.2 with respect to Key Risk Indicator reporting.

System Management:

• Providing support on optimizing proper records management, legal library management, information storage and retrieval in PGCL.
• Addressing issues pertaining to the SAP system and other IT systems used by PGCL in implementing its work program.

Cooperation Activities:

• Representing PGCL in coordination meeting with other departments for administrative and financial issues of common interest within the scope of activities.
• Liaising with counterparts in Legal Departments in other International Finance Institutions’ with respect to annual benchmarking and exchange activities and information sharing on statistics.
• Liaising with counterparts Legal Departments in other International Finance Institutions for information exchange on library services and cooperation with international universities to update/use their library services and provide guidance to the person in charge of the  Library Assistant accordingly.

Budget Resources Management:

• Budget & Work Program – Leading the three-yearly rolling budget exercise for PGCL to ensure timely input in the annual strategic program planning and budgeting and the budget controlling process within PGCL.
• Monitoring appropriate application of budget rules and procedures and the Financial Regulations of the Bank.
• Assisting and supporting the Front Office and all PGCL Divisions in budget preparation and monitoring budget utilization.
• Advising on priorities for budget re-allocation of resources during mid-year reviews or as may be required.
• Conducting analytical work on the Department budget (allocation, execution, transfers etc.) and advising PGCL Management accordingly.
• Contributing to the definition of the Department’s Key Performance Indicators.
• Coordinating the preparation of the monthly Key Performance Indicators report and the quarterly institutional reporting to be delivered to the Programing and Budget departments.
• Being the Department focal point for liaison with the Budget Department.

Procurement:

• Providing technical assistance and support to Front Office lawyers, PGCL Divisions and the General Counsel for the recruitment of external counsel (law firms).
• Providing guidelines and advice to PGCL’s Administrative/Team assistants, Legal Operations Assistants, Legal Library Assistant(s) and PGCL Divisions in relation to the use of budgeted resources in line with procurement rules for administration of contracts and financial commitments.
• Coordinating the procurement processes for recruitment within the Department and preparing the annual procurement plan for PGCL.

Human Resources Management:

• Serving as administrative focal point for the recruitment of staff and consultants, training and development, performance evaluation, job designing and staff planning requirements; coordinate PGCL’s annual training plan.
• Supporting the General Counsel in the management of staff performance evaluations, by ensuring for instance that required deadlines are met.
• Coordinating the work of all support staff assigned to the Front Office.
• Advising Management on training needs for support staff.

Event Supervision:

• Supervising the organization of Departmental events such as retreats, capacity building seminars, workshops and other events.
• Carrying out such other duties as may be assigned by the General Counsel or PGCL Managers.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Law, Accounting, Finance, or similar fields;
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in similar roles with proven administrative skills and experience in budget-related matters, work program implementation and reporting, procurement, and operations,  preferably with an international financial institution or an international organization;
• Preferably, experience of working in a legal department or similar environment;
• Capacity to diagnose and resolve multiple concurrent problems as well as to manage multiple, simultaneous, and shifting demands, priorities and tight deadlines; Client and results oriented individual;
• Effective consulting, advisory and mentoring skills that enable colleagues and help them build their confidence and skills to deal with operational and administrative issues;
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues;
• Effective teamwork in timely manner;
• Ability to manage multi-tasking administrative staff in a timely & effective manner;
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other;
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications;  experience and proficiency with SAP, SRAS and other operational management systems.

Application Closing Date
4th April, 2023.