Principal Operations Specialist

Job Vacancy | Monday, November 17, 2025

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  • Reference Number 250904 Position Grade TI3 Department Southeast Asia Department Division Operations Coordination Unit, SERD Location Asian Development Bank Headquarters Date Posted Monday, November 17, 2025 Closing Date Monday, December 1, 2025 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

    Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

    Are you ready to make a difference in 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 Principal Operations Specialist is assigned to the Operations Coordination Unit (SEOC) within the Southeast Asia Department (SERD). You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines, and relocation is required. All reasonable relocation expenses will be covered.

    You will report to the Regional Head, Operations Coordination (RHOC), SERD, and will oversee assigned international and local staff.

    Your Role

    As a Principal Operations Specialist, you will oversee the department's overall portfolio management; lead the preparation of and monitor the achievement towards annual portfolio management plans and goals; guide sector/country portfolio reviews; and lead portfolio related knowledge sharing activities.

    You will:

    • Lead the development and monitoring of SERD's annual portfolio management plans—including targets for contract awards, disbursements, and completion reports—and ensure alignment with corporate performance indicators.
    • Provide leadership and oversight in managing the SERD Portfolio Network, comprising Country Operations Head and sector Project Administration Unit (PAU) Heads, to address portfolio-related issues and develop solutions within the department.
    • Coordinate with Country Operations Heads and sector PAU Heads to track progress against portfolio targets, and guide sector/country portfolio reviews to implement plans that enhance project quality and performance.
    • Prepare comprehensive integrated portfolio reports, management briefs, summaries to support strategic decision-making, and provide high-quality and departmental inputs for the Annual Portfolio Performance Report (APPR); portfolio-related sections of the Work Program and Budget Framework (WPBF); and evaluation reports from different departments within ADB, providing insights on portfolio management issues and institutional performance.
    • Oversee SERD's integrated portfolio performance database, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with ADB policies.
    • Ensure well-crafted project administration documents, including completion reports and memoranda and provide strategic guidance to staff on implementation matters.
    • Evaluate project readiness of pipeline projects against established criteria and provide quality inputs to project administration manuals to ensure implementation and completion.
    • Contribute to country partnership strategy formulation by integrating lessons from portfolio implementation and provide quality advice on ADB policies to all partners.
    • Lead knowledge-sharing programs across SERD to communicate innovative and best practices in portfolio management and represent the department in ADB-wide working groups on portfolio management or project implementation, including SovOps.
    • Manage SEOC's technical assistance on portfolio management and project implementation.
    • Mentor and coach to team members, providing guidance on project or technical-related matters to develop their capabilities and potential.
    • Undertake other activities as designated by the RHOC, SERD, as reflected in your workplan.

      Qualifications

      You will need:

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