Senior Strategy Specialist at The OPEC Fund for International Development

Job Profile

The Strategic Planning Unit provides relevant strategy, planning, economic and other important inputs that guide operational departments in the development of their work plans, and helps senior management decision-making processes that feed into overall strategy development. The role will entail significant involvement in the development of the Fund’s short and long-term strategies, business plans and other strategic initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate, as a significant part of the core team, in the OPEC Fund’s strategy development, articulation and dissemination.
• Play a lead role in the process of distilling this strategy into yearly business plans and strategic initiatives.
• Develop relevant strategy and policy papers for management's or governing board consideration and approval.
• Liaise with operations teams and provide support to the Director in monitoring progress towards assigned operational targets.
• Ensure that all new policy proposals and strategic initiatives are aligned with the Fund’s planning priorities and long term strategy.
• Provide support to Senior Management, as requested, on policy developments and the Fund’s response to emerging international issues.
• Provide support on external stakeholder engagement requirements, including inputs for periodic rating agency reviews.
• Play a lead role in the preparation of Country or Sector strategies as required.
• Represent the department, as required, in institution wide working groups and task forces. 
• Keep track of trends as they relate to the OPEC Fund’s external environment and propose initiatives to enhance competitive positioning.
• Serve as a focal point, as requested, on strategy issues to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the development of junior staff by providing coaching and mentorship as required.
• Support the Director, Strategic Planning in any other assigned tasks and initiatives as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of a Master’s degree (or its university equivalent) in economics, macroeconomics or development economics, finance, engineering, strategic management or related fields.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience with at least 5 years in a related role at a development finance institution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. A good working knowledge of Arabic, French, and/or Spanish is an asset.

Competencies

• Ability to work across teams in a collaborative and respectful manner.
• Strong sense of responsibility and problem solving abilities.
• Cross culturally sensitive and ability to communicate in a manner consistent with the international nature of the organization.
• Strong knowledge of development issues.
• Proven exposure to the operations and strategic considerations of multilateral development banks.
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands, priorities and tight deadlines with the capability to work within specified time limits.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to distil integrate and translate complex issues into crisp and strategically relevant insights.
• Excellent written communication skills including long form documents and PowerPoint presentations.
• Ability to work efficiently in a well-structured, focused, timely manner.
• Experience in dashboard development tools and dashboard development a plus.
• Project management skills with an ability to monitor implementation of projects/programs.