Young Professionals Program Coordinator at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Job Title: Young Professionals Program Coordinator

The Complex

• The People and Talent Management Complex (PTVP), has the overall responsibility for attracting, developing, motivating, and retaining a strong complement of professionals, support staff and contingent staff to deliver the business of the Bank into the future. 
• The PTVP Complex is responsible for ensuring effective systems and controls for people and talent management from talent sourcing to retirement.
• The PTVP Complex is also responsible for the effective administration of the Bank’s benefit plans (medical and staff retirement) and ensuring the financial sustainability of these plans.

The Hiring Department

• The Vice Presidency for People and Talent Management Front Office is composed of different experts, including the Young Professionals Program Coordinator. 
• The Front Office staff members are responsible for advising and assisting the Vice President to coordinate resources and deliver the work program for the Complex.

The Position

• The key objective of the position is to develop and implement innovative and effective Human Resources strategies, policies, and framework with respect to the management of the Young Professional (YP) Program of the Bank. 
• The incumbent will be expected to advise, guide and coach line managers in the management of the Young Professionals assigned to their organizational units under this program.
• The incumbent will also be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the Program, ensuring continuous development of the graduated YPs, working directly with the YPs, relevant managers and the Talent Councils to plan a Career path for each YP.

Responsibilities
Under the general supervision of the Vice President, People and Talent Management, the YP Program Coordinator will be responsible for:

General coordination of the full cycle of the Young Professional Program:

• Ensuring that the Program responds to the objectives and the business requirements of the Bank.
• Working with senior management to identify the number of YPs required for each cycle and the skills mix.
• Collaborate internally and externally to administer the YP cohorts in rotations, performance management process and evaluations, capacity development and career development.
• Lead the end-to-end management of the Program, ensuring ongoing monitoring and assessment of key program aspects including recruitment, performance management, satisfaction, retention and exits.

Talent Acquisition (Recruitment and Selection):

• Coordinating the periodic recruitment and selection process for the YP program, including announcement of vacancies and invitation for applications from suitably qualified candidates for the YPP.
• Ensuring the implementation of short-term and long-term skills needed by the Bank as identified by Senior Management, by advertising in appropriate media.
• Coordinating the screening and evaluation of applications, with support from assigned search firm(s) and the Recruitment team, to determine candidates who should be on the shortlist for assessment simulation exercises and subsequent recruitment and selection stages.
• Coordinating assessment simulation exercises and panel interviews, with support from the firms and Recruitment team.

Performance Management, Learning and Development:

• Coordinating the YP training and development programs, including on-boarding, on-the-job learning and mentoring. The YP Program Coordinator shall ensure that YPs participate in job-related and soft skills training, as available in the Bank’s annual training programs.
• Ensuring  that eligible YPs participate in Bank language training classes as necessary to achieve fluency in their second working language.  Progress in achieving fluency in the second working language will be reviewed as part of performance evaluation.
•  Implement the Mentoring, Buddy, Peer Support and Coaching Programs, and any other programs that may be introduced as part of the YP Program.
• Design and implement appropriate YP Learning Faculty.
• Work closely with the Talent Councils to contribute to the design of trends for Young Professionals career development in the Bank.
• Coordinating the YPs’ performance evaluation at the mid-point and end of each rotation, to provide feedback to YPs and inform Management accordingly, so that there will be a valid basis for determining annual salary increases and graduation from the Program.

Advisory:

• Providing generic and specific advice to the YPs throughout their program.
• Providing advice and guidance on rotations to the YPs, striking a balance between the Bank’s needs and the YPs career aspirations. This facilitatory and advisory role should ensure a great experience for the YPs in the Bank, both as YPs and after their graduation (full employment cycle in the Bank).
• Providing advice on the YPs’ 1st and 2nd rotations which should be stretch assignments, chosen to provide experience of the Bank’s various Departments and development programs and processes.
• Ensuring that the YP’s 3rd rotation is, where possible, in the area/type of work or in the Organizational Unit in which the YP hopes to graduate at the end of the program, without taking away the flexibility to allow the YPs to choose what is in line with their career aspirations, and also best interests of the Bank.
• Ensuring that the Program provides a suitable bridge between the developmental focus of the 1st and 2nd assignments and the level of responsibility typical of at least a Professional Level 5 position (PL5 position), as per the Bank’s grading structure.

Others:

• Coordinating the graduation of YPs into regular positions at the end of the program, identifying post-graduation positions for each YP by through senior management, and Steering Committee support.
• Leading the preparation of the YP Annual Report for Senior Management and Board information.
• The YP Coordinator will also put in place a tracking system in order to maintain a record of the career progression of Young Professionals.
• The incumbent will track current and former Young Professionals still at the Bank or exited from the Bank to have an overview of their career progression, in order to improve the management of the Program.
• Providing secretariat services to relevant Program Committees.
• Undertaking other accountabilities, including active participation in the monthly and weekly planning of the activities of the program to make sure that they are in line with the mission and work programmes deliverables and take appropriate action when objectives or resources availability is modified, in order to maintain delivery and efficiency.
• May manage as required other similar Programs and Special Programs that enable a workforce of the future for the Bank
• The incumbent will coordinate, as required, other Special Programs that do not add to the head count of the Bank, such as Secondments, Technical Assistance, Internships, Junior Professionals Program and other new programs that might be approved by the Bank.
• Any other mission relevant duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor. 

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, Organisational Development Social Sciences, Business Administration or related disciplines.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in project management in a multicultural environment, preferably in an international organization.
• Additional certifications or specialized training in talent, career and/or mobility management is an added value.
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, meet tight deadlines, and attend to details while staying focused on key priorities.
• Ability to coordinate programmes and events in a learning and development environment.
• Be able to meet strict deadlines and work under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate with peers and other Human Resources experts in a multidisciplinary team.
• Capacity to initiate and manage innovations and changes.
• Proven communication, negotiation and analytical skills.
• Tact, and the ability to deal with difficult situations and team building skills.
• A high sense of initiative, enthusiasm and good team spirit, good organizational and interpersonal skills are strongly desired.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with experience in presenting to a range of target audiences.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French, with a working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint).

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is 9th May, 2025. Therefore, qualified and interested candidates can “CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION” It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply successfully for this vacancy.

Website:
Official Job Website: https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/careers