## Competency Framework Model B: Specialized Career Stream A9–A14

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Competency Framework Model B: Specialized Career Stream A9–A14](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/competency-framework-model-b-scs-a9-a14.pdf)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/-/media/files/oap/competency-framework-model-b-scs-a9-a14.pdf.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/oap/competency-framework-model-b-scs-a9-a14.pdf.json)

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### Key Competencies and Behaviors Critical for Promotion to the Grade
- Model premise: competencies and behaviors needed to carry the duties at each grade level should be broadly comparable across career streams and are minimum expectations for entry into a grade.
- Promotion decisions will also take into account performance record, experience, job requirements (per job standards, where applicable), and budget availability.

### Analytical Skills
- A9: With guidance, creates work product or completes analytical tasks according to specifications.
- A10: Demonstrates ability to synthesize information into cohesive output.
- A11: Creates work product or completes analytical tasks with minimal guidance and understands which situations require escalation; begins to apply analytical skills beyond tasks to processes and procedures, offering suggestions for improvement.
- A12: Working independently, applies analytical skills to identify issues or problems; focuses on operational excellence by offering suggestions for improvement, potentially resulting in changes to procedures and policy; prepares final products within context of position.
- A13: Makes recommendations for policy changes and understands/provides analytical validation of the implications of certain policy changes; demonstrates ability to assess a situation as a whole versus just “their part”; demonstrates ability to develop and execute an analytical approach, applying skills to build and implement a plan which addresses broader/more complex problems; understands implications of findings for Fund.
- A14: Establishes analytical standards for work area; recommends new policies/processes; demonstrates broad knowledge of the work of the division and its implications across areas and to the Fund; coordinates department work product (such as papers and strong first drafts) by utilizing strong analytical skills to make appropriate conclusions/recommendations with the big picture in mind and with input from others as necessary.

### Specialty Knowledge
- A9: Demonstrates basic knowledge/expertise in a particular program /area; able to interact with clients to understand requests; effectively contributes to one or more projects or more than one aspect of a large project.
- A10: Demonstrates broader and/or deeper knowledge/expertise in a particular program /area; provides functional expertise on a policy/process, provide interpretation, contributes to any change / advancement of the policy/process; contributions reflect a basic understanding of the departmental impact of decisions, output, etc.
- A11: Displays in-depth specific technology, business process, or platform knowledge; demonstrates building of knowledge outside of division and a broadened perspective of department and Fund; understands new and more complex policies and applies and implements them; demonstrates mastery of processes.
- A12: Isolates key issues and analyzes trends, identifying and assessing circumstances that may be atypical or unusual in nature; displays “ownership” for a service, process, application, program; performs important tasks and/or high risk, high visibility projects.
- A13: Identifies issues (often complex in nature) for consideration (e.g., inconsistencies in articles, rules, etc.) and assists in resolution; represents the department (and its’ position) on more complex Fund-wide issues; serves as expert advisor.
- A14: Acts as the expert on a complex issue – is the go-to person for internal and external stakeholders; regularly represents the department within the Fund and externally on broader issues (of significant impact).

### Versatility
- A9: Displays good judgment on operating within Fund cultural context.
- A10: Understands the impact of own actions or decisions within the work stream and starts to think proactively, following the work to completion; demonstrates ability to multi-task across multiple projects.
- A11: Demonstrates knowledge in multiple platforms/ technologies/ specializations (depth and breadth); displays fungibility by being able to move from one work area to another as required.
- A12: Significant multi-tasking required; demonstrates more collaboration across divisions and departments; significant fungibility across departmental work; effectively integrates multiple processes.
- A13: Demonstrates ability to think more strategically, understand Fund interdependencies and connect issues.
- A14: (No additional distinct text beyond demonstrating strategic thinking and interdependencies provided in source.)

### Technological/Data Management Skills
- A9: Understands and can apply core technology/data management needed to perform tasks/ responsibilities.
- A10: Leverages technology/data management skills to facilitate the performance of assigned tasks and responsibilities.
- A11: Identifies opportunities to improve processes and data management by utilizing technology.
- A12: Identifies specific needs/requirements for relevant technology/data management.
- A13: Teaches and provides a role model for others on how to more effectively use technology and apply data management skills.
- A14: Sets strategic directions on the use of technology and data management standards.

### Innovativeness
- A9: Recommends basic improvements related to own tasks and resolve less complex issues.
- A10: Starts to identify multiple options to addressing situations/challenges.
- A11: Recommends potential solutions in addition to identifying problems; assesses whether current processes are effective and efficient; selects and implements the best solution with minimal supervision; innovation is typically focused on specific area versus Fund-wide or across depts.
- A12: Displays innovation for more complex situations/challenge and across multiple work areas; can “think on one’s feet” and successfully respond to queries or issues.
- A13: Demonstrates innovation and creativity on solving problems with Fund-wide impact; demonstrates how to drive innovation and influence staff, by creating an environment to encourage innovation.
- A14: Innovates ideas and improvements for system wide, policies, processes, etc.

### Knowledge of Fund Operations/Policies
- A9: Focuses on operational tasks to support business.
- A10: Fully experienced with operational work.
- A11: Has a sound understanding of the Fund business and department roles.
- A12: Has a broader understanding of one’s own area and multiple departments; ability to connect what own department does with the overall business.
- A13: Understands the strategic outcomes/business impact of department’s work.
- A14: Deep understanding of the overall Fund organization, policies and operations.

### Communication (Oral Presentation, Written, Open Communication)
- A9: Focuses on learning how to communicate in writing and orally within the Fund; conducts limited oral presentations (e.g., brown bag presentations to peers; one-on-one presentations); drafts useable responses to requests within a policy framework and provide potential solutions (which may need to be reviewed); drafts emails for division chief, but little external communication required; displays ability to articulate a problem via written/verbal communications.
- A10: Effectively delivers introductory or internal presentations; presents to a cross-division audience.
- A11: Communication involves larger, broader scale issues; writes internal memos, technical papers and/or communications with limited review, but little external communication required.
- A12: Effectively communicates to Division Chiefs and/or larger groups; audience elevated; might present to cross-department audiences; develops effective initial written drafts of longer and more complex documents; contributes to papers/reports; communicates outside the Fund (e.g., with lenders) with little supervision; effectively influences decisions; handles more complex and challenging situations with tact and diplomacy.
- A13: Drafts papers that typically require more limited review, reviews drafts of others; makes more substantive contributions to papers and reports.
- A14: Assimilates information; drafts output from team/project; communicates effectively with division chief and demonstrates the ability to tailor communication to senior staff; responsible for drafts with few edits and revisions needed; independently drafts papers; effectively communicates in order to influence decision making and outcomes; capable of drafting and presenting complex issues to larger senior audiences.

### Interpersonal Skills (Building Relationships; Negotiating & Influencing)
- A9: Has contact with peers/counterparts in other departments; has good working relationships within the department.
- A10: Effectively handles more interactions with higher level staff; proactively establishes an internal and external network of contacts; can handle and resolve basic conflicts.
- A11: Represents division on less complex issues; effectively builds relationships within and outside the department (or sometimes outside the Fund); effectively presents one’s own “view”; demonstrates ability to influence higher grades.
- A12: Demonstrates an ability to represent the department in cross-department meetings, events and working groups; negotiates and communicates with external audiences on more straight forward issues; displays more confidence and judgment in handling issues.
- A13: Very well networked and builds consensus at a higher level; has an established network with senior staff; has effective business relationships outside the Fund; deals proficiently with executive/deputy directors and country officials; displays strong negotiating and/or influencing skills; effectively manages/ resolves challenging conflict situations; demonstrates ability to lead change; influences key stakeholders and others behaviors.
- A14: Effectively communicates with senior staff and high level contacts outside of the organization; represents the Fund to external organizations; assists in or leads negotiations.

### Work Management (Planning & Organizing; Drive for Results; Adaptability)
- A9: Effectively completes well defined tasks given (little to no project management); operates with limited discretion to make decisions.
- A10: Operates with more autonomy, independence in assigned roles or projects; takes the lead on the development of a simple program, or maintains an existing program; develops project management skills (shadows a project manager); displays initiative in determining what needs to get done.
- A11: Displays more complex planning and coordination responsibilities.
- A12: Takes initiative for and runs a project; effectively contributes to higher risk/impact projects (could have monetary impact).
- A13: Responsible for planning and organizing work of large or complex teams/projects; responsible for overall success of complex and high profile projects.
- A14: Effectively handles the most complex, riskiest, most visible assignments with multiple stakeholders.

### Supervisory (where applicable)
- A9: Effectively participates in team by presenting ideas and alternative views; delegates work to A1-A8; begins coaching junior peers/ shares knowledge; reviews, monitors, evaluates work of others/vendors.
- A10: Mentors, coaches, and trains in area of expertise; takes leadership role on projects either as project manager for smaller multiple projects or single larger project; manages a small team/project.
- A11: Facilitates change; assumes more supervisory role with vendors & staff; leads working groups; collaborates with other departments; manages multiple projects or more complex teams, projects, or programs.
- A12: Participates in hiring/staffing decisions; develops staff; manages relationships with vendors, consultants, working groups; leads working groups, collaborates with outside departments; leads projects spanning multiple divisions.
- A13: Demonstrates strong decision making to manage resources, conflicts, scheduling; manages teams (full supervision – includes personnel management); covers for Section Chief and/or Division Chief.
- A14: (Supervisory expectations described at A13 level and includes full supervision responsibilities and coverage for senior leadership roles.)

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/competency-framework-model-b-scs-a9-a14.pdf_