• Job Description

  Req#: req30881

  Director

  Job #:	req30881
  Organization:	World Bank
  Sector:	Communications
  Grade:	GI
  Term Duration:	4 years 0 months
  Recruitment Type:	International Recruitment
  Location:	Washington, DC,United States
  Required Language(s):	English
  Preferred Language(s):
  Closing Date:	1/13/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

  Description

  Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

  
  

  The mission of External and Corporate Relations Vice Presidency Unit (ECR VPU) is to help build financial and political support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group’s role as a global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding its reputation, and support operational teams to achieve country outcomes. ECR manages corporate communications and global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, foundations, private sector, donor countries, and international/multilateral organizations, as well as employee engagement. ECR also manages strategic communications and stakeholder outreach for the World Bank’s Regions and Verticals and leads the management of reputation risk.

  Within ECR, the External Affairs Department (ECREL) leads all our external engagement across our Regions including FCV locations, Operations, Verticals, and DEC, including partnerships with local stakeholders including CSOs, reputation management in Regions and at the Country-level and advising on sectoral reputational issues, and providing insights on the political economy at the Regional and Country levels and on sectoral issues and priorities, and coordinating across other areas of ECR to provide local and sectoral insights.

  ECR is seeking an experienced and dynamic professional as Director to head the External Affairs department (ECREL). S/he will report directly to the Vice President for WBG External and Corporate Relations. The successful candidate should have a proven track record of managing large high-performing, fast-paced, external affairs functions, will have an established network as well as the ability to build networks across key stakeholder groups; be mission driven; have experience in global development; have excellent political judgment; and a proven ability to lead a large global, multicultural team. S/he will sit on ECR's Management Team and advise the Vice President on external affairs. S/he is also expected be in frequent contact and advise the WBG senior management team.

  
  

  The ECREL Director promotes a culture that fosters proactive strategies and creative ideas, ensuring that these are acted on with clarity, urgency, and vigor. S/he advances the WBG's reputation and its aspirations to be the leading development institution in delivering good outcomes for client countries.

  
  

  The ECREL Director is accountable for performing the responsibilities, modeling the behaviors, and maintaining the technical competencies (listed below). Accountability means being answerable for managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives and compliance with Bank policies and procedures.

  Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 4-year term appointment.

  
  

  Duties and Accountabilities

  The role of the Director, External Affairs would be to:

  Business Management (includes strategy, operations, and quality control)

  • Leads the day-to-day operations of the department which includes all our external engagement across our Regions, Operations, Verticals, DEC, and FCV locations, including partnerships with local stakeholders including CSOs, reputation management in Regions and at the Country-level and advising on sectoral reputational issues, and providing insights on the political economy at the Regional and Country levels and on sectoral issues and priorities, and coordinating across other areas of ECR to provide local and sectoral insights.

  • Lead and support the development and delivery of the Bank's external affairs strategy and related work program, including through any changes in practices and structures needed to deliver on ECR’s strategy.

  • Manage the day-to-day dialogue on a broad range of policy and operational issues as they relate to our external affairs approach internally and externally.

  • Advise the Bank Group’s management, and the ECR Vice President on external affairs.

  • Use metrics and data to measure external affairs effectiveness.

  • Lead best practice implementation and innovation of external affairs, to develop the most effective outreach to resonate with audiences and position the Bank Group as a leader in international development; and take responsibility for the overall professional standards and quality of content.

  Relationship Management (Internal and External)

  • Leads relationship strategy with media, local CSOs and other stakeholders, and other partners, including to ensure that the World Bank Group is a preferred source for regional and local media, and is supported by external stakeholders and partners.

  • Manage work program and workflow. Delegate appropriately and hold his/her staff accountable for delivering agreed work programs based on agreed parameters. Leads team to work closely with central communications and content creation teams.

  • Strengthen efforts to foster dialogue across the institution using innovative tools and build a strong sense of community across the Bank Group.

  People/Talent Management

  • Lead, develop and manage the global External Affairs function, including capacity building and with a focus on institutional success and development outcomes, and strong cross-sectoral and global coordination across departments to support VPU-wide integration, alignment, and streamlining of work programs to help drive focus and clarity across global teams.

  • Foster a positive work culture with a focus on results-orientation, teamwork, and innovation; and role-model the ECR principles of audience-first, staff empowerment, proactive and responsive, creative and informed, and message clarity and alignment.

  • Take responsibility for achieving and communicating outcomes with operational staff, sectoral technical staff, and the departmental management team.

  • Take responsibility for talent management and building a robust pipeline of top-quality communication professionals.

  • Model WBG values; offer mentoring and development opportunities for staff in a multicultural environment.

  Resource Management

  • Ensure that deployment of Bank resources is consistent with Resource Management rules, policies, and internal controls.

  • Set priorities and allocate budget within and across the department in line with institutional priorities and a view to maximizing the impact and value-added of all activities.

  Knowledge Management

  • Embrace good corporate citizenship, including contributing to the development, implementation and communication of corporate policies, strategies, and priorities, including for the whole of ECR.

  • Take accountability for gathering, managing, and disseminating best practices and knowledge across the Institution, including cross-department and between ECR departments.

  Selection Criteria

  • A Master’s degree (International Relations, Development, Communications/Public Affairs, Economics or other related field) plus a minimum of 15 years of substantial professional experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility,

  • Proven track record in managing large fast-paced global external affairs functions, their staff and budgets, including by setting clear direction and expectations, and empowering and supporting staff.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead and support teams through changes in practice or structure needed to better address adjustments in external affairs strategy.

  • In-depth knowledge of the development landscape, development policy, and of the global issues currently facing the multilateral development institutions.

  • Strong strategic thinking with a track record of effective pragmatic implementation, including with the ability to communicate complex information in audience-focused terms, and to guide teams to do the same.

  • Thought leadership and a leader in market innovation in evolving external affairs approaches. including deep understanding of the changing external affairs landscape, at global, regional and local levels.

  • Understanding and passion for the World Bank Group's mandate and mission, and ECR's role in achieving the Group's goals.

  • Demonstrated leadership values and exemplification of the WBG's managerial and core competencies, as referenced below.

  • Prior work experience in achieving results at the country or regional level.

  • Ability to serve as an authoritative spokesperson for the institution both to the public and in high-level external policy discussions.

  • A superior professional reputation to ensure the respect of the Bank's senior managers who are primary clients of ECR, along with staff and colleagues, including to present, negotiate and defend positions.

  • Strong corporate attitude with track record in cross-institution collaboration and approaches, in best interest of the whole of the institution or organization.

  • Positive and steady demeanor, able to inspire and motivate teams.

  • Ability to pivot and adapt with composure, to evolving business and external environment needs, with strong political judgement, diplomacy, and stakeholder sensitivities.

  • Willingness to travel.

  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills and command of English.

  WBG Managerial Competencies

  World Bank Group Core Competencies

  The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

  We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

  Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC , including our values and inspiring stories.

• About the company

  The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.

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