Operations Adviser

Operations Adviser

Job #:

req27331

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Operations

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French

Closing Date:

5/17/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

Regional Context

The Middle East and North Africa Region serves twenty countries, of which twelve are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers (Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia and Yemen) and eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis (Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). The mission of MNA is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance.

Countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region confront a vast array of development challenges, from an uncertain and uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to the implications of decelerating global economy, deepening geopolitical divisions, protracted regional conflicts, and climate change. These overlapping crises are amplified by longstanding structural relating to economic governance that contribute to an outsized presence of the state in the economy, high unemployment rates among women and youth, and limited intraregional trade and investment.

Overcoming these challenges will allow MENA countries to realize their vast development potential, endowed as the region is with a rapidly growing and highly educated population, geo-strategic location, and abundance of renewable energy potential. To unlock this potential, the World Bank is advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development through a two-pronged strategy that seeks to respond to sudden and severe crises while supporting reforms that spur structural transformation and job creation, advance gender equity, strengthen regional cooperation, and accelerate green transitions. This strategy is operationalized through a differentiated approach that reflects the distinct circumstances of the World Bank's clients in the region, comprising 20 countries that range from active IBRD borrowers and IDA recipients to recipients of reimbursable advisory services and non-active countries with whom the Bank maintains a policy dialogue.

The World Bank's MENA region consists primarily of the Front Office of the Regional Vice President (including the Director of Strategy and Operations (DSO), Development Effectiveness Manager, the Chief Economist, 5 Country Management Units, 4 Regional Directorships, HR, Resource Management, and Corporate Security. More broadly, the MENA region consists of nearly 600 full-time staff. In FY24, the MENA region will deliver $4.7 billion in IBRD, $400 million in IDA, $80 million in special financing for the West Bank and Gaza, $9 million in reimbursable advisory services, and 126 knowledge products for clients.

The MENA Region emphasizes strong client orientation and responsiveness; innovation and high quality; results; teamwork and collaboration across sectors; and a dedication to attracting and developing a diverse and talented staff.

The Middle East and North Africa Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena

Unit Context

MENA's Development Effectiveness Unit (MNADE) brings together the following functions pertaining to operations management:

• Supporting the Regional Vice President (RVP) and the MNAVP Front Office (FO) in carrying out operational, strategic and corporate functions. This includes: (a) serving as the Secretariat for the Regional Operations Committee (ROC); (b) supporting the RVP on operational matters and exercise of ADM functions, on operational issues submitted for the RVP's decision or approval; and (c) coordinating and/or preparing the Region's views on Bank-wide reviews of policies and procedures, operations and country strategies, and other operational matters.
• Coordinating and supporting quality of operations with an extended team of operations staff in the region including in the Regional Directors offices and in the CMUs.
• Managing delivery of projects to board with OPCS and SEC.
• Regional portfolio monitoring and management.
• Providing advice to CMUs and GPs on operational quality, including promoting the results and risk management frameworks in operations.
• Representing regional interests e.g., with the environment and social safeguards advisory function of OPCS; with Legal, IEG, INT, IAD, IP and OPCS more generally.

The Operations Adviser reports to the MNADE Manager. The Unit consists of 13 staff based in Washington. The Unit liaises closely with CPCs and Program Managers in MENA country offices; and collaborates closely with the broader MNAVP Front Office, CMUs and various Global Practice Units and Regional Director offices.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Roles and Responsibilities

MNADE seeks a high-performing, energetic team member with demonstrated and significant operational experience who possesses adaptability and flexibility in providing support to the Region and in taking on special assignments as the need arises. His/her main accountabilities will include:

• Providing strategic operational support and policy guidance to the RVP, CMU staff and GP teams in connection with the preparation, approval, implementation, and evaluation of operational products. This will include serving as the Secretariat for the Regional Operations Committee.
• Advising Regional management and staff on complex operational issues, including strategic, technical, and institutional aspects and liaising with OPCS and other corporate units to come to resolution.
• Championing the identification and dissemination of innovative operational approaches and best practices across CMUs and RD offices and leading a community of practice.
• Reviewing lending packages on behalf of the RVP to ensure that the Bank and the Region's due diligence (and quality) standards are met.
• Working with cross-cutting teams of Bank staff and outside experts to address operational issues and innovations, in line with the Operations Effectiveness and Efficiency initiatives.
• Coordinating the Region's risk management system, including the regional risk list and the corporate risk mechanism.
• Liaising with OPCS, IEG and other corporate players on quality, portfolio, and operational issues.
• Managing a sub-team of GE-GG operational staff with focus on quality assurance, innovation in project design and operational efficiency.
• Carrying out learning activities on operational policies, instruments, and innovations.
• Supporting the RVP in addressing the Bank's corporate initiatives related to operational policies, instruments, and procedures.
• Assisting with portfolio monitoring efforts and providing advice to CMUs on portfolio management issues, including the design and implementation of CPPRs, portfolio reviews and other ad-hoc requests in support of operational portfolio quality assurance.

Selection Criteria

• Post graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in relevant field of discipline. Typically, the successful candidate will have at least 12 to 15 years of relevant experience.
• Prior substantive and sustained operational work experience in achieving results on the ground in more than one world region (including both pre-Bank experience and Bank experience). Candidates with field experience are encouraged to apply.
• Operational experience and hands on experience with Bank instruments and operational policies is critical.
• Strong team player, willing to collaborate closely with colleagues and across boundaries; ability to operate effectively in a decentralized, matrix environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; ability to listen carefully and provide sound advice in a constructive manner; ability and readiness to stand firm on difficult and sensitive issues; ability to convey ideas and positions clearly and tactfully to staff and managers at all levels.
• Wide range of operational experience with external clients, preferably both as a member and leader of task teams, across a full range of Bank operational and analytical products.
• Knowledge of the Bank's instruments (lending, AAA, Trust Funds, etc.), country engagement model, policies, procedures, and strategies, and capacity to apply them effectively in the preparation and implementation of Bank operations.
• Knowledge of procurement, ESF, governance and financial management design and implementation issues.
• Deep knowledge of portfolio management issues and demonstrated understanding of the Bank's risk management system and results agenda.
• High performance in previous assignments; recognition by peers and managers for excellence and innovation in operational work.
• High capacity to conceptualize, organize, manage and bring to closure high-quality work quickly and independently; proven capacity to integrate and synthesize across disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff and lead a team without formal authority.

COS Competencies: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/myhr/documents/career%20management/professional%20family%20mapping/cos_pfm_criteria.pdf

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.