LCROS Operations Adviser

LCROS Operations Adviser

Job #:

req20450

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, Spanish, Portuguese

Closing Date:

1/9/2023 (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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Regional Context

The WBG serves 30 client countries in the LatinAmerica and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidlygrowing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbeanstates to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, andan average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persistin most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region's people living inpoverty. The last Bank's strategy for LCR focused on three pillars: (a) supportingthe foundations for inclusive growth; (b) investing in human capital andprotecting the poor; and (c) building resilience. In the aftermath of theCOVID19 pandemic, this strategy will need to be adjusted to better support thecountries deal with a health crisis without precedents and an economic crisisnot seen since modern statistical records started in 1900. Yet, the basicelements of the strategy: accelerating growth (following a projected GDPcontraction in 2020 of 7.2%), investing in human capital, including in health(in the most affected region by COVID19), and building resilience appear fullyrelevant. Further information on the Latin America andCaribbean Region can be found here.

Unit Context

The Operations ServicesUnit (LCROS) plays an important role in advising the Regional Vice President andsupporting LCR's management and operational team to ensure the highest qualityof its operational deliveries. LCROS offers high quality inputs across keystages of strategy formulation and program/project preparation andimplementation; embeds the WBG's twin goals and LCR's regional priorities intooperations and outputs; and helps the Region deliver impactful strategies andprojects to its client countries. LCROS's work program ranges from PipelineDelivery Management; Quality Assurance; Portfolio management and monitoring,Results Measurement and Management; Regional Risk Management; support onRegional and Corporate priorities; and Operational Learning and KnowledgeSharing targeted to regional staff. It houses the Secretariat of the RegionalOperations Committee and includes the team of the Regional Environmental andSocial Standards Advisor (RSA).

Duties and Accountabilities

The Operations Advisor is a high-performing, energeticteam member who possesses adaptability and flexibility in providing support tothe Region and in taking on special assignments as the need arises. His/her main accountabilities would include:

Operational Advice & ImplementationSupport

- Providing 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;

- Advising Regional management and staff on complex implementation and operational issues, including strategic, technical, and institutional aspects;

- Championing the identification and dissemination of innovative operational approaches and best practices across CMUs and RD offices, and leading a community of practice;

- Reviewing financing packages on behalf of the RVP to ensure high quality of entry and due diligence standards are met;

- Supporting the RVP in addressing the Bank's corporate initiatives related to operational policies, instruments, and procedures, and in mainstreaming corporate commitments;

- Providing advice to CMUs on implementation and portfolio management issues; and

- Mentoring junior operational staff.

Capacity Building

- Leading the region's capacity building and learning program, for both internal and external clients;

- Developing and help implementing, in partnership with CMUs and PGs, a comprehensive client capacity building program on WB-financed operations;

- Developing and implementing initiatives to improve quality of operational products and on the regional and corporate results reporting;

- Representing the region on institutional capacity building and learning bodies; and

- Providing training and hands-on support on implementation and operational issues.

Selection Criteria

* Masters in a relevant field (Economics, Business Studies, Political Science, Finance, International Relations, or similar filed relevant to the Bank's mission) and 12 years of relevant experience. Prior substantive and sustained work experience in achieving results on the ground in more than one world region or corporate (including both pre-Bank experience and Bank experience).

* 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; experience in Bank operations as a TTL highly desirable.

* Knowledge of the Bank's instruments (lending, ASA, 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, safeguards, governance and financial management design and implementation issues.

* Proven knowledge of results, country engagement, and portfolio management issues.

* 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 capacities to conceptualize, organize, manage and bring to closure high-quality work quickly and independently; proven capacity to integrate and synthesize across disciplines.

* Ability to mentor staff.

* French, Spanish or Portuguese language skills desirable.

Requiredcross-cutting competencies

* IntegrativeSkills. Integrating divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internalstakeholders into a coherent project/program/strategy.

* Internaland External Stakeholder Engagement. An ability to independentlycoordinate and engage with stakeholders from various parts of WBG, includingIFC and MIGA. Providing substantial inputs into and participating in thedialogue with external clients and stakeholders, including governments, NGOsand CSOs, and development partners.

* PortfolioManagement and Results Monitoring and Evaluation. An ability toindependently monitor portfolio and pipeline and provide signals to managementwhen the program goes off track. Preparing and leading country/GP portfolioreviews. An ability to monitor IBRD financing as well as IDA utilization.Providing key inputs in business planning/MoU exercises.

* Knowledgeof Bank Instruments, Policies, and Procedures, and ability to proactively applythem. Solid knowledge of operational policies and procedures,including the processes of Work Program Agreements, and ability to apply themin different contexts, advise teams to resolve implementational bottlenecks,and find pragmatic operational solutions. An ability to exercise qualityassurance of documents at different stages of project cycle. An ability towrite country products.

* OperationalKnowledge Sharing. An ability to consolidate core content of operationallearning programs, and to mentor junior colleagues in all aspects ofoperations.

* Strategy,formulation and policy and program design. Proficiency in playing aleading role and making substantive contributing to the strategy formulationprocess and related strategic products.

* TeamLeadership. Solid experience of being a team leader or core task teammember on one or more strategic or operational tasks. Demonstrated talent informing, leading, and making changes to team composition and delivering taskson budget and high quality.

COS competencies, please visit https://tinyurl.com/y34lnxvu

This internal requisitionis open to WBG staff only (including short-term and extended termconsultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. Incase an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Note: This is part of COS GH Batch Recruitment for Non-Managerial Positions.

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.