Lead Specialist

Lead Specialist

Job #:

req25430

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Financial Management

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

12/22/2023 (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

The Development Finance Vice-Presidency (DFi) is responsible for the management and monitoring of policies, procedures, and resources for the World Bank's development financing vehicles. DFi sets the policy framework for the World Bank Group's development finance by engaging in strategic resource mobilization, playing an intermediation role to help align the needs of recipients, WBG institutional priorities, and priorities of funding partners, through a variety of funding instruments. These include the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's fund for the poorest, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and Trust Funds, including Financial Intermediary Funds (FIFs).

Given the nature and variety of this portfolio, DFi works closely with the President's office, Executive Directors, WBG senior management, corporate and operations units across the WBG, funding partners and government officials. As such, DFi is structured to provide the institution with a more holistic approach to financing, financial policy, and strategic fundraising across IDA, IBRD, and Bank/IFC trust funds and partnerships.

Within DFi, Development Finance Trust Funds and Partner Relations (DFTPR) Department is at the forefront of the Bank's engagement in Trust Funds, FIFs and Partnerships. The Department is responsible for managing and administering the Bank's US$50 billion portfolio of Trust Funds and FIFs, designing and establishing new, multi-donor partnership initiatives underpinned by Trust Funds and FIFs, and setting the policy and procedural framework for Trust Funds, FIFs and Partnerships in a manner they complement IDA and IBRD. DFTPR composes of two units, Trust Funds Policy and Partner Relations, and Financial Intermediary Funds, Digital and Analytics.

The Evolution Roadmap of the World Bank, with its concurrent focus on the financial model and the operational model, has presented several new lines of work for DFTPR. One of these is related to public sector cofinancing and another to an enhanced focus on partnerships, with sovereign and non-sovereign donors and partners. Excellent relations with internal and external partners is absolutely key to success in each of these initiatives. The workstream is being led out of the Director's Front Office, which also keeps track of DFTPR deliverables that are related to the Evolution.

Duties and Accountabilities:

DFTPR is seeking an exceptional individual who will lead the work on cofinancing and partnerships. The Lead Specialist will report to the Director but work in close coordination with the managers of the two units in DFTPR, as well as with the VP's Front Office, and the IDA team as needed.

The Lead Specialist is expected be responsible for the following tasks and duties:

• Lead DFTPR's work on cofinancing. In doing so, the individual will work with a team from across DFTPR, as well as with OPCS, ECR, LEG, BPS, regions and CMUs. They will also lead the engagement with cofinanciers, be the contact point for questions arising from the Board and coordinate the cofinancing platform, which is being set up in partnership with other cofinanciers. They will keep track of cofinancing framework agreements, working closely with other Bank teams and cofinanciers in implementing the commitments made in the Evolution Roadmap. They will be a core member of the Bank-wide working group on cofinancing and lead the internal cofinancing community of practice (COP) and coordinate an external COP, that is yet to be set up.

• Lead the workstream on partnerships that has emerged from the Evolution Roadmap. In doing so, the individual will work with other parts of the Bank, including ECR, IFC, OPCS and operational units. In coordination with the other two units in DFTPR, will engage with external partners, including our counterparts among MDBs, bilaterals and non-sovereign partners. They will support the Partnership Charter and the Partnership Council and prepare progress notes to the Board and senior leadership on the implementation of commitments made in the Evolution Roadmap.

• Lead the Trust Fund Annual Report. This DFTPR deliverable has acquired even greater importance with the enhanced focus in the Evolution Roadmap on partnerships and concessional finance. This report requires strategic thinking, excellent integrative and collaborative skills and encompasses the work programs of both DFTPR teams, so the Lead Specialist will coordinate closely with both managers and their teams in delivering this report.

• Prepare or oversee the preparation of notes, briefings, and other communication products for Management, communication with ED offices and informing Development Partners, and undertake additional duties and tasks as specified by the Director.

Selection Criteria

• PhD or master's degree in relevant field/discipline (typically the successful candidate will have about 10 to 12 years of experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility). • Direct experience with Bank operations across GP and/or CMU side of the matrix to understand the different needs and operational practices of different internal clients. Strong familiarity with Bank operational policies, financing instruments and knowledge products. An ideal candidate would have participated in cofinanced lending operations.• Sound understanding of the WBG strategic context, the Evolution Roadmap and including the role of the Bank in the international aid architecture, knowledge of key Bank financing instruments, and how they complement each other (IDA, IBRD, Trust Funds, and FIFs). Experience with leading a trust fund annual report would be a plus. • Strong analytical and integrative skills to tackle multidisciplinary issues and a proven ability to effectively lead programs with a strategic vision and strong operational focus.• Outstanding oral and written communication skills are essential, in addition to superlative interpersonal, diplomatic and partnership skills. These are required for building and maintaining collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries, including experience in working across departments/VPUs and WBG institutions and with donors.• Ability to lead corporate level dialogue on a broad range of issues related to trust funds. Strong oral and written communication skills to present ideas clearly, concisely and persuasively, and communicate and defend difficult issues and positions to senior Bank management, donors, shareholders and other external partners.• Superior level of resourcefulness, ability to work with considerable autonomy as well as willingness to work under pressure and through the whole spectrum of activities from the strategic level to the resolution of specific technical-level issues.

Core Competencies:

Deliver Results for clients:

• Creates opportunities that are aligned with the mission to increase impact and leads initiatives to take advantage of these opportunities.• Proactively guides clients to see the possibilities in new approaches and solutions.• Takes full accountability for managing risk and ensuring outcomes consistent with WBG strategy.

Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries:

• Clearly articulates and models expectations of collaborative behavior, recognizes collaboration and contributions of others.• Provides safe environment for exchange of ideas where people feel free to express dissenting opinions, handling conflicts as opportunities and problems to be solved.• Prioritizes WBG corporate goals over individual or team goals when in conflict.

Lead and Innovate

• Fosters open discussions with broad audiences to set vision and establish buy-in for innovation that can enhance WBG effectiveness.• Inspires others to develop new solutions that have a development impact and advocates for changes and application of new methods to enhance results.• Develops partnerships and relationships that enable the WBG to achieve results through innovation.

Create, Apply and Share Knowledge:

• Leverages external knowledge and partnerships to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.• Is known across WBG and externally in their subject area and is routinely sought out by WBG colleagues to advise, peer review, or contribute to knowledge products of others. • Encourages a learning culture by seeking out and being open to feedback, as well as effectively mentoring others, on how to improve contribution and impact through continuous learning and knowledge acquisition.• Builds networks of experts and clients to share knowledge and experience for the purpose of strengthening internal and/or external client solutions as well as WBG's role as convener and facilitator of knowledge.

Make Smart Decisions:

• Makes timely decisions, which anticipate, evaluate and plan for the impact across organizational boundaries and stakeholder groups. • Demonstrates the confidence to make bold decisions quickly, balancing speed and thoroughness even in the face of ambiguous circumstances. • Takes accountability for decisions that involve higher levels of risk, works effectively with stakeholders to minimize risks involved.

If the selected candidate is a current World 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 years 0 months term appointment. The selected candidate can also retain their professional mapping.

**Thisinternal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-termand extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requestednot to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will notbe considered.**

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.

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

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