Regional Director, SD in AFE

Regional Director, SD in AFE

Job #:

req21576

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Sustainable Development

Grade:

GI

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French, Portuguese

Closing Date:

3/31/2023 (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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region

Home to about 700 million of Africa's people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally, and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. Children under 18 make up almost half of the total population. The subregion boasts of some of the world's richest human and natural resources and, apart from South Africa, the countries are predominantly raw material exporters.

The subregion harbors some of Africa's protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continue to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, heavily impacts people's lives and livelihoods, and hinders regional integration and trade. But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.

The World Bank's Eastern and Southern Africa Region, comprised of approximately 1,207 staff, mostly based in 26 country offices, has been helping countries realize their considerable development potential by focusing on the following priorities- Creating Jobs and Transforming Economies, Building up the Digital Economy, Institutions more Efficient and Accountable, Investing in People, Supporting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption, Addressing the Drivers of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence, and Building Partnerships and Working across the African Continent: We are scaling up our work on regional integration, taking a holistic view of the continent that covers both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Sustainable Development Department (SAEDR)

The Sustainable Development Department (SAEDR) supports the WBG's twin goals by focusing on green, resilient, and inclusive growth. It consists of five global practices (GPs): Agriculture and Food; Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy; Urban, Resilience and Land; Social Sustainability and Inclusion; and Water and leads on the Climate Change agenda. The SD program in AFE includes a lending program of 21 operations in FY23 for $4.3 billion in new commitments, an active project portfolio of 129 operations with $22 billion in commitments under implementation, and a dynamic program of 70 advisory services and analytics (ASA) activities across all SD sectors. For more information:https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialsustainability

The SAEDR Management and Technical Leadership Team includes the Regional Director, Practice Managers, and Program Leaders.

Duties & accountabilities

The Regional Director will be accountable for modeling WBG leadership values and managerial behavior and ensuring that the unit delivers on its commitments. Accountability means being answerable for making strategic choices, managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives, external and internal resources, and compliance with WBG policies and procedures.

Solutions and Results to Clients:

• Collaborate with the GDs, RDs, DEC, and IFC• Support the VPU management team in setting key strategic priorities to guide institution-wide work and in collaboration with CDs, in establishing global and country goals to ensure alignment with the WBG Strategy and Country Partnership Framework• Draw on thought leadership and implementation know-how across SD GPs to ensure high-impact evidence-based solutions• Lead the SAEDR management team to build and maintain a balanced portfolio of innovative, cost-effective, and demand-driven products and services• Implement quality control processes, including analytical work, technical assistance, and lending operations• Ensure availability and maintenance of portfolio, pipeline, staff, and budget information as well as portfolio and practice quality and performance metrics to inform WBG management• Represent the AFE and SD PG on corporate strategic issues to ensure that operational policies, practices, and procedures align with quality service delivery to clients

People Talent Management

• Model exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behavior and reinforces these qualities in the management team and staff• Contribute to and implement and monitor compliance with talent management, diversity, and inclusion plans• Drive and encourage technical excellence within the GP by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients• Coordinate and supports the GP management in developing and implementing appropriate strategies for global staffing, deployment, staff learning, and development as well as career progression and talent and performance management

Knowledge Management

• Engage with PMs, RDs, GDs, and DEC to develop a knowledge and learning strategy and approach that integrates cross-cutting solution area considerations and multi-sectoral links• Ensure timely flow, capture, codification, and dissemination of knowledge and expertise so that clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge• Support the coordination of innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning• Encourage a culture of evidence-based, and client-tailored engagement for the highest development impact• Establish new and cutting-edge knowledge for staff learning and development

Resource Management

• Manage the department's budget (internal and external funds) to support the implementation of the (sector) Directorate strategy• Ensure the management accountability for delivering the agreed-upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal• WBG fiduciary and safeguard controls and policies, and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the SD GPs

Selection Criteria

• Passion for the WBG mission• Recognized expert within WBG or among one or more of the following: academia, partners, private sector actors, and policymakers, and with a track record of applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results• Demonstrated in-depth experience working across practice and disciplinary boundaries, and with multiple stakeholders - both public and private - in building collaborative alliances for results• Strong written and oral communication skills with proven experience in dealing with the media, external constituencies, and expert groups• Masters or Ph.D. degree in a relevant field, and typically the successful candidate will have 12-15 years of experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility• Deep technical knowledge and multi-regional experience in one or more of the following areas: social inclusion, social accountability and citizen engagement, conflict, crime and violence, community-driven development, social analytics, social impacts of climate change, risk management in operations, including on issues related to social safeguard policies• Extensive experience in both country-level project and analytical work related to social development Ability to influence dialogue and policy on social development, and in related areas that are impacting the social development agenda (e.g. fragility, social protection, governance, climate change, etc.)• Working level proficiency in English.• Proficiency in Portuguese and French is desirable.

WBG Leadership Values and Managerial Behaviors:• Leadership of Self: Role model the change and values for WBG; Demonstrate courage of convictions, ownership, and self-mastery within the organization in accordance with our values• People Leadership: Lead and inspire staff to perform and deliver better results; Help others achieve their fullest potential through coaching and mentorship• Collaborative Leadership: Be mutually accountable for entire WBG's corporate targets and success; Work across WBG and with clients and partners to achieve better results• Client Solutions Leadership: Be the leading provider of development solutions for country clients; Provide leadership in both knowledge generation and knowledge sharing• Decisive Leadership: Take informed risks and make decisions in a transparent manner resulting in transformative impact for clients; Commit to decisions once they have been made• WBG 5 Managerial Competencies: Courage of your convictions; Leading Teams for impact; Influencing across boundaries; Fostering openness to new ideas; and Building talent for the future• WBG Core Competencies for all staff: Client orientation; Drive for results; Teamwork of collaboration and inclusion; Knowledge, learning and communication; and Business judgment and analytical decision-making

Under the Bank's new Career Development and Mobility Framework, HQ-appointed staff (including Managers) in all locations will be on a 4-year time-bound assignment (3 year in FCV). Annual competitive recruitments (batch and off-cycle) will be conducted for all managerial GH+ positions in operations.

The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please refer to the WBG Managerial Competencies for more information.

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.