Description

 

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.

VPU Context

The Corporate Secretariat Vice Presidency (SECVP) of the World Bank Group supports the Board of Governors and the Executive Directors of IBRD, IDA, IFC and MIGA in executing their fiduciary and governance responsibilities. SEC, therefore, is unique in working across all the World Bank Group institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) and serves as the key interlocutor between the Board of Governors, the Executive Directors, the President and Senior Management, operational management and staff.  SEC’s primary purpose is to facilitate effective, efficient, and strategically focused interactions between the Board and Management to achieve the World Bank Group’s overall mission of poverty reduction.

The Policy and Operations Department of the Secretariat (SECPO) is responsible for managing the work program of the Board and the Board standing committees (Audit, Budget, Development Effectiveness, Governance and Administrative Matters, and Human Resources), Board and Committee meetings, and generally facilitating efficient and effective decision-making and enhancing communication and partnership between the Board, Management and staff, and supporting and advancing the corporate governance agenda.

SECPO is seeking to recruit a motivated and dynamic individual for a Board Operations Officer position. This assignment offers a unique avenue for professional growth, particularly an opportunity to obtain a corporate perspective on emerging issues and challenges confronting the World Bank and an improved ability to anticipate the wider concerns of the Board and senior management as well as shareholders and other clients for Bank Group services.

Success in this position requires interest in corporate governance, institutional and organizational policies and ability to develop approaches and procedures in these areas; judgment and finely-honed diplomatic skills; strong client and team orientation; being able to grasp the connections between process and governance issues and switch gear rapidly when required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbents’ work will include (but may not be limited to):

– Support Board and Committee Operations, under the guidance of the SECPO Management team or of a Board or Committee Secretary, as may be required by the needs of the unit. The selected candidate will be assigned to support the work of the Audit Committee as well as having assignments to support the work of the Board.
– Support Board or Committee meetings to ensure high and consistent standards; clear, accurate decisions or outcomes; adherence to Board procedures; and smooth handling of logistics. For Board meetings, this will include supporting the Board Secretary in drafting concise and clear Chair Summaries of discussions, revised “in real time” for the Chair to read aloud at the end of discussion; and ensuring that Management commitments made in the discussion are captured in the Board’s work program for follow up.
– With guidance from Board and Committee Secretaries, as appropriate, draft concise substantive notes for the Board/Committee Chair and SEC Management on Board/Committee items and issues that arise in managing the Board’s business, including products such as Agendas, Advisory Notes and Issues Notes for the Chair, Minutes, and other written products and records.
– Develop and maintain expertise on key issues and policies as well as awareness of EDs’ views and priorities, to be able to anticipate Board concerns, advise SECPO and Bank Management accordingly.
– Review policy and operational documents prior to Board/Committee consideration and provide feedback and guidance to originators and senior management as necessary to ensure responsiveness to the expectations of the Board Members and compliance with policy requirements and Board and Committee procedures.
– Proactively assist staff in other VPUs working on issues mainly related to the Board in engaging the Executive Directors and Board Committee members in strategic dialogues as necessary.
– Support innovation and modernization work within SECPO, including the simplification and automation of business processes to enhance the agility, effectiveness and efficiency of SECPO services to its various client groups.
– Develop a network and maintain contacts and work effectively with other parts of the World Bank Group, including senior staff of IBRD/IDA, IFC and MIGA.

 

Selection Criteria

 

– Graduate degree (Masters) in an academic discipline relevant to the Bank’s mission and a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, preferably in the World Bank Group or MDBs or equivalent combination of education and experience.
– Experience with and understanding of the World Bank Group’s financial and risk structures and systems, operations and full range of Bank products and services and up-to-date knowledge of operational policies and processes. Experience with IFC and/or MIGA would be a plus. Alternatively, equivalent external experience could be considered.
– Experience of Board work or work in an oversight body would be a plus.
– Outstanding analytical skills and experience with systematizing and sharing knowledge and information in complex environments to foster institutional goals.
– Understanding of WBG’s operating environment, political economy, and stakeholders ‘ views.
– Excellent integration and written and verbal communication skills, especially (i) synthesizing complex issues and (ii) writing and communicating clearly, concisely and quickly for diverse audiences.
– Demonstrated judgement and capacity to represent SECPO with Executive Directors and Senior Management across the Bank.
– Ability to prioritize interventions, identify policy issues and trade-offs and apply a strategic and comprehensive problem-solving approach. Strong conceptual skills and ability to look several steps ahead and think through scenarios for issue evolution and management.
– Demonstrated ability to switch gears quickly and good-naturedly; to deal with unexpected (but frequent) changes in schedule and priorities, juggle concurrent yet disparate tasks effectively and efficiently and work with very short deadlines.
– Strong proclivity for teamwork including an open and collegial work style and a high energy level.
-Tact, discretion and diplomatic skills to deal with sensitive issues. Ability to influence across organizational boundaries and communicate persuasively.

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.

 

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.