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. 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
External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR)
The mission of External and Corporate Relations (ECR) is to help deliver financial and political support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group’s role as a global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding its reputation, and supporting operational teams to achieve country outcomes. ECR manages corporate communications and global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, foundations, private sector, donor countries, and international organizations, as well as employee engagement. ECR also manages strategic communications for the World Bank’s Regions and Global Practices and leads the management of reputation risk.
Country Context – Malaysia
Over the past 30 years, Malaysia has successfully curtailed high poverty rates and reduced income inequalities. Its goal is to attain high income status while ensuring shared prosperity. As an upper middle-income country, Malaysia both contributes development lessons to low- and middle-income countries and learns lessons from other countries on its path to become a high-income country. The World Bank Group Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Finance Hub in Malaysia (the Hub) serves as a partner to the country and its people in developing and implementing global development solutions. The Hub draws on global knowledge to further unlock Malaysia’s potential; catalyzes knowledge, research, and application for impact; and shares Malaysia’s development experience for the global development agenda.
The East Asia Pacific External and Corporate Relations Unit (ECREA)
The East Asia and Pacific region remains one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions in the world. Over the past two decades, most countries in the region have achieved strong and stable growth that has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and transformed economies across the region. Many East Asia and Pacific countries have risen to upper-middle income status and have set the goal of reaching high-income status in the near to medium term. The East Asia and Pacific region includes 23 countries and 6 Country Management Units.
The ECREA team:
•Provides strategic support to operations by embedding communications into the operations project cycle and reform processes and tells the story of the impact and results of World Bank support to its clients.
•Proactively works to strengthens strategic relationships and alliances with key influencers in civil society, media, academia, think tanks, Parliament, faith-based groups, labor groups, etc., to build political support for the WBG’s work in the region and in-country.
•Provides guidance, analysis, and advice as trusted advisors to regional and country management teams to help position the Bank as partner of choice, capitalize on opportunities to tell the development story and collaborates with operational teams to manage risks.
ECREA is recruiting a dynamic and seasoned professional to lead the World Bank’s communications and stakeholder engagement in Malaysia. This position will report to the ECREA communications manager based in Washington, D.C. and will be part of the BMPT communications team which is led by the Senior External Affairs Officer based in Manila.
The External Affairs Officer shall report directly to the ECREA Communications Manager based in Washington, DC.
Duties & Responsibilities
The World Bank Malaysia Country Office is seeking an experienced and dynamic communications professional who will work across the Malaysia office teams to share knowledge, build partnerships, promote key dimensions of these programs, and “market” the results of the programs to internal and external audiences.
Specific Duties – The ETC’s major responsibilities will include, but are not limited, to the following:
Responsibilities
•Develop and execute a communication strategy to support the Bank’s work in Malaysia that demonstrates the Bank’s impact and results.
•Identify, facilitate, and maintain strategic partnerships with a cross-section of local and international partners, including the government, the media, CSOs, academia, the international development community, and others.
•Manage media relations and broaden outreach opportunities with media based in Malaysia.
•Provide regular communications advice to the Country Manager and work closely with the Country Management Unit.
•Manage and support significant outreach efforts and launches in the region. Designs media and stakeholder engagement plans, coalition-building strategies, and key messages to position the World Bank on major issues/projects/initiatives and maintain effective relationships with key national and international audiences.
•Provide real-time insight and analysis of ongoing political developments, changes, and potential outcomes.
•Provide general advice to management and project teams on navigating client relations/responses during a reputational risk challenge.
•Prepare and oversee delivery of relevant communication briefing notes, PRs, Speeches, Op-eds/blogs, social media posts, web stories talking points, etc.
•Provide advice and support for reviewing operational documents and coordinating the submission of communications inputs at relevant stages during the project cycle.
•Work with technical teams to increase the adoption of innovative and creative communication approaches with an emphasis on short, clear, and concise messages.
Selection Criteria
•We require a relevant mix of education and experience: Master’s degree with 5 years of experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline (communication, journalism, international affairs, or other related fields).
•Experience working in an international environment and in-depth knowledge of international trends and political/economic issues related to development.
•Knowledge of, and experience working with the Malaysian government and public institutions, ideally national and subnational, CSOs, think tanks and other key actors in Malaysia.
•Develop an understanding of WBG operations and key corporate issues and priorities; up-to-date knowledge of current development topics and issues, and ability to identify communications and reputation-related risks and opportunities in an international environment.
•Demonstrated political awareness and ability to handle sensitive situations with target audiences diplomatically and otherwise to cultivate effective, productive client relationships/partnerships.
•Experience working with senior executives, including experience in managing reputational risks and issues, messaging, stakeholder engagement, and media engagement; and ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources.
•Excellent English language skills and proficiency to write and edit complex communications products for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and logical, persuasive presentation, in an accessible way to different audiences.
•Able to conceptualize, develop, and deliver compelling visual narratives. Excellent basic Photography, Photoshop, Power Point skills and the ability to manage demand for visuals.
•Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to multitask, take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, and achieve agreed-upon results.
•Develop an understanding project management concepts sufficiently to propose and develop communications plans and strategies drafts.
•Teamwork orientation with strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to working in a multicultural environment.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
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