Junior Professional Associate

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, please visit www.worldbank.org

Junior Professional Associates – Program Description

The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet.

We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/careers/jpa

The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program:

– Be 32 years of age or younger

– Hold a bachelor’s degree

– Be fluent in English

The JPA program at the World Bank is a highly competitive initiative. Candidates who are being actively considered for positions may be required to present academic transcripts and professional references. The World Bank’s Human Resources team and hiring team will reach out exclusively to individuals selected for assessment and interviews.

Positions may be in any of the World Bank’s offices worldwide.

Specific Unit Description: LC6 Country Management Unit (CMU)

Regional Context

The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income countries to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The Bank’s strategy in LCR is focused on five pillars: (a) stimulating growth and improving competitiveness; (b) reducing poverty and inequality; (c) making governments and institutions work for people; (d) providing a platform for tackling global issues (climate change, trade, disease, migration); and (e) reducing risk, whether from extreme weather events, climate change, crime and violence or other.

CMU and Country Office Context

The LC6 Country Management Unit (CMU) is responsible for Bank operations in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, and is comprised of the Country Director, Operations Manager and four Program Leaders based in Lima and Country Offices in Quito, La Paz, and Santiago. The CMU oversees a wide range of Bank activities, including over 40 projects under implementation with commitments of around US$6 billion in lending, as well as a program of over 30 knowledge, reimbursable advisory and convening activities.

The CMU is looking for a high-performing, energetic JPA who is adaptable and flexible with the ability to take on special assignments as the need arises. He/she would work closely with the Operations Manager, the Country Representatives, the operations Officers, as well as with colleagues in the Bolivia, Chile , Ecuador and Peru office and in the CMU Front Office.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The JPA will join the LC6 team in Lima, Peru, to support the CMU’s work in the coordination of the programming and implementation of the Bank portfolio in Peru and the other LC6 countries. The selected candidate will contribute to the dialogue with country counterparts, participate in strategy development and implementation, monitor the implementation of the portfolio, and support technical teams in addressing operational issues. The OA will report to the Operations Manager based in Lima and will engage in and contribute to office team initiatives in general as an integral member of this team. The JPA will also work under the guidance of the Senior Operations Officer based in Lima and will be a part of the CMU-wide country operational team.

The OA’s responsibilities will include:

Country Program Management

• Participation as team member in the elaboration of Country engagement products (SCD, CPF, Policy Notes, PLR, etc.) and other CMU initiatives;
• Preparation of sections of CPF documents and country strategy submissions as inputs into other CMU materials;
• Review and screening of relevant documents/reports for consistency with country strategies;
• Analyses of portfolio trends, drivers and performance;
• Production of portfolio and ASA monitoring tables as an input to the LC6 Dashboard;
• Verification and regular updating of milestones by TTLs and proactive follow-ups to ensure timeliness on activities;
• Support to the Country Operations Manager and Country Officers in Country portfolio reviews for LC6 countries;
• Review of documents under the LC6 Clearance processes for specific operational packages;
• Support for task teams by providing strategic input to the elaboration of agendas and joining key meetings and events in order to facilitate interaction and follow up with government counterparts and Bank teams, as needed;
• Support to task team by providing advice on processing operational documents for management approval;
• Support to the operations team in the processing and implementation of the RAS programs (guidance to teams, monitoring of processing steps);

Reporting and Brief Preparation

• Preparation of responses to ad hoc information requests from internal and external parties (e.g. cooperation agencies and other international organizations);
• Keep up-to-date a general brief with information on projects, results, general overview of the portfolio that could be used to prepare other materials such as briefs for senior management, articles, interviews, etc.
• Preparation, under guidance of more senior staff, of country reports and inputs for briefings to management (e.g. Annual Meeting Briefs) and external agencies (e.g., minutes of Consultative Groups).

Client and Stakeholder Relations

• Contribute to Country Office outreach activities and products (e.g. presentations, reports, briefs, talking points) requiring operational input and/or operational follow up action;
• Lead knowledge sharing with the country office staff on operational matters (policies, new guidelines);

Selection Criteria

• Minimum Education/Experience: bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Economic background is desirable.

• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills and proven ability to apply these in carrying out complex research and operational tasks, identifying issues, presenting findings/ recommendations and contributing to resolution of sector and country issues; analyzes and identifies portfolio cross-cutting issues;

• Familiarity with operations issues and broad understanding of links to sectoral policies;

• Ability to focus on key issues, while not losing sight of the big picture;

• Proven ability to think independently and demonstrated political sensitivity and mature judgement, with an ability to interpret challenging socio-economic trends;

• Client oriented, ability to deliver timely and high-quality products in his/her areas of responsibility;

• Advanced computer programs useful for operational analysis, such as spreadsheets, databases, and graphics. Statistical software knowledge a plus;

• Excellent communications skills, both in oral presentations and in writing sections of papers, briefs, independent reports, etc.;

• Capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of issues and tasks, independently adjusting to priorities and achieving results with agreed objectives and deadlines;

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with internal/external partners and promote collaboration in a multi-cultural environment;

• Proficiency in Spanish and English, both verbally and in writing;

• Field experience in a developing country, possibly in LAC, is a plus.

Required Competencies

• Project Management – Understands the basic concepts of project management, as they relate to the execution of tasks within a project.

• Analytical and Technical Skills – commands solid theoretical base and proven ability of its application to produce quantitative analysis of portfolio.

• Lead and Innovate – brings new and different insights.

• Deliver Results for Clients – contributes to delivery of results for clients on complex issues.

• Teamwork (collaboration) and Inclusion – collaborates within teams and across

• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – actively contributes to and readily applies WBG’s body of knowledge for internal and/or external client solutions.

• Make Smart Decisions – leverages available data and makes timely decisions.

Diversity and Inclusion

The World Bank continually searches for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. 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, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Individuals with different abilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions and support in receiving other workplace accommodations.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.