Team Assistant

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.

Innovation and partnership bond the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life.

As part of the World Bank’s South Asia Region (SAR), the World Bank’s Pakistan Country Management Unit (CMU), based in the Islamabad Country Office, is responsible for overseeing a large program providing US$1-2 billion per year to the Government of Pakistan, and mobilizing a modest amount of grant resources. This program includes financing a wide range of operations and direct Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) for sensitive policy advice, small and large infrastructure operations, and services in a wide range of areas (health, social protection, education, finance, energy, digital, mobility, water and sanitation, solid waste management, urban, agriculture, disaster risk management, environment, domestic revenue mobilization, public financial management, trade, poverty reduction, governance, etc.).   The Office has about 128 staff, including about 28 IRS staff (some with families), and hosts many visiting missions, the International Finance Corporations offices (Islamabad and Karachi). The CMU within this manages the overall portfolio and strategy of the program. The role of BFC has expanded after Islamabad is being declared as family post in 2019 and the office has grown.

The CMU is led by the Country Director for Pakistan, supported by the Operations Manager (OM) and the Operations team in Islamabad and the Sr. Country Officer and team in Washington DC. 

Within the CMU, much of the logistics (visa processing, fleet management, conference and workshops, catering and cafeteria management, visiting mission support, support to internationally recruited staff) and facilities management are grouped under the Business Facilitation Center (BFC) which is under the leadership of the BFC manager and the Facilities Manager (who also report to the Operations Manager). 

The Team Assistant for this advertised position will be part of the CMU’s BFC team and will be based in the World Bank office in Islamabad. The Team Assistant will report to the Operations Manager (OM) and will be under the general guidance of the BFC manager.  The Team Assistant will be part of Administrative and Client Services (ACS) staff in the country office.  ACS colleagues provide a range of administrative and client services to support a full range of functions of the World Bank Pakistan Country Office including office management, facilities management and operations.  ACS report to the Operations Manager and may have co-supervisors depending upon their assignment. During the course of an ACS career, the Team Assistant for the advertised position may be assigned different responsibilities depending upon business need.

The Pakistan CMU is looking for a high performing, energetic member of its BFC team whose responsibilities will include:

• Effectively coordinates relationships with government, private sector and civil society clients and partners.
• Coordinates with units across the Bank and liaises frequently with team members both at headquarters and in Pakistan.
• Drafts a variety of documents, translating when necessary and applying effective proofreading and grammar skills in English.
• Uses word processing, shared drives, and desktop publishing skills to produce complex text, reports, figures, graphs, etc., according to standard Bank formats and distribution.
• Coordinates schedules taking priorities into account, monitors changes, and communicates the information to appropriate staff, inside and outside the immediate work unit, including officials outside the Bank Group.
• Assists in preparation and logistical planning for events, e.g. conferences, workshops, negotiations, etc.
• Monitors task budgets and other activities within their teams or clusters and monitors routine deliverable and performance metrics.
• Tracks assigned task/project steps/timetables, coordinates with relevant staff and provides assistance and/or information on project-related matters.
• Undertakes stretch assignments using analytical, diagnostic and writing skills.
• Maintains current distribution lists, phone/address lists of project/product contacts, and distributes documents for the team which also includes maintaining up-to-date work unit project and other files (both paper and electronic)
• Maintains strict confidentiality of the unit.
• Provide support to World Bank Group missions and staff visits through involvement in the preparation, coordination, planning and logistics of visits. Also assist where necessary in gathering information, obtaining required clearances, visas and mission/visit follow-up.

Selection Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years of experience. Experience in a similar role will be preferred with a reputable national or an international development agency.
• Experience working with or for the WBG, coupled with a good knowledge and application of WBG organizations, systems and procedures.
• Experience, exposure to / understanding of the Government systems will be preferred.
• Strong spoken and written communications skills in English and Urdu.
• Demonstrated initiative, and drive for results including ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.
• Outstanding inter-personal skills with proven ability to work cooperatively with a multi-disciplinary team.
• High degree of motivation, initiative, flexibility, reliability, and responsiveness to changing demands; capacity for effective multitasking, with demonstrated ability of being an independent starter with minimal supervision, and a high capacity to persevere for results.
• Outstanding inter-personal skills with proven ability to work cooperatively with a multi-disciplinary team.
• The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in race, gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  Women and SSA/CR candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27620&site=1