Director - World Bank : Job Details

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

The mission of External and Corporate Relations Vice Presidency (ECR VPU) is to help build 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 support 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/multilateral organizations, as well as employee engagement. ECR also manages strategic communications and stakeholder outreach for the World Bank's Regions and Verticals and leads the management of reputation risk.

Within ECR, the Government & Multilateral Relations Department (ECRGR) oversees and coordinates the WBG's institutional relationships and engagement with donor countries including in Western Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, Israel, New Zealand, the U.S., and emerging donors, including with key stakeholders at the country level. ECRGR also supports the WBG's corporate resource mobilization efforts; and leads on engagement with the UN and multilateral system, including those based in New York and Geneva; and engagement through the Global Parliamentary Network.

ECR is seeking an experienced and dynamic professional as Director to head the Government & Multilateral Relations department (ECRGR). S/he will report directly to the Vice President for WBG External and Corporate Relations. The successful candidate should have a proven track record of managing high-performing, fast-paced, Government & Multilateral Relations functions, will have an established network as well as the ability to build networks across key stakeholder groups; be mission driven; have experience in global development; have excellent political judgment and leadership advisory skills; and a proven ability to lead a global, multicultural team. He/she will sit on ECR's Management Team and advise the Vice President on government relations. He/she is also expected to be in frequent contact and advise the WBG senior management team.

The ECRGR Director promotes a culture that fosters proactive strategies and solution-oriented ideas, ensuring that these are acted on with clarity, urgency, and vigor. S/he advances the WBG's reputation and its aspirations to be the leading development institution in delivering good outcomes for client countries.

The ECRGR Director is accountable for performing the responsibilities, modeling the behaviors, and maintaining the technical competencies (listed below). Accountability means being answerable for managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives and compliance with Bank policies and procedures.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 4-year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

The role of the Director, Government & Multilateral Relations would be to:

Business Management (includes strategy, operations, and quality control)

* Build, through strategic advocacy, political and financial support for the WBG and development priorities among policy makers and opinion leaders, to position the WBG as the leading 21st century voice on global development and expand the scope of its influence.

* Manage the day-to-day operations of the Government & Multilateral Relations department. This includes for the World Bank Group's engagement with donor and emerging donor governments, building political and financial support for the Bank Group's mission and ensuring a favorable authorizing environment including through engagement with relevant stakeholders at the country level; and the Bank's engagement with the UN and multilateral system in New York and Geneva; and with the Global Parliamentary Network.

* Provide strategic advice and support to senior leadership and members of the ECR Extended Management Team on Government & Multilateral Relations issues and opportunities.

* Lead and support the development and delivery of the Bank's Government & Multilateral Relations strategy and related work program, including through any changes in practices and structures needed to deliver on ECR's strategy, and being responsible for the overall professional standards and quality of content.

* Use metrics and data to measure effectiveness.

* Direct World Bank Group's strategic engagement in support of resource mobilization efforts (e.g., IDA).

* Represent the WBG as needed to help shape debate and communicate WBG policy positions.

* Ensure and maintain best practices across the department, including via innovation, new technologies, platforms and approaches, and by gathering appropriate inputs from across other ECR teams and the WBG, to create optimal Government & Multilateral Relations strategies to influence external audiences and position the Bank Group's priorities and the Bank Group as a leader in international development.

Relationship Management (internal and external)

* Develop relationships with critical internal and external stakeholders to influence and seek win/win relationships.

* Manage work program and workflow. Delegate appropriately and hold his/her staff accountable for delivering agreed work programs based on agreed parameters.

People/Talent Management

* Lead, develop, and manage the Government & Multilateral Relations team, including capacity building, and with a focus on institutional success and development outcomes.

* Foster a positive work culture with a focus on results-orientation, teamwork, and innovation; and role-model the ECR principles of audience-first, staff empowerment, proactive and responsive, creative and informed, with message clarity and alignment.

* Take responsibility for talent management and building a robust pipeline of top-quality communication professionals.

* Ensure strong cross-sectoral and global coordination across department with other ECR departments to support VPU-wide integration, alignment, and streamlining of work programs to help drive focus and clarity across global teams.

* Take responsibility for achieving and communicating outcomes from coordination with operational staff, sectoral technical staff, and the departmental management team.

* Model WBG values and offer mentoring and development opportunities for staff in a multicultural environment.

Resource Management

* Ensure the deployment of budget resources is in line with Resource Management policies, rules and internal controls.

* Set priorities and allocate budget within and across the department in line with institutional priorities and with a view to maximizing impact and value-added of all activities.

Knowledge Management

* Embrace good corporate citizenship, including contributing to the development, implementation and communication of corporate policies, strategies, and priorities, including the whole of ECR.

* Accountability for gathering, managing, and disseminating best practices and knowledge across the Institution, including cross-department and between ECR departments.

Selection Criteria

* A Master's degree (International Relations, Development, Communications/Public Affairs, Economics or other related field) plus a minimum of 15 years of substantial professional experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.

* Extensive experience in Government & Multilateral Relations, preferably with experience in development cooperation, multilateral affairs or in other international contexts, and how it delivers for business needs.

* High level of skill in building coalitions of like-minded stakeholders and managing relationships with key government officials and stakeholders, and leading teams to do the same.

* In-depth knowledge of global development and development policy, their drivers, and the changing development landscape.

* Thorough understanding and passion for the World Bank Group's mandate and mission, and ECR's role in achieving the Group's goals.

* Demonstrated leadership values and exemplification of the WBG's managerial and core competencies, as referenced below.

* Strong people management skills, including to lead and support teams through changes in structure and approach to deliver for an evolving strategy.

* Reputation as a strong strategic thinker, able to identify and make connections across disciplines and geographies, to fully leverage appropriate opportunities for enhancing reputation.

* Well-respected practitioner with ability to quickly establish trusted relationships and a strong advisory role with senior management, to negotiate and persuade on ideas and positions, or manage difficult situations.

* Extensive experience managing complex and large work programs, staffing, and budgets with proven results.

* Excellent diplomacy, negotiation, communications, analytical, and presentation skills, both oral and written.

* Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a range of partners in a multicultural environment. Experience in working with senior officials in national or international contexts.

* Strong corporate attitude with track record in cross-institution collaboration and approaches, in best interest of the whole institution or organization.

* Positive and steady demeanor, able to inspire and motivate teams by leading through good example of drive and initiative for impact.

* Ability to pivot and adapt with composure to evolving business and external environment needs, with entrepreneurial skills, strong political judgement, diplomacy, and stakeholder sensitivity.

* Willingness to travel.

* Spoken and written fluency in English required, knowledge of other UN languages is a plus.

World Bank Group Core Competencies