Lead Counsel

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

About The Position

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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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 http://www.worldbank.org/ VPU Position Context The World Bank Group (WBG) 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. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the WBG is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data. In the context of the WBG's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel (SVP/GCG), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external both World Bank and, where pertinent, more broadly WBG clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters. In addition, LEG helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the Articles of Agreement of all WBG institutions, policies and procedures. Organizationally, LEG includes geographically based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank's lending and technical assistance operations, and Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate finance, policy and partnerships, and administrative and institutional matters. Duties & Accountabilities: Lead Counsel - Legal Operations. The Lead Counsel will serve within LEG’s Operational units. While being mapped initially to LEGAM (Africa East and Southern, Africa West and Central, and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) the Lead Counsel will be expected to lead initiatives and provide advice as part of a team of Lead Counsels, across the 3 Region-facing Operations Units (LEGAM, LEGES and LEGLE). The Lead Counsel will serve under the Chief Counsels for LEGAM and provide intellectual and strategic leadership and advice to the Chief Counsels, LEG operations staff and, as needed, the DGC, Operations on all matters relevant to LEG’s operations, including risk management, portfolio monitoring, innovation initiatives, measures to make LEG work more efficient and effective, and crosscutting corporate and operational issues. The Lead Counsel will also maintain a portfolio of operational deliverables while assisting the Chief Counsels in managing the Unit. The Lead Counsel will also collaborate across IBRD/IDA regional, corporate and administrative units, IFC and MIGA and with other partners as appropriate. 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.

Requirements

J.D., LLM or other terminal law degree with a minimum of 12 years overall experience.
Expert-level breadth and depth of knowledge of the World Bank’s legal framework and of all relevant policies and procedures, as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities and accountabilities listed above.
A history of working with a broad network of World Bank staff and guiding novel and cross-cutting operations, transactions, and new initiatives to completion.
Strong transaction management skills, including negotiation and structuring skills that balance principled legal and governance requirements with the creativity and flexibility needed to achieve constructive results.
Ability to articulate legal and governance concepts clearly, cogently and effectively to World Bank staff and managers at different levels and with different levels of technical expertise, in order to ensure that ultimate decisions are well-informed, and based on a clear understanding of potential risks and rewards.
Good understanding of the institution’s privileges, immunities and the ramifications of agreements on World Bank operations and financial exposure.
Ability to effectively mentor junior team members and other staff members of the unit in all the areas, to empower them to work independently and to think creatively about the problems facing the organization, and to prepare them to take on increasingly large and significant responsibilities.
Proven track record of managing teams for delivery, mentoring, coaching and empowering staff to work independently and think creatively about new initiatives and other challenges facing the organization, provide support for learning and professional development, and prepare them to take on increasing responsibilities and adapt to change.
Proven ability to effectively work with colleagues and integrate the work of multiple business units covering diverse activities.
Receptivity to feedback and constructive criticism; outstanding written and verbal communications skills.
Ability to (i) generate consensus both inside and outside the World Bank on divisive legal issues; and (ii) lead and handle negotiations diplomatically.
Demonstrated commitment to the World Bank Core Values for WBG and a proven track record of fostering a strong and healthy culture of integrity, excellence, mutual respect, diversity, inclusion, teamwork, a solid work ethic, and accountability.
Demonstrated ability to be sensitive to issues around race, gender, ethnicity, inclusion, and intersectionality.
Demonstrated ability and commitment to support the World Bank Managerial Competencies.
Demonstrated commitment to the WBG’s mission, and ability to work towards WBG's corporate targets for successful outcomes.
A strong results-oriented mindset.
Ability to take informed risks and make difficult decisions in a timely and transparent manner resulting in transformative impact for clients.

Responsibilities

Act as a deputy and reporting line to the Chief Counsel(s).
Serve as a subject matter expert on legal, governance, and policy issues relevant to critical World Bank operational priorities.
Lead a team (under the overall supervision of the Chief Counsels), and coordinate the workflow of the team, manage the relationship with regional clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders, and serve as a coach and mentor to team members and others within LEG.
Provide prompt, credible, and reliable advice to World Bank officials, including the World Bank’s senior management, on complex legal, operational, governance, and policy issues.
Analyze complex new initiatives and provide expert advice that balances legal and organizational interests, so as to enable the World Bank to achieve desired outcomes, while mitigating, minimizing, or eliminating legal risk.
Work as a partner with LEG operational teams to structure new initiatives to obtain optimal, risk-adjusted outcomes.
Represent LEG on management committees and decision meetings, and the Board, and effectively present LEG’s views on the operations, transactions, or other initiatives under discussion.
Serve as an expert resource to LEG as a whole on matters with cross-cutting implications.
Work closely with other LEG Units, including LEGEN, LEGOP, LEGDF, LEGFI, LEGLA and LEGIA on operations and initiatives including Inspection Panel cases and effectiveness and efficiency initiatives.
Undertake such other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.
Ensure timely flow, capture, codification and dissemination of knowledge and expertise so that regional clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge, coordinating with IFC and MIGA, as needed.
Support the coordination of innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning.

Benefits

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.

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