Lead Strategy Officer

World Bank Group • Washington, DC

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative changes around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE VICE PRESIDENCY

The Development Finance Vice-Presidency (DFi) is responsible for the management and monitoring of policies, procedures and resources for development financing at the World Bank. Development financing consists of resource mobilization and management of the world’s largest concessional fund, IDA, the financial management of grant contributions from development partners for Trust Funds (TFs) and Financial Intermediary Funds (FIFs), and all the aspects of corporate finance of the IBRD. Given the nature and variety of this portfolio, the VPU works closely with the President's office, Executive Directors, WBG senior management, corporate and operations units across the WBG, funding partners and government officials. The VPU has two departments – Finance, Policy, and Operations (DFFPO) and Trust Funds and Partner Relations (DFTPR).

FINANCE, POLICY, AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT

Within DFi, Finance, Policy, and Operations (DFFPO) is responsible for the replenishment and stewardship of IDA, the Bank’s principal facility for providing highly concessional resources to the world’s poorest countries, as well as for supporting senior managers and the WBG Board in IBRD’s financial management by recommending policies and strategies related to IBRD medium-term financial and capital planning, overall balance sheet management, and annual decisions on loan terms and income allocation. DFFPO monitors the implementation of the IDA policy mandates within the Bank, undertakes a significant policy research agenda, and participates in review activities at the country and institutional levels. In addition, DFFPO manages the allocation of IDA resources (both volumes and terms) to eligible countries as per IDA priorities and maintains policy dialogue with donors. Working closely with other Departments notably OPCS, Regions, and Global Practices, it takes the lead in preparing IDA replenishment papers which form the basis for policy discussions with contributing countries and borrower representatives. The Department is currently completing the ambitious IDA21 replenishment negotiations, with IDA21 implementation that started in July 2025. Early negotiations to prepare IDA22 replenishment are expected to start in 2026.

Within DFFPO, the selected Lead Strategy Officer will report to the Manager of the Policy & Resource Mobilization division. S/he will play a leadership role, with a focus on Resource Mobilization, and in particular on IDA Replenishment.

Requirements

• Masters’ degree in a relevant field, for example business administration, project management, social studies, economics, governance, finance, among others with at least twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience including a track record of delivery of high quality products, and increasing leadership responsibilities.
• Outstanding project/task management skills including ability to independently monitor milestones, deliverables, risk and output of complex, high profile and high stakes initiatives. Attention to details is critical.
• Extensive experience leading teams for impact, ideally on complex and/or multiple deliverables, and used to managing time pressure.
• Broad and deep understanding of IDA, including its role in international aid architecture, and its role withing the WBG's strategic priorities.
• Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet tight deadlines.
• Outstanding interpersonal, diplomatic and partnership skills and proven ability to work in a collaborative environment with team members and across organizational boundaries to build alliances for results.
• Record of successful donor and other stakeholder engagement and, ideally, of mobilizing resources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.
• High ethical standards, deep sense of fairness and strong degree of tact, judgment, and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Resource Mobilization pillar of the division and help shape engagements on IDA and other development financing needs (e.g., FIFs).
• IDA Events: Lead the team in charge of structuring formal engagements with IDA Participants, collaborating across teams to develop and present meeting content, managing event logistics, and formalizing and disseminating outcomes. Events include the IDA21 Mid-Term Review, IDA22 Replenishment, Spring and Annual Meeting updates to IDA Deputies and Borrower representatives, technical briefings and engagements, and regular updates to the Board of Executive Directors.
• Fundraising, Donors, and Stakeholders Engagements: Lead the team in charge of developing and implementing fundraising strategy for IDA, planning and delivery of engagements with donors, IDA borrower representatives and Civil Society (e.g., NGOs, CSOs, foundations, think tanks, IMF) and expanding IDA donor base.
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff and management in the Finance complex, corporate units, Operations, IFC, MIGA and Senior Management to ensure effective engagement of the division towards its deliverables.
• Engage and manage diplomatically interactions with IDA Deputies, IDA contributors, recipients, the Board and other critical stakeholders on complex and politically sensitive matters.
• Liaise closely with IMF and other MDBs, philanthropies, think tanks, and other development partners to inform and shape engagement with donors and stakeholders in making the case for IDA.
• Ensures timely flow and capture of knowledge and expertise so that clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge they need, when and where they need it.
• Co-Lead, with the Lead Economist, the Data & Analytics, Knowledge Management pillar of the division.
• Co-lead ongoing identification and implementation of opportunities to make the division more efficient and effective through business process analysis and leverage of technology.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level