Practice Manager

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The World Bank is seeking a Practice Manager for the Latin America and Caribbean regional procurement unit (ELCRU), within the Prosperity Practice Group. The position is based in Washington, DC, and reports to the Regional Director. The Practice Manager advances the Bank’s strategic procurement agenda for LAC countries and provides solutions and results for clients, while leading people and talent management, knowledge management, resource management, and communications related to the Global Practice. The role collaborates across technical, geographic, and institutional boundaries to design and deliver development solutions for diverse clients in LAC. It supports global knowledge flows, shares practical development experience with other countries, and ensures that lessons from outside the region inform Bank-supported programs. The Practice Manager is a member of the Prosperity Leadership Team and the Procurement Global Practice Leadership Team, and participates in the Procurement Talent Board, which oversees strategic staffing, career development, and staff deployment across the Bank.

Requirements

Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in economics, finance, public finance, financial economics, engineering, management, or law, with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience.
Deep technical expertise in procurement, including operational procurement for complex, large-scale activities; fiduciary skills; e-GP and technology applications; data analytics; and procurement assessment and reform.
Familiarity with modern procurement approaches such as rated criteria, value engineering, supplier relationship management, and competitive dialogue.
Demonstrated ability to drive procurement modernization with Borrowers and strong understanding of emerging trends, including supply chain resilience, automation, and data-driven performance measurement.
In-depth knowledge of Bank operations and ability to integrate procurement expertise with broader operational policies and objectives.
Experience in operational procurement in at least two Bank regions, or a combination of regional and corporate assignments.
Proven leadership and people management skills, including experience building and leading multi-location and virtual teams, fostering a positive work environment, and mentoring staff and clients through training and knowledge transfer.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex procurement issues persuasively to Bank management, senior government officials, external constituencies, and expert groups.
Strong change management skills, including the ability to present ideas compellingly, engage openly with challenge and debate, and adapt approaches to achieve results.
High integrity, cultural sensitivity, and a proven ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues across multicultural environments.
Fluency in English and Spanish.

Nice To Haves

French and/or Portuguese language skills.
Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts.
Ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
Experience responsibly leveraging digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Oversee procurement systems and fiduciary functions across the region’s Country Management Units, and advise regional management and teams on procurement issues across sectors, including reform dialogue and implementation of national procurement reform strategies.
Ensure consistent application of the Procurement Policy Framework and develop innovative, practical approaches to operations preparation, including operations with significant public procurement components.
Establish proactive processes to identify and deploy knowledge to address client problems, create space for innovation and knowledge generation in public procurement, and contribute to global discussions on emerging practices.
Shape and lead the institution’s procurement talent strategy, including workforce planning, staff development, succession planning, performance management, and strategic deployment through the Procurement Talent Board.
Lead implementation of the Procurement Change Program in the region, fostering innovation and adoption of modern procurement approaches that deliver best value for Borrowers and strengthen Bank operations.
Drive technical excellence by fostering a culture of learning and innovation that attracts, develops, and retains diverse talent.
Collaborate with the Prosperity Practice Group’s Practice Managers and the Regional Management Team, and contribute to the strategic direction of the Procurement Global Practice.