Special Assistant to Senior Vice President DEC and WBG Chief Economist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

About The Position

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) is the World Bank’s central reservoir of fresh insights into the most pressing challenges of development. It is led by the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, who advises the President and senior managers, serves as the community leader for the WBG’s economists, and helps to keep the institution in the forefront of thinking about development policy. DEC constitutes one of the world’s largest teams of economists focused on policy solutions for developing economies. The Special Assistant is a core member of the DEC Front Office team providing direct support on a broad range of tasks. This role collaborates closely with the Director of Strategy, the Senior Executive Assistant, Senior Advisers, and other team members. This position offers exposure to a broad range of corporate strategy and operational issues as well as opportunities to work with a wide range of management and staff across DEC.

Requirements

PhD in economics or other related fields, with at least 8 years of relevant experience and a strong quantitative background.
Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, with the ability to respond quickly and pragmatically to a wide range of issues.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to systematically and efficiently follow up on a broad set of initiatives and decisions.
Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication in English, with the ability to synthesize analyses and present materials effectively to diverse audiences. Knowledge of other World Bank official languages is an asset.
Knowledge of econometric and statistical analysis techniques and of related principles underlying World Bank Group economic work.
High degree of tact, political awareness, sensitivity, and discretion in dealing with internal and external clients, staff, and managers at all levels, and in handling confidential and sensitive information.
Outstanding interpersonal skills and a proven track record of working effectively in a multicultural environment with staff at all levels.
Ability to navigate uncertainty and adapt to unstructured and changing situations.
Willingness and ability to undertake business travel, sometimes on short notice.
Integrative Skills: Demonstrates ability to think and work across WBG, practices and sectors; Integrates divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent project/program/ strategy; Considers corporate commitments (e.g., jobs, mission300) in project approach.
Communication & Influencing Skills: Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers); Has ability to communicate and defend, orally and in writing, challenges and positions to colleagues and management.
Analytical Skills: Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with economic and sectoral data and analytical tools and models to conduct economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of other World Bank official languages is an asset.

Responsibilities

Ensuring the Senior Vice President is briefed and informed of important internal and external issues in a timely manner; prioritizing issues for the Senior Vice President’s attention and providing input, analysis, and recommendations as appropriate; reviewing and drafting briefs and talking points for various occasions.
Coordinating high-level corporate meetings, including management meetings, quarterly reviews, retreats, travel, and the Senior Vice President’s overall schedule; organizing and managing special events or visits from high-profile guests.
Collaborating with the communications team to manage public relations and media outreach for the Senior Vice President.
Supporting the DEC Leadership Team with agenda preparation, meeting minutes, and follow-up on management decisions, in collaboration with the Operations officer supporting the DSO.
Liaising with the offices of the President, MDs and other VPs as needed.
Preparing or reviewing speeches and talking points for the Senior Vice President for both internal and external audiences.
Reviewing and ensuring quality control of all items submitted to the Senior Vice President for comments, clearance, or signature, including briefings, official correspondence, and press releases.
Managing the production of briefing materials and talking points for the Annual and Spring Meetings and other important events during the year, as well as writing selected briefing materials.
Helping coordinate the Senior Vice President travels and supporting the Senior Vice President when hosting visiting delegations.
Support the Senior Vice President in analytical work, including but not limited to providing requested inputs to the major institutional reports and the research agenda of DEC and reviewing key studies.

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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