Special Assistant to the WBG Vice President, Planet

World Bank Group • Washington, DC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The WBG Planet Vice Presidency leads the World Bank Group’s efforts to make the planet livable—a vital foundation for job creation and poverty elimination. This office is responsible for delivering effective public and private sector solutions to operational teams and clients, aiming for scalable impact. Its mandate includes providing guidance on job creation, with a focus on agribusiness, infrastructure (especially water), and health (including sanitation and nutrition). The team supports foundational infrastructure, human capital, policy environments, and private sector mobilization, while advancing key initiatives such as AgriConnect, Water Strategy Implementation Plan, and the Climate Change Action Plan. The Vice Presidency Unit (VPU) strives to replicate and scale effective solutions, foster thought leadership and innovation, and deliver timely knowledge to client teams. The Special Assistant is a core member of the Vice President’s front office team, providing direct support on a broad range of tasks. This role collaborates closely with the Director of Strategy & Operations, the Senior Executive Assistant, Senior Advisers, the Manager for development effectiveness and other team members. The position offers exposure to a wide array of corporate strategy and operational issues, as well as opportunities to work with diverse management and staff across the Planet units and beyond.

Requirements

• Master’s degree with at least 8 years of experience (preferred), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 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.
• Proactive and action-oriented, with the ability to anticipate, coordinate, and prioritize activities, and to make recommendations even with incomplete information.
• 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
• Knowledge and Experience In Development Arena: Demonstrates sound knowledge of World Bank Group’s Twin Goals and the complementarities among different World Bank Group member institutions; Guides research efforts and translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies and for discussions with clients and development partners
• 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

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of other World Bank official languages is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring the Vice President is briefed and informed of important internal and external issues in a timely manner; prioritizing issues for the Vice President’s attention and providing input, analysis, and recommendations as appropriate; reviewing and drafting briefs and talking points for various occasions.
• Assisting the Vice President on all matters related to Planet’s operations and Board interactions;
• Preparing for and attending meetings with, or on behalf of, the Vice President; ensuring appropriate follow-through on actions, decisions, and commitments by coordinating with responsible parties.
• Maintaining regular contact with staff to stay abreast of emerging issues and establishing systematic interaction and follow-up programs.
• Coordinating high-level corporate meetings, including management meetings, quarterly reviews, retreats, travel, and the 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 Vice President.
• Supporting the Planet Leadership Team with agenda preparation, meeting minutes, and follow-up on management decisions, in collaboration with the Operations officer supporting the DSO.
• Preparing or reviewing speeches and talking points for the Vice President for both internal and external audiences.
• Reviewing and ensuring quality control of all items submitted to the Vice President for comments, clearance, or signature, including briefings, official correspondence, and press releases.
• Assisting with business planning, including preparation of the Vice President’s Memorandum of Understanding and performance management objectives.
• Helping coordinate the Vice President travels and supporting the Vice President when hosting visiting delegations.
• Liaising with the offices of the President, Managing Directors, and other Vice Presidents as needed.

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
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees