Senior Country Officer

Senior Country Officer

Job #:
req24649

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Environment

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):
French, Spanish – Highly desirable

Closing Date:
11/3/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and programs that address biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and adaptation, degradation of international waters, land and forests, ozone depletion, elimination or reduction of persistent organic pollutants and mercury, all within the framework of sustainable development.

The GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. An independently operating financial organization, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for five international environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Minamata Convention on Mercury. GEF is also a designated financial mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The GEF Secretariat is a Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) within the World Bank for administrative purposes and has approximately 70 professional, administrative and client support staff. This position currently reports to the Manager of the Policy, Partnerships and Operations Unit in the Secretariat.

Duties and Accountabilities

GEF is seeking to hire a dynamic and experienced Senior Country Officer to lead the Secretariats support to the GEF governing Council, in the capacity of Secretary to the Council. The ideal candidate would have a combination of diplomatic skills and hands-on organizational experience, attention to detail and ability to troubleshoot and manage relationships at high levels among government and other representatives.

This high-profile position will involve overall responsibility for relationship management and the coordination and overall steering of the work program of the GEFs 32-member governing Council.

It will involve frequent interaction with representatives of donor and recipient countries, GEF Agencies and other partners and require an ability to quickly grasp key corporate and operational issues in various areas, multi-task in a fast-paced work environment, often under tight deadlines, and work effectively across GEF Secretariat and Partnership boundaries. S/he will also perform quality checks on the units various outputs prior to circulation to Council members and coordinate official and unofficial communication with them. Tasks include but are not limited to the following:
Managing the process to schedule and arrange bi-annual formal Council meetings in Washington or other locations, including responsibility for all organization and logistics, including interpretation, travel costs and funding for Council members where applicable, etc.
Maintaining regular dialogue with Council members on procedural issues, and often on issues of programming and policy in consultation with other GEF Secretariat staff.
Lead dialogue with donor Council members.
Council liaison, including regular interaction with Co-Chairs of the Council, ensuring selection and rotation takes place smoothly and in accordance with established procedure.
Developing Council meeting agendas and providing annotated versions and talking points/scripts for speakers.
Drafting meeting summaries and highlights documents.
Responsible for all ensuring all aspects of Council meetings are conducted according to established policy and procedure.
Proposing and managing processes for amendments to Council rules and procedures and the GEF Instrument (the highest governance document for the GEF), in consultation with legal and other advisors.
Management and oversight of other staff engaged in Council activities, including support staff (currently approx. 2-3 staff working approx. half-time on Council activities).
Problem solving, resolving disputes during proceedings of Council to ensure smooth functioning and decision-making.

Selection Criteria

Masters in a relevant discipline (e.g., economics, finance, business administration, social sciences, technical studies, or other field related to development) and at least eight years of relevant professional experience;
in depth knowledge of the GEF, its policies and procedures, the GEF Instrument and the Rules of Procedure of the Council and Assembly
Strong operational experience working with organizations with governance structures similar to the GEF;
Established track record of excellence in significant operational work; project management experience would be an advantage;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrated maturity and sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to convey complex messages succinctly and diplomatically;
Ability to interact effectively with countries and Agencies and represent GEFSEC in delivering high quality and technically sophisticated work, with internal and external partners;
Proven ability to handle multiple tasks independently, work under pressure with short deadlines, and be a problem-solver;
High levels of energy and flexibility in adjusting to changing work program requirements in a dynamic and fast paced work environment;
Proven track record in providing guidance and mentoring more junior staff, delegating, and managing teams working simultaneously on multiple deliverables; and
Good familiarity and ease of working with the management information systems and dashboards;
Previous experience with and/or exposure to members of the GEF Partnership, in positions with an implementing agency, a government agency or an international organization would be a plus.

WBG Core Competencies

Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client
Develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how clients and/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally and socially sustainable
Shares new insights based on in-depth understanding of the client and recommends solutions for current and future needs of clients
Holds self and team accountable for risk management and outcomes.
Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront
Collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externally with a sense of mutuality and respect
Consistently engages others in open dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporates viewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due. Leverages expertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes
Makes choices and sets priorities with a WBG corporate perspective in mind
Develops innovative solutions with others
Encourages and works with others to identify, incubate and implement relevant solutions
Identifies opportunities in changing circumstances and energizes others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBGs values and mission
Helps others to understand problems, client needs and the underlying context
Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions
Ensures systematic sharing of good practice and learning from lessons from across WBG, clients, and partners
Is known across WBG in their subject area and is sought out by WBG colleagues to advise, peer review, or contribute to knowledge products of others
Seeks mentoring opportunities with more experienced staff to deepen or strengthen their professional knowledge and mentors junior staff
Builds networks across the WBG and as part of external professional groups/networks
Recommends and takes decisive action
Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBGs strategy
Evaluates risk and anticipates the short- and long-term implications of decisions
Commits to a decision and acts once it has been reached

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at theWorld BankandIFC, including our values and inspiring stories.

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