Board Operations Officer Job #: req33972 Organization: World Bank Sector: Policy Development Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): English Closing Date: 8/12/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
VPU Context
The Corporate Secretariat Vice Presidency (SEC) of the WBG supports the Board of Governors and the Executive Directors of IBRD, IDA, IFC and MIGA in executing their fiduciary and governance responsibilities. SEC, therefore, is unique in working across all the World Bank Group institutions (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID) and serves as the key interlocutor between the Board of Governors, the Executive Directors, the President and Senior Management, operational management, and staff. SEC's primary purpose is to facilitate effective, efficient, and strategically focused interactions between the Board and Management to achieve the WBG's overall mission of poverty reduction.
The Policy and Operations Department of the Secretariat (SECPO) is responsible for managing the work program of the Board and the Board standing committees (Audit, Budget, Development Effectiveness, Governance and Administrative Matters, and Human Resources), Board and Committee meetings.
SECPO is seeking to recruit a motivated, dynamic, and mature individual for a Board Operations Officer position. This assignment offers a unique avenue for professional growth, particularly an opportunity to obtain a corporate perspective on emerging issues and challenges confronting the WBG.
Success in this position requires interest in corporate governance, institutional and organizational policies and ability to develop approaches and procedures in these areas; judgment and finely-honed diplomatic skills; strong client and team orientation; being comfortable with a high degree of process-related work and able to grasp the connections between process and governance issues and switch gear rapidly when required.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the guidance of the Manager, the incumbents' work will include (but may not be limited to):
• Support Board and Committee Operations, along with the Committee Secretary, as may be required by the needs of the unit. A selected candidate will be assigned initially to support the work of the Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) as well as selected items for Board consideration, particularly in periods of peak workload.
• In coordination with colleagues, develop and execute a plan for engagement with selected VPUs upstream clients, to facilitate their interactions with the Board and Committees. This will include preparation of presentations on Board-related lessons targeted at selected VPUs; drafting concise analyses of Board trends to be periodically shared with Senior Management; and the development of other similar products as needed.
• Provide support on a range of tasks – e.g., develop an approach to systematize and leverage the repository of Board-related knowledge available in SEC for purposes of enhancing effectiveness.
• Refine processes and develop tools to support the effective use and sharing of knowledge within SEC, across Board and Committee work.
• Support Board or Committee meetings to ensure high and consistent standards; clear, accurate decisions or outcomes; adherence to Board procedures; and smooth handling of logistics. For Board meetings, this will include supporting the Board Secretary in drafting concise and clear Chair Summaries of discussions, revised “in real time” for the Chair to read aloud at the end of discussion; and ensuring that Management commitments made in the discussion are captured in the Board’s work program for follow up.
• With guidance from Board and Committee Secretaries, as appropriate, draft concise substantive notes for the Board/Committee Chair and SEC Management on Board/Committee items and issues that arise in managing the Board’s business, including products such as Agendas, Advisory Notes and Issues Notes for the Chair, Minutes, and other written products and records.
• Develop and maintain expertise on key issues and policies.
• Review policy and operational documents prior to Board/Committee consideration and provide feedback and guidance to originators as necessary to ensure responsiveness to the expectations of the Board Members and compliance with policy requirements and Board and Committee procedures.
• Proactively assist staff with other VPUs working on issues related to the Board in engaging the Executive Directors and Board Committee members in strategic dialogues, as necessary.
• Support innovation and modernization work within SEC, including the simplification and automation of business processes to enhance the agility, effectiveness, and efficiency of SEC services to its various client groups.
• Develop a network, maintain contacts and work effectively with other parts of the World Bank Group, including senior staff of IBRD/IDA, IFC and MIGA.
Selection Criteria
• Graduate degree (Masters) in an academic discipline relevant to the Bank's mission and a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, preferably in a MDB or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with and understanding of the WBG's operations and products and services and up-to-date knowledge of operational policies and processes is a plus. Alternatively, equivalent external experience could be considered.
• Experience of Board work or work in an oversight body would be a plus.
• Attention to detail and outstanding analytical skills and experience with systematizing and sharing knowledge and information in complex environments to foster institutional goals.
• Excellent integration and written and verbal communication skills, especially (i) synthesizing complex issues and (ii) writing and communicating clearly, concisely, and quickly for diverse audiences.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize interventions, identify issues and apply a strategic and comprehensive problem-solving approach. Strong conceptual skills and ability to look several steps ahead and think through scenarios for issue evolution and management.
• Demonstrated ability to switch gears quickly and good-naturedly; to deal with unexpected (but frequent) changes in schedule and priorities, juggle concurrent yet disparate tasks effectively and efficiently and work with short deadlines.
• Strong proclivity for teamwork including an open and collegial work style and a high energy level.
• Tact, discretion, and diplomatic skills to deal with sensitive issues. Ability to influence across organizational boundaries and communicate persuasively.
• Previous experience in corporate governance or legislative committees is desirable.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.
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 the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.