Counsel Job #: req34936 Organization: World Bank Sector: Legal 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: 12/11/2025 (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.
About the World Bank Group Sanctions Regime and Sanctions Board Secretariat:
Promoting good governance and tackling corruption are critical to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction. Diversion of funds from development projects through corruption impairs the ability of governments, donors, and the World Bank Group ((WBG) (IBRD/IDA, IFC, MIGA, or World Bank guarantee and carbon finance projects)) to achieve the goals of reducing poverty, attracting investment, and encouraging good governance. One way that the WBG combats corruption is through the use of administrative sanctions against firms or individuals that have engaged in fraud, corruption, coercion, collusion, or obstruction (referred to collectively as sanctionable practices) in connection with WBG-financed projects.
The WBG sanctions regime consists of a two-tier system. The WBG Sanctions Board, an independent administrative tribunal, is the second and final tier. The Sanctions Board provides transparency and accountability through full and fair de novo review of all sanctions cases contested from the first tier. The Sanctions Board considers additional evidence and arguments from the parties, resolves all evidentiary and procedural disputes, holds oral hearings, and issues final and public decisions. The Sanctions Board is composed of seven external independent members who are top jurists and development experts. The Sanctions Board members are nominated by the WBG President and appointed by the Board of Executive Director for a term of up to six years. Sanctions Board members do not report to WBG Management.
The Sanctions board Secretariat (SBS) is a professional secretariat to the Sanctions Board. SBS facilitates the Sanctions Board’s decision making and functions as a liaison between its independent members and other WBG departments. SBS is managed by the Executive Secretary and consists of a legal team which provides legal, strategic, and administrative support and advice to the Sanctions Board. SBS assists the Sanctions Board in reviewing cases, issuing decisions, holding hearings, facilitating deliberations, and liaising with relevant stakeholders within the WBG and in the international development community.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Counsel will be expected to take primary responsibility to thoroughly, precisely, and efficiently analyze legal arguments and factual records in sanctions cases and draft legal and policy memoranda, other briefing materials, decisions, correspondence, and presentations in English to the highest standard. The Counsel is also expected to conduct research, assist in policy matters, and participate in outreach initiatives. The Counsel will be expected to handle tasks independently and maintain ownership from initiation through final completion with the supervision of the Executive Secretary and/or the Senior Counsel, as appropriate.
The Counsel’s duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
I. Case Work
• Assume primary responsibility for assigned cases pending before the Sanctions Board by providing legal advice and support to the Sanctions Board Chair and Board Members, including by managing case records and deadlines and preparing case correspondence, detailed briefing packages, interim determinations and final decisions that are of the highest quality and completed in accordance with service delivery standards and deadlines.
• Draft legal documents on a wide range of complex legal, procedural, and evidentiary issues.
• Conduct research and analysis of cross-cutting issues across cases and help to ensure and implement consistent approaches and standards.
II. Policy Work
• Play a role in handling policy issues and initiatives as needed to establish and maintain an appropriate policy framework for the Sanctions Board.
• Monitor and contribute to discussions with internal and external stakeholders regarding World Bank Group sanctions reforms and other institutional developments relevant to the Sanctions Board’s work.
• Assist in developing, drafting, and communicating policy inputs on behalf of the Sanctions Board and Secretariat, including case management, unit administration, communications, and membership issues.
• Help design, document, implement, and monitor the Secretariat’s use of clear and efficient policies and procedures, such as with respect to case management, unit administration, communications, and membership issues.
III. Outreach Initiatives
• Support outreach efforts to better communicate the role of the Sanctions Board inside and outside the Bank Group, including through the Sanctions Board’s website, presentations, publications, participation in learning events, and other knowledge-sharing as appropriate.
• Keep abreast of global anti-corruption standards, scholarship, and best practices, and enable SBS to contribute strategically through publications/other activities.
• Assist in liaising with other international organizations, particularly the regional multilateral development banks participating in cross-debarment with the World Bank Group, to further harmonize approaches and share lessons learned.
IV. Additional Responsibilities
• Work closely with the Executive Secretary and other Secretariat staff on other assignments or matters as needed.
Selection Criteria
• JD, LLB, LLM, or equivalent law degree.
• Admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience (experience with judicial clerkship, international organization, international law firm, or in-house corporate counsel position is highly desirable). Prior judicial clerkship (or equivalent experience such as supporting or advising judges, tribunals, or other dispute resolution bodies, especially in the international arena) preferred.
• Educational or professional experience in one or more of the following: anticorruption, procurement, corporate compliance, litigation/international arbitration (or analogous dispute resolution processes).
• Excellent writing skills and proven ability to draft legal documents in English to the highest standards of precision and clarity.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex or novel policy and legal issues and extensive evidentiary records thoroughly, precisely, and efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and complex nature.
• Excellent oral communication skills in English, including a demonstrated ability to clearly and concisely present difficult and complex issues in a clear, concise and organized manner.
• Familiarity with the World Bank Group’s sanctions system, and particularly the Sanctions Board’s operations, precedent, and legal and policy framework.
• Familiarity with other international anti-corruption and institutional sanctions frameworks, including the sanctions and integrity regimes of other multilateral development banks.
• Self-starter with very strong drive for results and quality, whether working in a team or independently; readiness to balance varied tasks and proactively seek help as appropriate; ability to work with autonomy and little supervision where needed, and to work collegially with close collaboration and supervision where appropriate.
• Outstanding organizational skills and ability to balance a variety of long-term projects, short-term assignments, and routine daily tasks.
• Clear commitment to adhere to the highest standards of professional integrity and confidentiality in handling sensitive cases/matters.
• Dedication to public service/public interest work in the international arena.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.