External Affairs Officer Job #: req35041 Organization: World Bank Sector: Communications Grade: GF Term Duration: 2 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Tirana,Albania Required Language(s): Albanian, English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 12/12/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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.
External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR) The mission of External and Corporate Relations (ECR) is to help deliver financial and political support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group’s role as a global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding its reputation, and supporting operational teams to achieve country outcomes. ECR manages corporate communications and global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, foundations, private sector, donor countries, and international organizations, as well as employee engagement. ECR also manages strategic communications for the Bank Group’s Regions and technical units and leads the management of reputation risk.
External and Corporate Relations Europe and Central Asia (ECREX) The Europe and Central Asia External and Corporate Relations Department (ECREX) leads strategic communications in support of the World Bank Group’s work in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. Its communications efforts aim to build understanding and support for the Bank Group’s activities, while ensuring that a broad range of perspectives informs operational decision-making. ECREX’s mission is to engage diverse stakeholders, foster informed dialogue on development issues, and strengthen the Bank Group’s reputation as a trusted development partner across the region.
ECREX is seeking an experienced, creative, and dynamic External Affairs Officer for the World Bank Group’s Country Office in Tirana, Albania. The selected candidate will serve as the communications lead for the Albania country program, driving engagement across government, civil society, private sector, and international partners to build understanding, strengthen partnerships, and enhance visibility of the World Bank Group’s work. The Officer will develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for Albania that integrates the four ECREX business lines—Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Business Marketing, Advocacy and Campaigns, and Risk and Issue Management—ensuring strategic alignment between operational and communications priorities, and positioning the World Bank Group as a partner of choice supporting the country’s reform and development agenda.
The External Affairs Officer shall report directly to the ECA External Affairs Manager based in Washington, DC. Responsibilities
1. Stakeholder Engagement
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with government counterparts, development partners, private sector, media, academia, youth, and civil society to deepen understanding of the WBG’s role and value.• Map and maintain an active network of influencers and validators who can help communicate WBG priorities and results.• Advise the Country Manager and operational teams on stakeholder engagement approaches that enhance ownership, transparency, and results.• Support proactive two-way communications by gathering insights from the ground and feeding them into operational planning and narrative development.• Lead or contribute to outreach programs and dialogues that promote open and informed discussion of reform challenges and opportunities.• Manage media relations and broaden outreach opportunities with media based in Albania and in the Western Balkans.
2. Strategic Business Marketing
• Showcase the WBG’s integrated offer by linking public policy reforms to private capital mobilization and knowledge services.• Develop and implement communication strategies and campaigns that highlight results, demonstrate the impact of WBG support, and help generate demand for future engagement.• Position the Albania country program as part of a broader ECA story of resilience, private-sector–led growth, and regional integration.• Identify and promote success stories, case studies, and thought leadership products that illustrate how WBG support is transforming key sectors.• Disseminate results stories and visuals through WBG and partner digital platforms to reinforce credibility and relevance.
3. Advocacy and Campaigns
• Contribute to regional and global advocacy efforts by localizing messages and providing examples from Albania.• Lead or support the rollout of country-specific campaigns that mobilize key audiences around reforms or flagship programs.• Design and deliver communications plans for major project or knowledge launches, ensuring consistent messaging across all channels and exercising selectivity.• Draft and edit communications materials, including press releases, speeches, talking points, and social media content.• Work with technical teams to simplify complex concepts and translate them into compelling, actionable narratives.
4. Risk and Issue Management
• Monitor political, social, and media developments to identify potential risks and opportunities for the Bank Group’s engagement.• Provide timely analysis and recommendations to the Country Manager and ECREX headquarters team on sensitive issues, reputational risks, and emerging narratives.• Support the development of proactive communication and mitigation strategies for high-profile or sensitive projects.• Coordinate with regional and corporate colleagues to ensure a unified and timely institutional response on issues of reputational significance.
5. Corporate Coordination and Innovation
• Serve as an integral member of the ECA communications network, contributing to regional priorities, campaigns, and storytelling initiatives.• Ensure close collaboration with IFC and MIGA counterparts to present a unified WBG narrative and leverage cross-institutional opportunities.• Champion innovative, data-driven communication approaches—short-form video, digital storytelling, influencer engagement, and visual explainers—to increase reach and impact.
Selection Criteria
• We require a relevant mix of education and experience: Master’s degree with 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline (communication, journalism, public affairs, international affairs, or other related fields).
• Experience working in an international environment and in-depth knowledge of international trends and political/economic issues related to development.
• Knowledge of, and experience working with the Albanian government and/or public institutions, ideally national and subnational, CSOs, think tanks and other key actors in Albania.
• An understanding of World Bank Group operations; up-to-date knowledge of current development topics and issues, and ability to identify communications and reputation-related risks and opportunities in an international environment.
• Demonstrated political awareness and ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and to otherwise cultivate effective, productive client relationships and partnerships.
• Experience working with senior executives including experience of managing reputational risks and issues, messaging, stakeholder engagement, and media engagement; and ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources.
• Excellent English and Albanian language skills and proficiency to write and edit complex communications products for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and logical, persuasive presentation, in an accessible way to different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to multitask, take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, and achieve agreed-upon results.
• Teamwork orientation with strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to working in a multicultural environment.
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.
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