Program Lead, Performance Management Job #: req34229 Organization: World Bank Sector: Human Resources Grade: GG Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 9/17/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative changes around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
BACKGROUND AND UNIT SUMMARY
The WBG Human Resources Vice Presidency is focused on delivering high-value HR services to drive organizational performance and help make WBG the employer of choice in international development. In this regard, the HR Talent Management & Development Department delivers innovative solutions and strategies and global programs and services across the talent management and development lifecycle for the World Bank Group. Within the Department, the Talent and Career Development (HRDTC) Center of Expertise is responsible for providing integrated frameworks for performance management, conducting talent reviews, creating listening mechanisms to capture employee experience, mobilizing staff to required roles, enabling succession management to identify, develop and deploy leaders and providing career resources and advice to clarify roles and expectations at each level.
The Senior HR Specialist, Talent Management will be responsible for designing, delivering, and continuously improving the performance management program and strategically contribute to various deliverables and projects from design to execution, change management, communications, and implementation. The ideal candidate will lead some of the enterprise-wide talent processes that help maximize the contributions of our staff and leaders at World Bank Group.
The position is based in Washington, DC and reports to the Manager, Talent and Career Development in the Human Resources Vice Presidency.
The selected candidate will work closely with colleagues in the team, other Centers of Expertise, and across the WBG to ensure talent solutions are relevant, scalable, and flexible for our internationally diverse workforce. This requires in-depth expertise in talent and performance management, as well as strong client relationship management and teamwork.
Duties and accountabilities:
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
• Design and continuously improve the WBG’s performance management approach, which includes goal setting, coaching, and development across all levels.
• Execute with excellence on the performance approach and cycle, including enabling processes like performance calibration and developing the content for organizational reviews.
• Build capability at all levels on why performance management matters and how it helps build careers and enables employees to do their best work.
• Work across and partner closely across the WBG HR ecosystem, including Total Rewards, Human Resources Business Partners, Talent Development, and Talent Acquisition, to deliver a performance approach in a way that is more fully integrated and feels seamless to our staff.
• Define and execute the strategy to gather and respond to a “pulse survey” on performance as part of the broader listening strategy.
• Define the right input and output metrics and our short-term data strategy for measuring and improving the experience our staff and managers have in all aspects of our performance approach (e.g., quality of goals, quality and frequency of feedback, and understanding and trust in the fairness of our ratings and year-end process).
• Experiment and innovate with automation and AI, including GenAI, to facilitate managing and improving individual and team performance.
• Prepare and deliver high-quality communication materials for staff and managers across all levels of the World Bank Group (Headquarters and country offices).
• Conduct focus groups, engagements, and interviews with various levels of stakeholders to gather input for program design and enhancements.
• Build and maintain productive partnerships and engage with key internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels to better understand client needs; understand the linkages with other functional areas and collaborate with colleagues across the HR function; liaise with other International Finance Institutions.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
Selection Criteria
• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Behavioral Sciences, Organizational Development/Behavior, or related field and a minimum of 8 years relevant experience.
• Proven expertise in developing and designing talent management practices related to: Career Development, Performance Management, Promotions, Talent Reviews/Succession Planning.
• Proven program management and technology implementation expertise with superb project management, planning, coordination, and organizational skills.
• Ability to see the big picture, think strategically, and deliver pragmatic and structured solutions to client/business needs.
• Excellent change management experience and ability to build relationships, conduct focus groups, and collaborate effectively across diverse client groups and Human Resources colleagues.
• Excellent analytical skills: ability to provide reports, analyze data, draw conclusions, and provide data-driven recommendations.
• High-level proficiency in problem-solving, critical thinking, analyzing complex situations, and absorbing considerable amounts of data to identify key themes and identify actionable insights that lead to effective solutions and recommendations.
• Excellent and concise communicator with written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Positive attitude, strong results orientation, and a high degree of initiative and responsiveness.
• Proven ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and apply continuous improvement and innovative mindset.
• Ability to multitask, meet tight deadlines, and attend to details while focusing on key priorities.
• Ability to confidently interact with senior management and create trusting working relationships and partnerships at all levels of the organization.
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.