Senior Counsel Job #: req35194 Organization: World Bank Sector: Legal 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 Closing Date: 1/9/2026 (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.
The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data. In the context of the World Bank's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters. LEG provides legal services required by the World Bank Group and plays an active role in all the World Bank's activities. In addition, the Legal Vice Presidency helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the Institution’s Articles of Agreement, policies and procedures.
LEG’s Operations Policy Unit (LEGOP) provides legal services, support, guidance and advice on operational policy formulation and interpretation, legal risk management, law and policy in fragility, conflict and violence settings, procurement and integrity matters, and operational partnerships. LEGOP is the direct counterpart to the Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Vice Presidency and the Global Themes Department – FCV and works closely with them and other corporate and operational units to advance strategic priorities. Within LEGOP, the Procurement team plays a critical institutional role in delivering legal advice to OPCS, regional procurement teams, country lawyers and other relevant Bank staff on operational procurement matters across the Bank's portfolio. LEGOP is responsible for providing legal advice to relevant Bank staff on (i) procurement processes and contracts related to IPF operations; (ii) responses to procurement-related complaints, including attending debriefings where procurement-related complaints raise legal issues; (iii) matters of procurement-related noncompliance, including misprocurement; (iv) country-level legal and institutional assessments and delivering capacity-building activities in public procurement; and (v) other Bank project-specific matters as set forth in the Procurement ADM Framework, the Procurement Procedure and other Bank rules. LEGOP also advises OPCS on procurement policy issues and other associated matters, including the development and updating of standard procurement documents and other procurement documents, and represents the Legal VPU in the Operational Procurement Review Committee, providing legal advice to the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). In coordination with the CPO, LEGOP participates in the Bank’s dialogues with the legal procurement community, professional associations and international organizations on legal procurement aspects of Bank procurement policy and international procurement standards.
Responsibilities and Accountabilities: The selected candidate will work under the general supervision of the LEGOP Chief Counsel. The Senior Counsel operates independently advising on complex procurement-related legal, operational, and policy matters and collaborates with colleagues across LEGOP and the Legal VPU to deliver timely, high‑quality legal services. The Senior Counsel provides advice to operational teams working in assigned regions and contributes to cross‑cutting matters, ensuring consistent application and interpretation of the Bank’s Procurement Framework, Procurement Procedure, and other related Bank rules.
As part of their duties, the Senior Counsel will:
• Advise on project-specific procurement legal issues, including, inter alia, drafting or reviewing legal provisions, providing input on procurement complaints and disputes, and advising on contract management issues — with particular value placed on experience in digital or energy sector procurement contracts.• Contribute to procurement institutional initiatives and policy reforms, as well as to updates of standard procurement documents, model clauses, and guidance.• Participate in country legal and institutional assessments of procurement systems; design and deliver technical assistance and capacity-building for government counterparts and other stakeholders.• Contribute to strengthening LEGOP’s knowledge management function with an emphasis on emerging areas such as digital and energy procurement, including by developing and disseminating legal procurement knowledge products and delivering internal training, and building knowledge partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. • Engage with external partners—including other international financial institutions, professional associations, and client counterparts.
Selection Criteria
Academic qualifications and experience:
• Advanced law degree (JD, LLM, or equivalent) and admission/qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.• At least eight (8) years of post-qualification experience providing legal advice and counsel on matters within the scope of these Terms of Reference (ToRs). • Prior experience advising on procurement matters as they apply to multilateral development banks will be an asset. • Proven legal research and analysis skills, and demonstrated ability to draft and review legal agreements, memoranda, guidance/technical briefing notes, and analytical reports.• Excellent problem‑solving abilities and clear, persuasive written and oral communication skills.• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries.• Experience mentoring junior counsels. • Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to work independently on complex project components under limited supervision. • Fluency in English, both written and oral, is required. Proficiency in French or Spanish is preferred.
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.