Communications and External Affairs Officer

Job #:
req37609

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
External Affairs & Corporate Relations

Grade:
GF

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
7/29/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Regional Context

The South Asia Region (SAR: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka) is at a crucial stage of development. Rapid economic growth, driven by urbanization and demographic dividend, has brought down poverty rates, but severe forms of exclusion and disparities based on ethnicity, caste, and gender remain. Rapid growth has also come with congestion and pollution in cities. South Asia is more than other regions affected by changes in temperature and extreme weather. South Asia is also underperforming in exports, has large informal sectors and low female labor force participation rates. Private sector led growth, focused on investments in infrastructure, energy, logistics and cities are essential to generate the jobs needed to employ South Asia's sizeable youth population. At the same time, the region needs to continue building human capital so that South Asia's population is well equipped for the jobs of the future. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar

Communications and External Relations (CER)
The mission of Communications and External Relations (CER) 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. CER 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. CER also manages strategic communications for the World Bank Group's Regions and technical units and leads the management of reputation risk.

Regional Stakeholder Engagement in CER (CERRS)
The Regional Stakeholder Engagement team manages strategic communications across the seven regions of the World Bank Group driving engagement across regions and country offices to align local efforts with our global strategy.

The work aims to build support and understanding for World Bank Group (WBG) priorities across a range of stakeholders; enhance and protect the reputation of the WBG as a leading development organization; support operational effectiveness and social accountability by sharing development progress, knowledge, and results.

Recognizing that economic and social contexts evolve rapidly, and that communications technologies have revolutionized the ways that information travels, we are building a team of dynamic and innovative professionals prepared to use innovative engagement strategies, traditional and digital tools, including social media and artificial intelligence to shape the debate on development priorities and tradeoffs.

South Asia Regional Stakeholder Engagement Team (CERSA)
The South Asia Regional Stakeholder Engagement team (CERSA) manages strategic communications and external relations in support of the WBG strategic priorities in SAR. It includes communications and external relations professionals both in Washington, D.C. and WBG SAR Country Offices.

CERSA goal is to connect and engage with diverse stakeholders across SAR to communicate about the WBG mission to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet, promote an informed, evidence-based debate about development in the region, and enhance the WBG's reputation as an effective development partner for the countries of South Asia. CERSA's key audiences include government officials, think tanks and researchers, business leaders and associations, investors, development partners, civil society organizations, and journalists.

Communications & External Relations Officer
The Communications & External Relations Officer is a member of the Regional Stakeholder Engagement team and supports the development and implementation of stakeholder engagement, communications, advocacy, business marketing, and reputational risk management activities across the region.

The position contributes to advancing the World Bank Group's regional stakeholder engagement agenda through delivery across CER's four business lines: Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Business Marketing, Advocacy & Campaigns, and Risk & Issue Management. The role requires sound judgment, strong analytical and communications skills, political awareness, and the ability to develop compelling communications, engage diverse stakeholders, and support regional priorities.

The Communications & External Relations Officer may lead one or more of the region's stakeholder engagement business lines or priority initiatives and is expected to work flexibly across the portfolio to support evolving regional priorities.

Working closely with regional and country management, operational teams, and colleagues across IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA, the Communications & External Relations Officer helps advance a coordinated One World Bank Group approach to external affairs. The position combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation and supports the delivery of priority regional initiatives and stakeholder engagement activities.

The Communications & External Relations Officer position is based in Washington, D.C. and reports to CER Manager, South Asia.

Key Responsibilities

1. Stakeholder Engagement
• Lead or support stakeholder engagement strategies that advance World Bank Group priorities, support country outcomes, and strengthen the institution's influence.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, academia, media, and other influential audiences.
• Lead stakeholder mapping, analysis, and monitoring to identify emerging issues, opportunities, and trends that may affect World Bank Group priorities or operations.
• Provide stakeholder insights to regional and operational teams to inform engagement approaches, communications, and program delivery.
• Help ensure stakeholder perspectives are reflected in communications products, advocacy efforts, and engagement activities.
• Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across the regional stakeholder engagement network, contributing to the continuous improvement of stakeholder engagement practices.

2. Strategic Business Marketing
• Position the World Bank Group as a trusted development partner by promoting integrated public-private solutions and the One World Bank Group approach.
• Develop and lead communications initiatives, strategic narratives, and engagement approaches that support regional priorities, operational objectives, and client engagement.
• Identify and elevate flagship operations, reform achievements, knowledge products, and development results that demonstrate impact and generate demand for World Bank Group engagement.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen visibility and understanding of the World Bank Group's work among governments, investors, private sector partners, foundations, and development stakeholders.
• Support innovative communications approaches, digital engagement initiatives, and the use of stakeholder intelligence and data to strengthen outreach and impact.

3. Advocacy & Campaigns
• Lead or coordinate advocacy and communications campaigns that support regional priorities, reform efforts, and institutional objectives.
• Develop compelling messaging and narratives that translate complex development issues into clear, accessible, and persuasive communications.
• Coordinate regional contributions to corporate and global campaigns, adapting messages and approaches to regional and country contexts.
• Draft speeches, op-eds, press releases, talking points, digital content, briefing materials, and other communications products for regional management and senior officials.
• Help ensure communications are consistent, audience-focused, and aligned across stakeholder engagement, digital, media, and communications channels.
• Support collaboration across IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA to advance integrated communications and reinforce the One World Bank Group approach.

4. Risk & Issue Management
• Lead or support the identification, assessment, and monitoring of reputational risks and emerging issues affecting World Bank Group operations and regional priorities.
• Lead or contribute to stakeholder analyses, issue assessments, mitigation plans, and communications strategies for sensitive operations and reform initiatives.
• Prepare issue briefs, leadership briefing materials, background notes, and communications products to support informed decision-making.
• Monitor political, economic, and social developments and assess potential implications for World Bank Group operations, stakeholder engagement, and institutional reputation.
• Coordinate with colleagues across countries, institutions, and business lines to support the effective delivery of regional stakeholder engagement priorities.

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 in government and/or public institutions, or other entities - private sector, business associations, CSOs, think tanks and other key local actors.
• An understanding of WBG 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 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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.