Manager, East Asia & Pacific

Job #:
req36213

Organization:
World Bank Group

Sector:
Communications

Grade:
GH

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
4/23/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

(*) While this position is currently located in Washington, DC, applicants should be aware that the position maybe decentralized following institutional guidelines on the decentralization across the WBG.

Regional Context

EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines, Indonesia and China. Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth and job creation has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are already affected by climate change and need to build resilience to more frequent disasters. The Bank plays a significant advisory and financial role on improving living standards through sustained growth and job creation and is increasingly embedding global public goods in country programs. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing. For more information on East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap

WBG Communications and External Relations (CER)

WBG Communications and External Relations (CER) serves as the World Bank Group's strategic communications and engagement function, working with leadership to protect and strengthen the institution's reputation, advance a coherent "One WBG" narrative, and secure political, financial, and stakeholder support. The function provides integrated strategic advice on positioning, messaging, media, and brand management, while leading engagement with governments, donors, partners, civil society, and other key external audiences. It also drives internal communications and employee engagement to ensure clarity, alignment, and consistency across the organization, enabling the WBG to communicate effectively, manage risks, and amplify its impact as a global development leader.

External Relations Manager

Reports to the Director, External Relations (WBG Comms). Serves as the link between East Asia and Pacific region and corporate WBG Comms -ensuring the regional perspective is represented as institutional goals are formulated and implemented, and the Region is fully engaged in advancing Bank Group priorities.

The External Relations Manager leads regional strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, business marketing for the WBG proposition, and issues/risk management to protect and enhance the WBG's reputation and impact in the East Asia and Pacific region .The role sets strategy and delivery standards for a dispersed team of communications and engagement professionals, aligns regional messaging with corporate WBG Comms strategy, strengthens client and stakeholder relationships, and drives cross WBG collaboration (IBRD/IDA, IFC, MIGA) to amplify development results and private capital mobilization. The Manager is a member of WBG Comm's management team and the Region's leadership team, ensuring consistency, quality, and responsiveness across channels and audiences.

Key responsibilities

Strategic communications leadership and planning
• Serve as strategic advisor to the Regional Vice President, leadership team, and operations on reputational risk, high stakes campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and leadership communications.
• Design and steer an integrated regional communications strategy aligned to operational priorities and WBG Comm's Bank Group wide strategy; track delivery and outcomes.
• Oversee a realistic work program and portfolio for a geographically dispersed team, assuring quality, timeliness, and value for money.

Stakeholder engagement
• Coordinate closely with verticals and corporate WBG Comms teams to ensure consistent messaging and amplification of WBG strategic priorities and impact through WBG Comms platforms, channels, and stakeholder groups.
• Build and manage relationships with regional media, civil society, academia, private sector, and governments; deepen understanding of WBG objectives and results.
• Represent the WBG on complex/sensitive issues; address major external audiences and advise on internal employee engagement in the Region.
• Ensure consistent messaging and coordination through WBG Comms platforms, channels, and stakeholder groups.

Strategic business marketing
• Position the WBG as a strategic partner in East Asia & Pacific region, articulating how the integrated public-private WBG advances reforms, mobilizes investment, and maximizes impact.
• Lead the regional marketing strategy for the WBG proposition-linking policy reform, financing, and private capital mobilization-and set editorial/amplification priorities.
• Guide outreach in priority countries; ensure consistent messaging across IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA.

Strategic priorities and advocacy
• Develop high impact communications strategies that shape country and regional narratives around core priorities (e.g., jobs, growth, inclusion).
• Ensure corporate alignment of advocacy and oversee production/dissemination of regional products (press, web, multimedia, speeches, op eds, briefs, FAQs).
• Coordinate the Region's participation in Spring/Annual Meetings with corporate WBG Comms.

Risk and issues management
• Act as WBG Comm's chief watchdog for reputational risk in the Region; anticipate challenges and establish rapid response protocols (monitoring, escalation, approvals).
• Identify and support high risk operations with multi channel communications; ensure factual, timely information flows and stakeholder listening/feedback loops.
• Coordinate with WBG Comms Risk & Issue Management, Verticals, and other teams for consistent approaches and advice on sensitive topics and contextual dynamics.

People leadership and delivery
• Contribute as a collaborative member of WBG Comm's management and the Region's leadership teams; support peer managers and act as needed.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team; set clear work programs and standards; track and report delivery.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, and staff well being; support peer managers and cross VPU coordination.
• Manage the regional External Relations budget in line with RM policies and internal controls.
• Track and report delivery against KPIs.

While this role is focused on regions, it is expected to work closely and seamlessly with other functions in the Comms family including Verticals/Industries, Global Engagement, Government Relations, and Communications & Content.

Selection Criteria

Must have
• A Mastersor PhD degree in communications, journalism, political science, international relations, public affairs, or related field; and atleast 12 years of substantial, progressively responsible experience in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement in international development.
• Proven track record leading geographically dispersed teams and managing portfolio/budget delivery.
• Demonstrated track record advising senior leadership on reputational risk and high stakes communications; evidence of strategies that influenced policy, protected reputation, or drove measurable outcomes.
• Proven experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies aligned to institutional priorities in complex environments. Experience in FCV contexts is highly desirable.

Technical expertise
• Recognized authority in external affairs/strategic communications, with strong media, issues, and stakeholder management skills across government, private sector, civil society, and international institutions.
• Mastery of digital channels and analytics; ability to integrate social media and digital tools into strategy and assess performance via KPIs/dashboards.
• Strong command of WBG communications policies and processes, including Access to Information, risk and issues management, and internal control/compliance expectations.

Leadership and behavioral competencies
• Strategic leadership: sets clear direction and priorities; aligns resources to deliver regional and corporate outcomes; manages tradeoffs and risks.
• Collaboration and influence: delivers through matrixed teams across WBG Comms, Verticals, and the WBG (IBRD/IDA, IFC, MIGA); builds consensus with senior counterparts.
• People leadership: builds high performing, inclusive teams; coaches talent; addresses underperformance; fosters learning and innovation.
• Client orientation and results focus: anticipates client/stakeholder needs; delivers timely, high quality products; measures and communicates results.
• Political awareness, judgment, and integrity -navigates complex political economies; models WBG values; ensures compliance and effective controls.

Desirable/added advantage
• Experience leading change/transformation programs and cross institutional initiatives.
• Multilingual capability or substantive experience in East Asia & Pacific region.

WBG Managerial Competencies

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.