Operations Officer

Job #:
req37804

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Operations

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:
8/11/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Regional Context

The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) Region serves twenty two clients, of which fourteen are active/ potentially active IBRD, IDA, or Special Financing (SF) borrowers (Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia, and Yemen) and eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis (Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). The mission of MENAAP is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance.

The MENAAP region is highly heterogenous, but most countries confront a vast array of development challenges, from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to the implications of decelerating global economy, deepening geopolitical divisions, protracted social tensions, aging populations, and climate change. These overlapping crises are amplified by longstanding structural challenges, such as those related to governance, which contributes to an outsized presence of the state in the economy, high unemployment rates among women and youth, and limited intraregional trade and investment.

Overcoming these challenges would allow MENAAP countries to realize their vast development potential, as the region is endowed with highly educated populations, a favourable geo-strategic location, and an abundance of renewable energy options. To unlock this potential, the World Bank Group is advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development through a three-pronged strategy that seeks to boost (i) More and Better Jobs (MBJ), particularly though increased youth, and female labor force participation, (ii) more resilient and sustainable water and food security; and (iii) remaining engaged in Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) affected countries.

The World Bank's MENAAP region is led by the Regional Vice President and his leadership team, including the Director of Strategy and Operations (DSO), the Operations Manager for Development Effectiveness (DE), the Chief Economist, seven Country Directors/Division Directors, five Regional Practice Directors, and the Managers for HR, Budget, and Legal aspects. More broadly, the MENAAP region consists of nearly 800+ staff. In FY26, MENAAP region delivered $5.4 billion in IBRD, $2.1 billion in IDA, and $300 million in SF, plus 82 knowledge products for clients, including $18.5 million in Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS).

The MENAAP Region emphasizes strong client orientation and responsiveness; innovation and high quality; results; teamwork and collaboration across sectors; and a dedication to attracting and developing a diverse and talented staff.

Unit Context

The primary responsibility of MENAAP's Development Effectiveness Unit (MAPDE) is to advise MENAAP's leadership and to support teams to enable optimal outcomes across 3 key priorities: (i) Strategic Alignment; (ii) Operations and Risks Management; (iii) Partnerships, Knowledge, and Learning.

The Operations Officer reports to the MAPDE Manager. The Unit consists of approximately 20 staff based in Washington and liaises closely with regional staff in the Country Management Units (CMUs) and Verticals and Global Practice (GP) units, while also coordinating closely with all relevant global units to achieve regional objectives.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Roles and Responsibilities

MAPDE is seeking an experienced, high-performing, energetic, adaptable, and flexible team member with demonstrated dependability, ability to manage a large workload, dedication to teamwork, and the capacity to take on special assignments as the needs arise. His/her main accountabilities could include:

1. Operational quality: (i) Contribute to the review of corporate reports, operational packages/documents (IPFs, DPFs, PforRs), country engagement products (CPFs, PLRs, CLRs, SCDs) and various operational requests to ensure consistency with corporate operational policies and guidelines, regional priorities, and quality standards; and (ii) Assist other MAPDE colleagues, GP/task teams and CMU teams on complex operational issues, as relevant.

2. Pipeline and portfolio monitoring: (i) Help guide and mentor a team of MAPDE analysts in the monitoring and analysis of the region's portfolio, pipeline, and operational performance; (ii) Support and/or organize periodic and country/thematic reviews and analyses of the region's performance, prepare reports and presentations, and follow up on recommendations; (iii) Support preparation of management briefs, presentations, and analytics for all relevant business meetings; and (iv) Support the region's monitoring of various risks in operations.

3. Implementation of strategies and programs: (i) Design and monitor the region's MOU; (ii) Prepare draft talking points, briefing notes, and background documents for the RVP and DSO in advance of the monthly Delivery Review Meetings (DRM) and regular MOU discussions with the MDO; (iii) Support tracking progress on outcome targets/scorecard and MENAAP's other corporate strategic commitments; (iv) Support the monitoring of the region's use of IDA, including all relevant Windows; (v) Support the regional partnerships agenda including analytics in relation to donors and other multilateral banks, and (vi) Contribute to briefs for annual and spring meetings and other similar events.

4. Innovation, Knowledge, Communication: (i) Champion innovation including the integration of AI tools into operational processes and MAPDE's daily business; and (ii) Support knowledge sharing as well as the development and delivery of MENAAP's Learning Program for regional staff, including on all relevant operational matters, institutional changes in the context of OpsEE, and integrated WBG approaches.

5. Overall contributions: Supporting the Region in addressing a range of other relevant tasks, as needed, when requested by the RVP, DSO, DE Manager, or other senior staff in MAPDE. Taking initiatives, as relevant, to support various business processes further.

There are 2 openings for this position, with the exact division of labor and responsibilities to be clarified upon completion of the recruitment process.

Selection Criteria
• Master's level degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience.
• Thorough knowledge of World Bank operations, financing instruments, operational policies and procedures, project cycle, and accountability and decision making.
• Good understanding of Bank's corporate priorities and initiatives including, Jobs, Climate Change, Gender, FCV, Maximizing Finance for Development, and Outcomes.
• Solid experience in pipeline, operations, and portfolio management.
• Superior ability to analyze data and use the Bank's data systems and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to apply AI tools effectively in analytical work, along with curiosity and initiative in exploring emerging AI capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to translate technical content into plain language, and capacity to prepare reports and presentations using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and AI tools.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills in English including the ability to speak and write persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely in meetings.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.
• Proven capacity to build strong working relationships with colleagues and clients, demonstrating empathy, reliability, and a willingness to assist others, and contributing to a culture of trust, collegiality, and shared success.
• Demonstrated ability to embrace change with a positive and constructive attitude, to listen to feedback and suggestions, and to proactively invest in his/her own professional growth.

World Bank COS Competencies: COS Competencies

This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.