Senior Communications and External Affairs Officer

Job #:
req37569

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
External Affairs & Corporate Relations

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

Description

Communicationsand External Relations (CER)
The mission ofCommunications and External Relations (CER) is to help deliver financial andpolitical support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group's role asa global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding itsreputation, and supporting operational teams to achieve country outcomes. CERmanages 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 alsomanages strategic communications for the World Bank Group's Regions and technicalunits and leads themanagement of reputation risk.

RegionalStakeholder Engagement in CER (CERRS)
The RegionalStakeholder Engagement team manages strategic communications across the sevenregions of the World Bank Group driving engagement across regions and countryoffices to align local efforts with our global strategy.

The work aims tobuild support and understanding for World Bank Group (WBG) priorities across arange of stakeholders; enhance and protect the reputation of the WBG as aleading development organization; support operational effectiveness and socialaccountability by sharing development progress, knowledge, and results.

Recognizing thateconomic and social contexts evolve rapidly, and that communicationstechnologies have revolutionized the ways that information travels, we arebuilding a team of dynamic and innovative professionals prepared to useinnovative engagement strategies, traditional and digital tools, includingsocial media and artificial intelligence to shape the debate on developmentpriorities and tradeoffs.

Eastern &Southern Africa Regional Stakeholder Engagement Team (CERAE)
The Eastern & Southern Africa (AFE) Regional Stakeholder Engagement team (CERAE) manages strategiccommunications and external relations in support of the WBG strategicpriorities in AFE It includes communications and externalrelations professionals both in Washington, D.C. and WBG AFE Country Offices.

CERAE goal is to connect andengage with diverse stakeholders across AFE to communicate about the WBGmission to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet, promote aninformed, evidence-based debate about development in the region, and enhancethe WBG's reputation as an effective development partner for the countries of Eastern& Southern Africa. CERAE's key audiences include government officials,think tanks and researchers, business leaders and associations, investors, developmentpartners, civil society organizations, and journalists.

SeniorCommunications & External Relations Officer
The Senior Communications & ExternalRelations Officer is a seniormember of the Regional Stakeholder Engagement team and serves as a strategicadvisor to regional management on stakeholder engagement, communications,advocacy, and reputational risk management.

The position plays a key role in advancingthe World Bank Group's regional stakeholder engagement agenda and drivingdelivery across CER's four business lines: Stakeholder Engagement, StrategicBusiness Marketing, Advocacy & Campaigns, and Risk & Issue Management.The role requires strong strategic judgment, political awareness, and the abilityto anticipate risks, influence stakeholders, shape narratives, and mobilizesupport for development priorities.

Working closely with regional and countrymanagement, operational teams, and colleagues across IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA,the SeniorCommunications & External Relations Officer helps advance a coordinated One World Bank Group approach to externalaffairs. The position combines strategic advisory responsibilities withhands-on delivery and is expected to lead complex assignments, support priorityinitiatives, and contribute directly to execution across the regionalportfolio.

The Senior Communications & ExternalRelations Officer position is basedin Washington, D.C. and reports to CER Manager, AFE.

Key Responsibilities

1.Stakeholder Engagement
Lead stakeholder engagement strategies that advance World Bank Group priorities, support country outcomes, and strengthen the institution's influence across the region.
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, media, academia, and other influential actors.
Lead stakeholder intelligence efforts, including stakeholder mapping, analysis, and monitoring of actors, coalitions, and trends that may affect World Bank Group priorities, reform efforts, or reputation.
Advise management and operational teams on stakeholder dynamics, political economy considerations, coalition-building opportunities, and engagement approaches.
Ensure stakeholder insights and external perspectives are incorporated into communications strategies, advocacy efforts, risk management, and operational decision-making.

2.Strategic Business Marketing
Position the World Bank Group as a trusted development partner by articulating the value of integrated public-private solutions and the One World Bank Group approach.
Develop strategic narratives, engagement approaches, and communications products that support regional priorities, operational objectives, and client engagement.
Identify and elevate flagship operations, reform milestones, knowledge products, and success stories 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.

3.Advocacy & Campaigns
Lead advocacy and communications campaigns that support development 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.
Oversee the development of speeches, op-eds, press releases, talking points, digital content, and other communications products for senior management and key stakeholders.
Help ensure consistent, targeted, and effective messaging across communications, stakeholder engagement, digital, and media channels.

4.Risk & Issue Management
Serve as a senior advisor on reputational risk and issue management, helping management anticipate, assess, and respond to developments that could affect World Bank Group operations, stakeholder relationships, or reputation.
Lead or coordinate risk assessments, stakeholder analyses, issue management efforts, and mitigation strategies for sensitive operations, reforms, and institutional priorities.
Advise management and operational teams on positioning, stakeholder considerations, and communications approaches related to complex or high-profile issues.
Develop issue briefs, risk assessments, scenario plans, leadership briefing materials, and response strategies to support informed decision-making.
Monitor political, economic, and social developments and assess their implications for World Bank Group operations, reform efforts, stakeholder relationships, and institutional reputation.

5.Corporate Coordination & Innovation
Advance One World Bank Group collaboration by promoting integrated communications and stakeholder engagement across IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA.
Support the development and implementation of the regional stakeholder engagement strategy and help coordinate delivery across countries, institutions, and business lines.
Drive innovation through creative communications approaches, strategic partnerships, digital engagement, and data-informed communications.
Promote knowledge sharing and best practices across the regional stakeholder engagement network and contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of the function.
Mentor junior staff and contribute to building capacity across the regional communications network.

Selection Criteria
• Master's degree with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, in communications, journalism, public affairs, international affairs, political science, or a related field.
• Experience working in an international environment and strong understanding of global development issues, political economy, and emerging trends affecting developing countries.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, or reputational risk management initiatives in complex institutional environments.
• Strong understanding of World Bank Group operations, development finance, and the opportunities and risks associated with communications and stakeholder engagement in a development context.
• Proven ability to provide strategic advice to senior management and to exercise sound judgment in politically sensitive and high-profile situations.
• Experience engaging with a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, development partners, private sector organizations, civil society, media, academia, and other influential actors.
• Demonstrated experience identifying, assessing, and managing reputational risks and issues, and developing effective stakeholder engagement and communications responses.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in one or more additional languages relevant to the region is highly desirable and may be required for specific assignments.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate complex policy, economic, and development issues into clear, compelling, and audience-focused communications products.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize diverse information, identify emerging trends and risks, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise initiative, work under pressure, and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to work effectively across institutions, cultures, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to the World Bank Group's core values and culture attributes: Sense of Urgency, Thoughtful Risk-Taking, Empowerment, and Accountability.

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.