Senior Communications and External Relations Officer

Job #:
req37655

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

This position consolidates the thematic communications leadership for both the Climate Global Department and the Environment Global Department into a single, integrated role. The Senior External Relations Officer, Thematic Lead for Climate & Environment, is responsible for developing and executing a unified communications strategy that elevates WBG's standing on both agendas, advances coherent "One WBG" narratives, and drives outcomes aligned with corporate priorities.

Role Purpose

The Senior External Relations Officer (GG) leads strategic communications across the Climate and Environment departments of the Planet Vertical. The role is responsible for:
• Elevating the visibility of WBG's work on climate and environment at global, regional, and country levels.
• Influencing policy debates and protecting the institution's reputation on high-profile, complex issues.
• Driving communications outcomes aligned with WBG corporate priorities through integrated stakeholder engagement, risk management, and campaign planning.
• Ensuring a coherent, consistent "One WBG" narrative across global and regional delivery channels.
• Serving as the primary communications advisor to Climate and Environment Global Department leadership.

Reporting and Collaboration

Reports to: External Relations Manager, Planet Vertical VPU
Key Internal Interfaces: CER Vertical and regional counterpart teams; Climate and Environment Global Directors and Practice Managers; Country/Operations teams; Risk Management and Issues team.
Key External Interfaces: Media, civil society organizations, think tanks, academic institutions, parliamentary offices, donor communications counterparts, and private sector stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Planning
• Develop and maintain a unified annual communications strategy and editorial calendar spanning both the Climate and Environment Global Departments, with clear prioritization of flagship initiatives, high-impact reports, and corporate moments.
• Conceptualize and supervise the production of all communication products, including media packets, news releases, briefing notes, speeches, social media content, blogs, infographics, and multimedia assets.
• Define audience segmentation strategies and ensure all campaigns are data-driven and audience-centered.
• Advise Global Department leadership across Climate and Environment on advocacy, branding, positioning, and issues management.
• Identify synergies between the climate and environment agendas to develop integrated narratives and joint flagship campaigns.

2. Team Supervision & Coordination
• Provide editorial and content leadership to Trust Fund (TF) and, where applicable, Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) communications teams embedded within both departments; TF staff should maintain a dotted reporting line to this role.
• Guide hiring, vetting, and TOR development for TF communications staff across both departments.
• Coordinate closely with the Climate and Environment Department Front Offices and the Planet External Relations Manager to align communications with departmental priorities.
• Foster a collaborative, one-team culture across the communications staff serving the two departments. This can include GF staff assigned to work on the Climate and Environment portfolio as well as trust fund communications staff.

3. Campaigns & Advocacy
• Lead external positioning on climate-smart development and environmental sustainability issues, leveraging leadership voices, social media, and media engagement.
• Oversee the full cycle of planning and logistics for high-level events, press briefings, industry conferences, and flagship launches across both thematic areas.
• Own the editorial narrative across the combined portfolio, including the creation of talking points, speeches, op-eds, interview pipelines, and embargo coordination.
• Lead the departments' integrated media strategy and oversee digital publishing cadence (web, social, email) and analytics to optimize reach and impact.

4. Issues & Risk Management
• Protect WBG's reputation by forecasting and mitigating reputational risks across the climate and environment portfolios.
• Coordinate with the Risk Management and Issues team on corporate and operational risk interventions.
• Lead reputational risk assessments for high-risk projects and complex policy moments; develop tough Q&As and mitigation plans.
• Establish and maintain rapid response protocols, ensuring message discipline across both departments.

5. Stakeholder Engagement
• Map and cultivate relationships with media, civil society, academia, parliamentarians, think tanks, donor communications offices, and the private sector across both thematic areas.
• Convene briefings, roundtables, and stakeholder events; prepare spokespeople for high-profile engagements.
• Interface with external partners, CSOs, and government communications counterparts on joint advocacy and campaigns.

6.Strategic Business Development
• Conduct qualitative surveys to understand market perceptions and define marketing needs across climate and environment themes.
• Develop B2B and B2G communications plans for priority strategic markets by region, covering both thematic areas, as needed.
• Standardize business development templates and messaging repositories across the combined climate-environment portfolio.
• Generate outreach plans and leads for strategic markets aligned with WBG business priorities.

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.