Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
The Climate Change Group
The Climate Change Group (CCG) has as key functions to (i) propose the strategy to mainstream climate change across the WBG; (ii) support the implementation of the Bank’s corporate climate commitments as expressed in the Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2025 (CCAP), IDA20, and the IBRD-IFC Capital Package; (iii) support in operationalizing key recommendations of Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) into country engagement products and lending and non-lending operations; (iv) develop new research and tools to support mainstreaming low-carbon growth and climate resilient development; (v) manage three Umbrella Trust Fund Programs (i.e., Climate Support Facility-CSF, Partnership for Market Implementation Facility-PMIF, and Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions-SCALE), and other Climate Funds housed within SCCFM (i.e., Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions-SCALE, Forest Carbon Partnership Facility – FCPF, BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes – ISFL, Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions – EnABLE, Transformative Carbon Asset Facility – TCAF, Carbon Initiative for Development – Ci-DEV, Canada-World Bank Clean Energy and Forests Climate Facility, Green Climate Fund-GCF, and Pilot Program for Climate Resilience-PPCR), and (vii) serve as host to the Secretariat of the Climate Investment Funds (housed in SCCCI); and (viii) mainstream knowledge, learning and innovation inside and outside the WBG, and lead high-level internal and external engagements.
Unit Context
The Strategy, Knowledge, and Outreach (SCCSK) within the Climate Change Group plays a key role in helping CCG both set and deliver the Bank’s corporate climate mandate. The unit works closely with the CCG Leadership on: (i) developing long-term strategic engagement and CCG management; (ii) undertaking climate corporate reporting, especially around policy commitments, climate targets, results, and impacts under the WBG CCAP 2021-25, the Corporate Scorecard (CSC), IDA20, and the IBRD-IFC Global Capital Increase; (iii) overseeing the design and delivery of a CCG learning hub for Bank staff and management, supporting training and learning products; and (iv) managing the Climate Support Facility (CSF) Umbrella Program. Importantly for this position, SCCSK provides a series of shared services to the other CCG units, including support to various TFs, internal outreach, and building a narrative around the value proposition of CCG.
About the Position
SCCSK seeks to hire a highly motivated Senior External Affairs Officer to support the unit’s Communications and Outreach workstream, in coordination with the Regional Climate Liaisons, and Knowledge Management and Learning, and the Climate Support Facility workstreams.
The candidate will report directly to the Practice Manager, SCCSK, with a dotted line to ECRSD and will work in close collaboration with the unit’s Senior Knowledge Management Officers.
Duties & Accountabilities
• Serve as liaison to ECRSD for external engagements, and for the coordination and collaboration between ECRSD and regions/GPs, ensuring messages are aligned with corporate priorities and coordinate with ECRSD and relevant ECR teams on issues posing reputational risk.
• Draft, edit, and oversee the production and dissemination of unit- or TF-specific communication materials, including briefing notes, talking points, factsheets, and multimedia products.
• Lead the development and ongoing management of a CCG narrative to capture CCG business strategies and achievements.
• Provide dedicated communications support to the three CCG Umbrella TF Programs and other Climate Funds, as assigned by the SSCSK Practice Manager, including coordination of the production of the annual and other reports agreed upon with donors and partners; organization of and execution of Partnership Council and Advisory Committee meetings; and creation of presentations highlighting progress and results.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree (Communications, International Relations, Public Policy/Affairs, Journalism, or other related fields) with a minimum of 8 years of professional work experience, in which 3-5 years are in climate change or a related area.
• Demonstratable experience in strategic communications and positioning, leadership communications, including in managing reputational risks, political sensitivities, high-level messaging, donor and stakeholder relations, and media engagement.
• Excellent English language skills and proficiency to write and edit complex communication products for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and logical, persuasive presentation. Strong ability to distill technical reports and findings on climate change into high-level messages, digestible for a wide variety of external audiences.
• Familiarity with key climate issues for the Bank, including climate finance, NDCs and long-term strategies, Paris Alignment, among other topics an advantage.
• Ability to operate effectively with all levels of staff, both as a leader and team member. Experience building relationships with Bank climate focal points and ECR staff across all practice groups is a plus, as well as experience collaborating with country staff.
• Proven ability to nurture and maintain relationships and communications with critical internal and external constituencies and stakeholders; to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources.
• Experience with developing and leading communication initiatives, including using digital and social media to stimulate conversations with stakeholders, and strategies to position across websites, blogs, and other channels.
• Experience in trust fund operations would be an advantage, specifically with the Bank’s umbrella 2.0 trust fund reform. Sufficient knowledge of portfolio management, program monitoring and evaluation systems, trust fund policies and procedures, grant application review processes, and programmatic reporting.
• 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.
• Ability to adapt quickly and work in a multicultural environment.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
Climate Change 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.
