Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile?  Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group 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, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 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.

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines and China! Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are heavily affected by climate change. The Bank plays a meaningful role on global public goods, including climate, biodiversity, water pollution, and health. The COVID pandemic, and more recently food and energy price increases are compounding the impact of the global economic slowdown. 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. East Asia and the Pacific Region:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/ea.

The Role of the Global Practice for Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation (FCI) in the WBG. The World Bank Group’s Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice (FCI) combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private sector led growth and help build markets in client countries. FCI is an integrated World Bank and IFC Global Practice promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in a transforming world through finance and private sector solutions. FCI delivers tailored development solutions to countries and the global community at large, working with public and private sector clients. FCI structures and implements comprehensive financial sector and private sector solutions that bring together World Bank knowledge, financial products (loans, credits, guarantees, and risk-management products), convening services, and IFC advisory services. FCI comprises more than 700 staff working across more than 120 countries, covering all regions: Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia. The menu of solutions that FCI offers through its lending and advisory services is consistently evolving along with changes in the financial sector. It encompasses diverse areas such as financial stability and integrity, climate and risk management, credit bureaus, movable collateral, secured transactions, capital markets, infrastructure finance, housing finance, agriculture finance, financial inclusion, and digital financial services. The World Bank also seeks to meet demand for just-in-time expertise and to serve as a knowledge broker across all regions. 

The EAP FCI team designs and implements a growing portfolio of innovative lending operations, as well as ground-breaking advisory services and high-quality analytical work. This is designed to support policymakers in a broad range of issues related to financial sector development, strengthening competitiveness, and supporting innovation and productivity growth. EAP houses 3 important donor funded hubs in Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore to leverage partner resources to support both regional and global priorities/engagements.

The EAP FCI team (EEAF2) is looking for a Senior Financial Sector Specialist to better support its engagements in financial sector development and strengthen its ability to build new partnerships and leverage them to enhance operational support and knowledge sharing in Thailand and in the EAP region. This role reports to the EEAF2 Practice Manager based in Bangkok.

Duties and accountabilities

The incumbent will primarily focus on operational and analytical support to deliver EAP FCI work program. Ideally, the selected candidate will be familiar with World Bank operational work and have the technical breadth to contribute to the knowledge generation and policy dialogue on a broad array of financial sector sub themes! These particularly relate to financial sector stability, capital market development, climate risk management and sustainable finance. The Senior Financial Sector Specialist will have demonstrated prior experience interacting with high level officials in government, development community, and the private sector.

As member of the EAP FCI team, the incumbent will contribute to the FCI program working closely with the Country Management Unit (CMU) team of the Thailand Office as well as FCI Bank colleagues, other Global Practices and IFC.

Specifically, the candidate will be expected to:

• Provide intellectual and technical leadership to the FCI Team working in Thailand, on the following primary areas of coverage: financial stability, capital market development, climate and risk management, and sustainable finance. Based on program needs, contribute to FCI programs in other EAP countries.
• Lead and/or support the development of new FCI work programs in Thailand including through advisory services and analytics (ASAs) programs, Reimbursable Advisory Services, and financing; contribute to the implementation of ongoing work programs to meet client needs and FCI priorities.
• Jointly, with the Country Team Coordinators (CTCs), conduct strategic policy dialogue with a wide range of clients including the Bank of Thailand, Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Insurance Commission, Ministry of Finance, etc. on the primary areas of coverage and client needs.
• Draw from wide range of global technical expertise from various units in FCI to ensure effective and timely delivery of activities related to the primary areas of coverage and client needs such as analytical reports, technical notes on cutting edge issues, conferences, workshops, etc.
• Contribute to a variety of written products and communications, including components of major reports (Briefs, Analytical Notes, Back to Office Reports, Aide Memoires, Project Concept Notes, and Project Documents), as well as other technical working papers for wider circulation. These may be delivered as stand-alone or as inputs to larger World Bank Group products such as global or regional flagship publications, other regional studies, country reports including Systematic Country Diagnostics and Country Partnership Frameworks, and sector strategies.
• Represent the FCI practice with the CMU and be an active member of the Country team; Mentor junior staff/secondees as relevant.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other relevant organizations, including ADB, IMF, etc.

Selection Criteria

This position requires a seasoned financial sector professional with strong technical, operational, and interpersonal skills.  He/she will have demonstrated an ability to manage large teams and complex assignments and mentor team members effectively, deliver results on the ground and lead high level policy dialogue.

• An advanced degree (Master/PhD) in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in financial sector development, economics, public policy, international development, or related field.
• Solid technical skills in at least one of financial sector development areas i.e. financial stability, capital market development, climate and risk management, and sustainable finance, as evidenced through reports and other outputs.
• Exposure (directly or indirectly) to World Bank (or other multilateral organization) operations, such as analytical and advisory services programs and investment project financing.
• Experience in conducting and influencing policy dialogue with(in) government and in working and forging partnerships with a diverse group of partners (governments, research community, donor community, and regional organizations).
• Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment with excellent teamwork and diplomatic skills. Willingness to travel frequently, including participating in-the-field missions, sometimes as part of multi-disciplinary mission teams.
• Excellent communication skills in English, including articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Strong interpersonal skills to manage relationship with financial sector authorities and sensitivity in dealing with authorities and regulators.
• Willingness to travel internationally to work with World Bank country clients and collaborate with World Bank global experts.
• Passion for promoting development solutions and ability to link finance and development.
• Knowledge of Thai language essential.

Required Competencies:

• Innovate – drives innovation within primary areas of coverage in financial stability, capital market development, climate and risk management, and sustainable finance.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Acts as a trusted, strategic advisor, partnering with clients to deliver results.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – collaborates across WBG and with partners drawing on robust professional networks.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge supports establishment of an environment where knowledge is created, applied, and shared.
• Make Smart Decisions – Makes timely decisions that have a broad impact.
• Knowledge & Experience – Demonstrates expert knowledge of financial stability, capital market development, and sustainable finance; leads strategic discussions dialogues with stakeholders and counterparties.
• GP/Network Representation – Demonstrates ability to coordinate, participate in, and act as a catalyst for, strategic cross-sector dialogues within the global practice, across the country, among Bank colleagues and other development institutions, government, and other organizations.
• CMU/Global Practice Integration – Able to act as a facilitator for the global practice teams and country units, as well as with clients, promoting integrated development solutions.
• Project Design for Impact and Sustainability – Gauges appropriately the time/resources required to undertake a specific reform, design a policy/program, or improve efficiency of key procedures/systems.
• Sector Dialogue – Able to lead a broad dialogue with the client, including high-level officials, based on an understanding of the client’s objectives and constraints.
• Operational Project Management – Demonstrates expert knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies; ability to manage complex, projects/programs.
• Operational Policies Application to the Project Cycle (fiduciary, disbursement, safeguard, and GAC policies) – Possesses a thorough understanding of fiduciary, disbursement, safeguard, and GAC policies.
• Policy, Strategic and Technical Analysis for Country/Sector Issues – Leads through ASA work the analysis of key development issues; proven ability to draw policy options underpinned by solid analytic basis and that are attuned to specific country circumstances.

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.