Senior External Affairs Officer

Senior External Affairs Officer

Job #:req21141Organization:World BankSector:External Affairs & Corporate RelationsGrade:GGTerm Duration: 3 years 0 monthsRecruitment Type:International RecruitmentLocation:Washington, DC,United StatesRequired Language(s):EnglishPreferred Language(s):Closing Date:3/3/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

 

 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

Background:

The World Bank AccountabilityMechanism (AM) is an independent complaints mechanism for people andcommunities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, harmed by aWorld Bank-funded project.
The AM is headed by the AccountabilityMechanism Secretary (AMS), supported by the Accountability MechanismSecretariat (AMSEC).  The AM comprisestwo constituent parts, the Inspection Panel (Panel), which receives Requestsfor Inspection from project-affected communities and conducts independentcompliance reviews, and the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), which facilitatesa voluntary and independent dispute resolution option for Requesters andborrowers in the context of Inspection Panel Requests for Inspection. TheInspection Panel comprises of three independent members whose powers andfunctions are established through the Inspection Panel Resolution.  The Inspection Panel carries out itscompliance investigations independently.
The Senior External Affairs Officerreports to the AMS and works on a daily basis with other members of theSecretariat, the Inspection Panel Members, and the Dispute Resolution Serviceofficers.
The person hired for this position willbe responsible for a wide range of communications and outreach activities thataim to both build up the communications/outreach functions and to position theAccountability Mechanism as a thought leader in the field. The Senior ExternalAffairs Officer will provide regular updates to the AMS, Inspection PanelMembers, and Dispute Resolution Service officers, as required.
The position is based in Washington, DC, and may involve someinternational travel.

Duties and Accountabilities

The SeniorExternal Affairs Officer leads internal and external communications activitiesvia the following specific work areas:

- Communications strategies: Plan, write, and lead the implementation of communication strategies for the AM Secretariat, and the Dispute Resolution Service. On Panel-related content, the Senior External Affairs Officer will coordinate closely with the Panel Chairperson, who approves all Panel-related content. These strategies include digital (website and social media) to promote effective communications with external and internal audiences and raise visibility of the Accountability Mechanism`s work. Help determine the most effective content and communications interventions to address particular challenges and opportunities.

- Strategic advice: Provide strategic communications and outreach advice to the AMS, the Inspection Panel Chairperson, Inspection Panel Members, and the Dispute Resolution Service Head of Operations on issues related to announcements, social media packages, internal communications, outreach to World Bank senior management, and outreach to those working in the accountability field, including other independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) and civil society organizations.

- Messaging: Provide well-written and clear messages to explain the AM's goals/mission.

- Products: Conceptualize and lead the preparation, production and dissemination of high-level external messaging pieces and communication products related to the AM. This includes the publication of a relaunched quarterly Accountability Matters newsletter that goes to more than 40,000 subscribers and includes original stories, strong visuals, upcoming events, and job postings in the accountability field. This includes, too, oversight of the AM Annual Report, including working with the AMS and the Inspection Panel Chairperson on the direction of the publication, content, and design, in close collaboration with an external graphic designer and ensuring timely publication of the report. In addition, coordinate closely and take direction from the Inspection Panel Chairperson on Inspection Panel announcements, Web postings, social media messages, and any other external outreach, and to edit all external material, which would need to be approved by the Inspection Panel Chairperson.

- Networks: Initiate effective professional relationships with key external and/or internal constituencies (e.g., World Bank Senior Management, civil society, academia, government agencies, and external affairs colleagues at the World Bank).

- Outreach engagement: Provide tailored outreach engagement strategies and relationship management, including meeting stakeholders and conducting stakeholder mapping and analysis. Facilitate interventions among various stakeholders, developing key messages and communication products; help plan and produce events; and provide strategic advice as needed.

- Events: Support the AMS in planning, coordination, and logistics, often across multiple institutions and teams, including preparation for events during the Spring and Annual Meetings, and the AM's role in 2023 as the organizing host of the Independent Accountability Mechanism (IAM) Secretariat called IAMnet.

- Reputational risk management: Support risk identification, monitoring and mitigation activities in the context of corporate and operational communication interventions; advise specific internal and external stakeholders. Focus includes current events, public opinion, social or political issues, and other external or internal developments related to the AM's work. 

- Resource management: Manage specific human and financial resources for communications, including overseeing the work of a Junior Professional Officer focused on social media. Helps plan and supervise procurement tasks and/or issues as needed. For specific deliverables, responsible for assigning work, monitoring work quality, reviewing output.

- Monitoring and evaluation: Oversee monitoring and evaluation of communications activities. This includes tracking and compiling impact summaries at key intervals.

Selection Criteria

* Support the mission of the World Bank Group and its twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity and support the mission of the Accountability Mechanism and its two constituent parts. (See above).

* Master's degree and 12+ years of work experience in communications, journalism, political science, international affairs, public relations/affairs, marketing, or any other related field.

* Proven strong knowledge of and practical experience in a range of World Bank Group communications approaches, tools and methodologies related to planning, executing, and monitoring internal and/or external communications strategies.

* Experience in being a trustworthy and strategic communications adviser to senior leadership in an organization.

* Big-picture thinker with strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills while effectively maintaining a pulse on details.

* Strong knowledge of and practical experience in a range of communications planning and implementation approaches such as, opinion research, media engagement, message targeting, and marketing communication.

* Excellent writing, editing, and oral communications skills, and a proven ability to draft and edit a variety of complex communications products for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and logical, persuasive presentation.

* Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, and achieve agreed-upon results. Demonstrated organizational, research and analytical skills.

* A commitment to teamwork and demonstrated willingness to provide help and support to others in a dynamic environment; to lead or follow, depending on the needs of the team.

* Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with internal and external partners at all levels, in a multicultural and multinational environment

* Experience in traveling to a range of developing countries and an ability to produce compelling stories from those countries that sensitively reflect the views of people who live there.

Competencies: 

- Demonstrates understanding of working across World Bank Group, including practices and sectors.

- Leading and implementing effective communication strategies.

- The ability to manage small teams, including oversight of other people's work, editing of that work, and delegating responsibilities to others. Identifies and assesses policy issues and communicates findings/ points of view verbally and through communications materials.

- Demonstrates full familiarity with the World Bank Group's organizational structure, complementarities among different Bank Group agencies, with an ability to apply this knowledge.

- Tailor communication style to meet audience needs and delivers information effectively in support of team or workgroup.

- Writes clearly.

- Edits well.

- Full familiarity with Bank policies, procedures, and systems (including safeguards, financial management, and procurement).

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.