Senior Program Manager - Workplace Strategist

Senior Program Manager - Workplace Strategist

Job #:req25127Organization:World BankSector:General ServicesGrade:GGTerm Duration: 3 years 0 monthsRecruitment Type:International RecruitmentLocation:Washington, DC,United StatesRequired Language(s):EnglishPreferred Language(s):Closing Date:12/22/2023 (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 
Reporting to the Managing Director and WBG Chief Administrative Officer (MDCAO), the Global Corporate Solutions Department (GCS) brings together the functions of Corporate Security (GCSSC), Corporate Real Estate (GCSCR), and Corporate Services (GCSCS).  All units report to the Director (GCSDR).
GCS's Corporate Real Estate Division (GCSCR) supports IBRD, IDA, MIGA, and ICSID in realizing and executing their real estate needs worldwide.  It is a key interlocutor between Senior Management, operational management, and staff of the four organizations.  GCSCR's primary purpose is to create safe, cost effective, functional space to meet the business needs for each unit so that they can perform the work that is needed to support the WBG mission to reduce poverty and raise prosperity for their clients. 
To achieve its purpose, GCSCR led by the Senior Manager, is structured into 3 divisions: (I) HQ Real Estate Development & Management (GCSHQ) and (II) Global Real Estate Development & Management (GCSIR) and (III) Global Strategy and Planning (GCSSP). GCSCR also acts as the Secretariat for the WBG's Real Estate Governance Framework, including supporting the WBG Real Estate Governance Council, chaired by the MDCAO, and the Real Estate Governance Group, chaired by the Director, GCS. 
GCSCR is comprised of approximately 70 staff, leverages over 500 contractors, including for facilities management at HQ, and manages an annual facilities capital investment plan of ~$30 million at HQ. GCSCR works closely with the Regions on the Bank's more than 100 country offices and manages several of the Bank's owned (and larger leased) country offices. 
The Senior Program Manager position reports to the Manager, GCSCR HQ Real Estate Development and Management. The position's primary responsibility is to coordinate and implement an overall workplace design and strategy while developing short- and long-term space options with efficiency and effectiveness in mind. The Workplace Strategist should be able to move from high-level visioning to focus groups and surveys to existing space assessment, test-fits, space recommendations, and change management communications. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in developing workplace strategy solutions that optimize the real estate portfolio both at Headquarters as well as the International Portfolio. 
Duties and Accountabilities
Duties and accountabilities include but are not limited to:
People Management: 
Lead the Workplace Design and Strategy Unit (in development) and provide oversight of their individual and collective work program.
Provide coaching and mentoring of staff to inspire and motivate them to perform at their highest level.
Conduct annual performance reviews of staff incorporating feedback and observations of their contributions collected over the year.
Address performance issues quickly, consistently, and fairly.
Ensure that access to appropriate training is available to all staff and establish annual development goals for all team members.
Hold staff accountable for the timely delivery and quality of their work.
Workplace Strategy & Design:
Lead the development of workplace strategies (physical workspaces, technologies, services, and amenities) to improve staff productivity in support of the optimization of the Bank's real estate footprint. 
Manage and support workspace standards and design guidelines to ensure a consistent approach across the organization, with particular focus on sustainability, ergonomics, neurodiversity, and ADA accommodations. 
Leads interactions across the unit to support efficient strategy execution, change management, create and implement policies, procedures and guidelines designed to enhance the workplace.
Develop sustainable solutions around the workplace experience that optimizes the real estate portfolio, considering the latest trends and technology.
Develop processes and policies for workplace strategy, flex/remote work standards, and space requests protocols.
Provides and implements strategic direction and recommendations related to the global real estate footprint, including major impacts to budgets, workforce satisfaction, and company reputation.
Perform complex analysis tasks for comprehensive facility planning in coordination with the Strategic Planning team.
Enable the definition of targets from external best practice and internal benchmarks.
Stakeholder Engagement: 
Develop a strong working relationship with WBG internal units (i.e., Budget, Planning and Strategy, Procurement, Information Technology) to ensure projects are presented for the appropriate clearances during each phase of the project life cycle. 
Proactively meet with clients to assess business requirements and develop strategies that support various workstyles. 
Ensure that environment, health, and safety issues are prioritized and resolved quickly, working in collaboration with Health Services (HSD) and Security as needed. 
Develop and present management-level presentations and memorandums that achieve desired outcomes while building client and senior management confidence.
Partner with businesses and key support partners (e.g., HR, Health Services, IT, Security, and Procurement) to develop and manage workplace initiatives.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with key clients. Exercise discretion and communicate effectively and consistently to build trust at the highest levels in the organization. 
Respond quickly and proactively to client requests, providing professional advice and recommendations for efficient use of space to meets unit's business requirements. 
Collaborate with all GCS Units to promote a positive and constructive working relationship. Facilitate support for these units with regards to scheduling and implementation of projects that support their work program.  
Strong communication skillset to engage with all levels of staff backed by a solid ability to conceptualize, draft, and present workplace ideas.
Able to formulate innovative concepts or ideas and translate into actionable actions.

Selection Criteria

Master's Degree in relevant field (Architecture, Construction Management, Facilities Management, Engineering, etc.) or a combination of education and 8 years of combined experience. 
Experience in workplace strategy, architecture, consulting, corporate real estate, facilities management, project management, construction management, organizational development, communications or change management roles.
Workplace program implementation experience in a corporate setting, working alongside cross-functional real estate, facilities, IT, HR, finance and change management teams.
Strong time management skills and demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
Experience partnering with architects, design and construction vendors, Program Managers, ergonomics experts and other consultants.
Demonstrated executive presence and poise, with ability to interact effectively with senior management as well as various levels of staff and management across the organization.
Strong communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to speak persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely.
Superior level of resourcefulness, ability to work creatively with considerable autonomy as well as willingness to work under pressure and through the whole spectrum of activities from the strategic level to the resolution of specific implementation issues.
Demonstrated strategic thinking skills and ability to engage in a substantive dialogue with team members on complex issues and corporate priorities.
Experience in innovating, translating ideas into action plans and delivering results.
Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Determines criteria for assessing issues and opportunities. Establishes clear goals and priorities needed to assess performance. Identifies relationships and linkages between different information sources. Anticipates issues that are not readily apparent on the surface. Identifies root causes and effects. Establishes clear goals and priorities. Anticipates potential problems and develops solutions needed to resolve them. Systemically analyzes relationships between apparently independent problems and issues. Anticipates the possible outcome of potential solutions. Identifies areas of significant concern or opportunity. Probes and initiates research to identify critical problems. Possess excellent critical thinking and have the ability to generate innovative recommendations for clients.
Lead and Innovate 
Encourages and works with others to identify, incubate, and implement relevant solutions. Identifies opportunities in changing circumstances and energizes others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBG's values and mission. Helps others to understand problems, client needs and the underlying context.
Deliver Results for Clients 
Develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how clients and/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Shares new insights based on in-depth understanding of the client and recommends solutions for current and future needs of clients. Holds self and team accountable for risk management and outcomes.
Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries 
Collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externally with a sense of mutuality and respect. Consistently engages others in open dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporates viewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due. Leverages expertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes. Makes choices and sets priorities with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.
Create, Apply and Share Knowledge
Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions. Ensures systematic sharing of good practice and learning from lessons from across WBG, clients, and partners. Provides information on best practice and lessons learned from successful and unsuccessful projects.
Make Smart Decisions 
Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBG's strategy. Evaluates risk and anticipates the short- and long-term implications of decisions. Commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.

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.