Senior Operations Officer
Job #: |
req30123 |
Organization: |
World Bank |
Sector: |
Operations |
Grade: |
GG |
Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
Recruitment Type: |
Local Recruitment |
Location: |
Abuja,Nigeria |
Required Language(s): |
|
Preferred Language(s): |
English |
Closing Date: |
11/12/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly
worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to
help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank
consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a
global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest
development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk
management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy
low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global
challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.
Western and Central Africa (AFW) Region
We need the best and brightest
talent focused on Sub-Saharan African countries to harness the potential and
innovation happening across the continent. Africa is a continent on the move,
with a young population and a growing market of nearly 1.2bn people. We are
committed to making the Africa regional teams into leading innovation hubs.
Yet, these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education,
health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its
estimated potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth,
and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse
the progress that has been made over the past decades.
In West and Central Africa, the
World Bank is a leading partner with a growing portfolio of 387 projects
totaling more than $44.1 billion in areas such as agriculture, trade and
transport, energy, education, health, water, and sanitation- all to support job
creation, gender equality, poverty reduction, and better lives. Across the
continent, the World Bank’s program has nearly doubled over the last 10 years.
By 2030, about 87% of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in
Sub-Saharan Africa, so this is where our mission to end extreme poverty and to
promote shared prosperity will be achieved.
Are you ready to make an impact?
We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our innovative and diverse
team. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa
COUNTRY CONTEXT
Nigeria is critical to the World
Bank Group's (WBG) twin goals of eradicating global extreme poverty and promoting
shared prosperity. A multi-ethnic and diverse federation of 36 autonomous
states, Nigeria is already Africa’s largest country, with over 200 million
people, and Africa’s largest economy. With its abundance of resources, a young
and entrepreneurial population, and a dynamic private sector, Nigeria has the
potential to be a giant on the global stage.
At the same time, with over 40
percent of its population living in poverty, Nigeria has the second largest
population of poor in the world and real per-capita incomes are about the same
level today as they were four decades ago. The economy and public finances
continue to be highly vulnerable to oil shocks, and not enough jobs are being
created for the 3.5 million young Nigerians coming of working age every year.
To provide economic opportunities for its growing population, Nigeria needs to
unlock private investment and job creation, and further the structural
transformation and diversification of its economy.
PROGRAM AND UNIT CONTEXT
Nigeria, a blend country eligible
for both IBRD and IDA financing, has the largest country allocation under IDA20
and the third-largest IDA-IBRD portfolio with approximately $16.53
billion dollars distributed across 32 projects, of which about 45% is federally
executed and 55% is executed at the state-level. A new Country
Partnership Framework (CPF) was approved in December 2020 to guide the World
Bank Group’s support to Nigeria from FY21-FY25, anchored in several core
engagements that combine large-scale financing with upstream policy, advisory
and institutional strengthening ASA-based initiatives.
The World Bank Office in Abuja is
one of the larger country offices, with 148 staff. The large, decentralized
nature of the program, and growing insecurity, makes for a challenging
operating context. A Country Management Team composed of the Country Director,
the Operations Manager, two Senior Operations Officers, and several Engagement
Leaders meets on a weekly basis to actively monitor implementation and provide
strategic and operational guidance to the task teams.
The World Bank is looking to
appoint a Senior Operations Officer who will be innovative, and capable of
navigating the shortest path through the Bank's internal processes. Delivery of
quality work requires high caliber staff, striking the right balance between
technical excellence, country knowledge, and client focus. This position is
critical to the overall performance of the Bank at the Nigeria duty location.
DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The Senior Operations Officer
will work under the supervision of the Country Director (CD). As a key member
of the CMU (Country Management Unit) team, the Senior Operations Officer will
work closely with Operations Manager (OM), Program Leaders (PLs), and other
members of the CMU management and country teams on all aspects of the work
program to ensure strategic focus, integration and consistency across and
within the portfolio. More specifically (s)he will:
- Contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigeria CMU in the areas of lending preparation and quality, pipeline monitoring, portfolio implementation support and monitoring, ASA delivery, and relationship management with external and internal stakeholders.
- Work with the Operations Manager (OM) and support the Country Director (CD) in Pipeline Delivery and Management as Quality Assurance through review of processing packages, submitted for the approval/clearance of CD/OM/CMU, and provide CD/OM with relevant strategic/tactical advice, liaising with OPCS, Legal, WFA, AFR DE teams and other relevant entities, as necessary.
- Support to the CD on the CPF/PLR/CLR preparation/delivery/completion. Make substantive contributions to country and sector strategies, lending, and non-lending work programs; play a key role in formulating and implementing the Country Partnership Frameworks and Regional Assistance Strategies; and assess sector and thematic issues in relationship with the broader country developments and Country Partnership Frameworks.
- Contribute to timely follow-up to the Country Director (CD) dialogues and engagements with key strategic stakeholders, including those UN agencies, INGOs, development partners, AFWRVP Front Office, PGs/GPs, IFC, MIGA, and other WBG entities.
- Prepare
briefing notes, assist in determining appropriate Bank responses, and
draft and review operational correspondence including letters, emails,
PPTs, etc., for CD’s signature, transmission, or presentation.
- Take
the lead or participate as a key team member in important strategic
product activities and contribute to or lead the preparation of management
briefs and other major or complex internal reports.
- Review of Board Packages, Management Letters and Aide Memoires as well as sensitive non project related documents.
- Work with the Operations Manager in Portfolio Management and Quality Assurance by reviewing ISRs and restructuring packages. The Senior Operations Officer will be assigned certain responsibilities of next level to carry out the functions as and when required.
- Play a key role in ensuring timely coordination with counterpart institutions, including the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office (DMO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Justice, line Ministries, and Development Partners on operational matters.
- Work with TTLs to support them on lending and ASA preparation and dissemination as needed; communicate CMU’s guidance and share teams’ concerns and requests for support with the CD and in coordination with the OM.
- Assist
in country program management, including business planning and work
program preparation, WPA budget allocation, monitoring of work program and
budget implementation, quarterly reviews and progress reporting.
- Serve as a liaison, coordination and integration point for the extended country teams; provide guidance and advice on country developments, operational priorities and strategies as needed; help foster teamwork and cross-sectoral cooperation on program preparation and implementation and contribute to country team meetings and activities.
- Contributes to the mentoring of Nigeria country Office-based colleagues in coordination with OM and HR business partners.
- Monitor
and interpret political, social and economic developments; develop and
maintain understanding of country socioeconomic and political conditions.
Selection Criteria
- Masters
in a relevant field (Economics, Business Studies, Political Science,
Finance, International Relations, or a similar field relevant to the
Bank's mission.)
- Minimum
of 8 years of relevant experience with the World Bank or comparable
institution. Thorough knowledge of Bank operational policies and business
practices.
- Proven
ability to think strategically and apply this to the design and
implementation of country assistance programs.
- Extensive
knowledge of WB instruments, policies, and procedures and ability to
proactively apply them.
- Strong
level of attention to detail and ability to manipulate and interpret
portfolio data to identify areas for focus of further monitoring.
- Outstanding
interpersonal skills with proven ability to work cooperatively with a
multi-disciplinary country team, other groups throughout the Bank, and
development partners.
- Demonstrated
initiative, leadership skills, and drive for results, including the
ability to undertake diverse tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding
environment on short deadlines.
- Strong
problem-solving skills and solutions-oriented attitude.
- Political
sensitivity, mature judgment, and ability to focus on the big picture
without losing sight of details.
- Highly
developed spoken and written communication skills, including the ability
to draft concise briefs, reports, and correspondence.
- English
language proficiency (speak, read and write) is essential.
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.