Vice President, Infrastructure Practice Group

The World Bank Group ("WBG") is seeking a Vice President, Infrastructure Practice Group (GGI) to provide strategic leadership to the best expertise from the World Bank to help low- and middle-income countries build the foundations for inclusive and sustainable growth and, thereby, make progress towards achieving the World Bank Group's twin goals of reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

The Vice President, GGI reports to the Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships and will also work closely with the WBG's Senior Leadership Team to use economic insights to help countries and regions achieve strong development outcomes. The position will be a four-year term and will be based at WBG Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Background & General Description:

The World Bank Group is one of the worlds largest sources of development assistance and global expertise for developing countries. It consists of five institutions that specialize in different aspects of development: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

With twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity, the WBG works in more than 100 developing economies to improve living standards and to fight poverty. For each of its clients, the WBG works with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to formulate assistance strategies. The WBG offices worldwide - 16,000 experts in fields such as economics, engineering, health, sanitation, governance, education, urban planning, regulation - deliver programs and help countries drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth; invest in their people; and build resilience to shocks and climate change.

The WBG institutions work in concert to help countries transform sectors to reduce poverty and support growth and gender equality. We do this by improving the enabling environment, developing regulatory conditions, building capacity, putting in place standards, financing a first mover or innovator, and reducing risks. This strategy relies on a closer WBG collaboration through the "Cascade" approach: working with clients, we will first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges-where such solutions are advisable and can be effective-and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal.

Practice Groups: The effectiveness of our presence in countries is strengthened by our sectoral expertise and by knowledge and research programs that offer insights to help countries solve pressing development challenges. Our practice groups work globally with country staff, partners, and other Bank Group institutions to provide comprehensive financial, operational, advisory, and convening support. We draw on experience and technical knowledge that spans regions and sectors, facilitating the exchange of ideas and best practices between countries and offering a uniquely global, cross-cutting view of leading development issues.

Infrastructure Practice Group: Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. This is done by scaling up investments in critical and sustainable infrastructure, leveraging innovations that drive impact and promoting integration across sectors and regions at a scale that encourages the participation of the private sector. Our infrastructure interventions make a difference to outcomes in human capital, gender, economic inclusion and climate change, and promotes stability in fragile and conflict affected states.

Infrastructure Finance, PPPs & Guarantees Practice

Infrastructure Finance, PPPs & Guarantees (PPPs) enhance the reach and quality of basic service provision. The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. When designed well and implemented in a balanced regulatory environment, PPPs can bring efficiency and sustainability to public services such as water, sanitation, energy, transport, telecommunications, agricultural services and health and education.

Transport Practice

Transport connectivity is a critical factor for social and economic development - from boosting economic growth and competitiveness to promoting inclusion by connecting people to increase climate resilience and reduce carbon footprint. These aims are achieved through: Financing Infrastructure, Policy Advice, Global Public Goods and Global Engagements.

Digital Development Practice

The Digital Development Practice works hand in hand with governments to help create strong foundations for the digital economy to thrive. Our work focuses on addressing supply and demand side constraints to digital transformation, around key pillars including inclusive access to fast, reliable, safe and affordable internet. Across the World Bank Group, we are working to stimulate demand for digital applications, digital skills and digital platforms to support governments, business and individuals to participate more fully in the digital economy.

Energy & Extractives Practice

The Energy & Extractives GP delivers comprehensive energy and extractive industry solutions. The energy financing program is around $7 billion per year, complemented by Climate Investment Fund operations, a sizable Technical Assistance program, and a strong track record of One WBG engagements with MIGA and IFC to scale-up and leverage greater resources. Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable and modern energy - Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 -- is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the center of efforts to tackle climate change.

Specific Duties & Accountabilities:

The World Bank Group is seeking a Vice President, GGI who will oversee a group of 293 staff and will work with Regional Vice Presidents to help to guide $2.5 billion in regionally-led lending operations, $1.5 billion in trust funds and almost 500 analytic and advisory engagements in the WBG Practices of Digital Development, Transport, Energy & Extractives, and Infrastructure Finance, Public Private Partnerships and Guarantees. The Vice President will also be responsible for providing thought leadership to the World Bank's regional infrastructure programs, covering a portfolio of $67 billion in more than 360 operations. As Vice President, GGI, s/he will be a key part of the WBG's senior management and must have strong economic credentials, leadership and communication skills, and the public and private sector insights, to engage with staff and clients, and with the global development community, in meaningful dialogue.

The Vice President, GGI is responsible for the following areas:

Solutions and Results to Clients: In collaboration with the other Practice Group Vice Presidents, and Regional Vice Presidents:
• Leads his/her Practice Group management team to set the Practices key strategic priorities to guide institution-wide work and, in collaboration with Country Directors, establishes global and country goals to ensure alignment with the WBG Strategy;
• Draws on thought leadership and implementation know-how to ensure high impact multi-sectoral solutions;
• Builds and maintains a balanced portfolio of innovative, cost-effective and demand-driven products and services;
• Works in partnership with other practices, regions and other parts of the WBG, in particular IFC, as well as public and private stakeholders, in order to find tailored and holistic solutions to complex development challenges;
• Accountable for delivering high-quality and timely results.

People/Talent Management:

• Models exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behaviors and reinforces these qualities in own management team and staff;
• Drives and inspires technical excellence within the Practice by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients;
• Leads and supports Practice Group management in developing and implementing appropriate strategies for global staffing, deployment, talent and performance management.

Knowledge Management:

• Ensures that the Practice is at the forefront of the development debate and contributes to the global dialogue in the area of expertise of the Practice;
• Ensures adequate flow of knowledge and expertise so that clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge they need, when and where they need it;
• Promotes innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning;
• Instills a culture of evidence-based, yet client tailored engagement for highest development impact.

Resource Management:

• In consultation with relevant stakeholders within the WBG, decides on the best use of internal and external resources for maximum client and developmental impact;
• Mobilizes internal and external funds, consistent with the corporate priorities towards WBG fundraising, to support the implementation of the Practice's strategy and to deliver client impact on the ground;
• Holds Practice management team accountable for delivering the agreed upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal controls and policies and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the Practice's outputs.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be someone who is recognized and respected widely through his/her intellectual leadership, ability to get things done, reputation and track record as a problem-solver, and accomplishments relevant to the Bank Group's development agenda. S/he will have an active interest in the activities of the WBG, its mission, and services in addition to having a strong work ethics and unquestionable integrity, and will possess outstanding intellect, leadership and analytical abilities as well as excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.

In addition to a minimum of a Master's degree and 15 to 20 years of relevant work experience, the ideal candidate will also possess as many of the following professional and personal characteristics as possible:
• Recognized global expert within WBG or among one or more of the following: academics, partners, private sector actors, and policymakers, and with track record of applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results;
• Demonstrated in-depth experience working across practice and disciplinary boundaries, and with multiple stakeholders - both public and private - in building collaborative alliances for results;
• Proven ability to effectively implement complex change management initiatives;
• Substantive experience working in developing countries;
• Demonstrated ability to operate and function at the highest levels in a matrixed, highly collaborative, multicultural and diverse global environment, and the ability to handle large and diverse portfolios of responsibilities;
• Reputation as an inspiring leader, with a clear commitment to the highest personal and professional standards; and powerful communication skills indicative of a collaborative, supportive and inclusive management style;

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE: Deep technical knowledge and experience expected in some of the following areas:

Infrastructure, Finance and Public-Private Partnerships

• Deep technical knowledge and experience expected in privatizations, infrastructure, social or financial sectors, infrastructure, project finance, corporate finance, private equity, investment planning, and regulatory frameworks;
• Ability to influence international dialogue and policy on PPPs;
• Proven ability to mobilize private sector resources for infrastructure and social sectors and deep networks within the financial services industry and investor community.

Transport

• Deep technical knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas: road asset management, transport economics, mass transit planning and operations, transport logistics, low carbon transport development;
• Extensive experience with both country level project and analytical work, as well as with the global public goods agenda relevant to transport, including the climate change agenda, with large-scale programs with internationally recognized success;
• Ability to influence international dialogue and policy on transport, and in related areas that are impacting or impacted by the agenda (e.g. climate change, urban, energy, trade, competitiveness).

Digital Development

• Expertise in telecommunications and digital development;
• Extensive experience with both country level project and analytical work, as well as with the global public goods agenda relevant to digital development, including infrastructure, digital financial services and identification, digital platforms, cybersecurity and data protection, digital innovation, etc.
• Ability to influence international dialogue and policy on digital development, and in related areas that are impacting or impacted by the agenda (e.g. including finance, private sector development, education, labor, social protection).

Energy and Extractives

• Deep understanding of and familiarity with the markets driving energy and extractive industries, and deep technical knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas: power sector institutions, economics and finance, clean and low carbon energy, extractives, and household energy services;
• Extensive experience with both country level project and analytical work, as well as with the global public goods agenda relevant to energy, including the climate change agenda, with large-scale programs with internationally recognized success;
• Ability to influence international dialogue and policy on energy and extractives, and in related areas that are impacting the energy agenda (e.g. climate change, taxation, water).