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

ITS Vice Presidency Context:

The Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) enables the World Bank Group to achieve its mission of ending extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet by delivering transformative information and technologies to its staff working in over 150+ locations. For more information on ITS, see this video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=VTFGffa1Y7w

Unit Context

Operations Effectiveness (ITSEF) Unit delivers data and knowledge solutions that provide business insights to frontline teams and management for improved decision making, transparency, and risk mitigation, while facilitating knowledge capture, curation, and dissemination.

The Results & Risk team within ITSEF is looking for a dynamic Product Owner. The selected candidate will help design and implement agile solutions that address key risks in the Bank’s operations portfolio. The position demands a quality-focused and detail-oriented candidate with a proven track record of leading agile teams and delivering on high-priority business goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

•Lead engagement with clients to fully understand pain points and needs and explore user research options with the Design team. Assess impact to end users and need for change management.

•Translate stakeholder needs into a clear Product Vision and roadmap, ensuring the development team aligns with organizational objectives and operational needs.

•Prioritize the product backlog by defining and ranking user stories based on impact and importance. Collaborate with stakeholders to manage expectations, trade-offs, and prioritize key features for MVP delivery.

•Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation through to implementation, including coordinating sprints, overseeing development stages, and ensuring that product goals are met.

•Deliver regular status updates to clients, flag risks and delays, discuss any shift in requirements and priorities.

•Collaborate with Change Management teams to plan the rollout of new features or system improvements, ensuring smooth adoption by end-users.

•Facilitate collaboration between developers, testers, and UX designers to ensure seamless integration of user-centric features in the Tools for Operations ecosystem.

•Provide frequent updates to stakeholders, highlighting progress, flagging risks or delays, and adjusting to shifting requirements where necessary. Manage effective communication with stakeholders across Operations teams.

•Coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate that the tools delivered meet end-user expectations and align with the Bank’s operational needs. Manage user feedback and ensure continuous product improvement.

•Monitor product performance using KPIs and feedback loops, ensuring that the tools are scalable, maintainable, and delivering value to end users.

•Drive future releases through iterative development processes, incorporating user feedback, and aligning with evolving business needs and emerging technologies.

Selection Criteria

•A Master’s degree in a relevant field with at least 5 years of related experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

•Experience working within Agile frameworks. SAFe product owner certificate or a strong understanding of the SAFe Agile framework is preferred. 

•Experience or familiarity with risk management products or the World Bank operational systems will be a plus.

•Demonstrated experience working with Azure Boards or similar Agile planning tools to manage backlogs and sprints.

•Familiarity with measuring product performance using KPIs, understanding scrum velocity, and leveraging analytics tools such as Adobe Analytics and Azure AppInsights.

•Proven ability to convert data into meaningful reports and actionable dashboards.

•Ability to prepare high-quality documents, reports, and presentations for senior management and stakeholders.

•Strong internal consulting skills and the ability to manage cross-functional collaboration within an Agile environment.

•Demonstrated leadership skills, particularly in managing cross-boundary teamwork and driving successful product delivery.

•Ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative, and taking accountability for timely response to clients and stakeholder needs.

•Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and drive consensus within cross-functional teams.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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.