Description

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

Regional Context

The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The Bank’s strategy in LCR is focused on five pillars: (a) stimulating growth and improving competitiveness. (b) reducing poverty and inequality. (c) making governments and institutions work for people. (d) providing a platform for tackling global issues (climate change, gender, trade, disease, migration), and (e) reducing risk, whether from extreme weather events, climate change, crime and violence or other.

Country Unit and Position Context

The LC5 Country Management Unit (CMU) is responsible for Bank operations in Brazil, and is composed of a decentralized office in Brasilia, where the Country Director (CD) is based, and an Anchor Office at Headquarters. The CMU is managed by the CD who is supported by an Operations Manager (OM) and four Program/Sector Leaders (PLs/SLs).
Brazil is the twelfth largest economy in the world and one of the WBG’s top borrowers. The 2014-2016 crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fallout from the Ukraine war had a deep impact on the country, lowering growth, increasing unemployment and raising inflation. These crises also contributed to a decade that presented few, if any, gains in the fight against inequality. Existing disparities have widened due to disproportionate impact of these shocks on the most vulnerable. An incipient recovery is underway, with a robust growth of 5 percent in 2021, but this recovery is exposed to heightened uncertainty, given a challenging global outlook and growing climate risks.

The current Country Partnership Framework (CPF) of the WBG in Brazil is built around three focus areas: (i) fiscal consolidation and government effectiveness; (ii) private investment and productivity; and (iii) sustainable development. As of December 2022, the World Bank’s portfolio consists of 25 projects and US $5.26 billion in commitments across various sectors, including at federal, state, and municipal levels in different regions of Brazil. Looking forward, seventeen additional operations worth $2.27B are currently at various stages of preparation and expected to be formally approved in 2023 or 2024.
In addition to this portfolio of projects, several strategic analytical works were finalized in 2022 or pending completion and dissemination in the near future, including: a Poverty Assessment; an Amazon Economic Memorandum; a Human Capital review; an Infrastructure Policy and Regulatory Assessment, and a Country Climate and Development Report. These studies are informing the core areas of World Bank policy engagement with the Government of Brazil going forward.

Role & Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will be assigned to provide administrative support to the Country Office (CO) team members and visiting missions, as well as for tasks associated to the Unit’s overall work program for which ad-hoc support may be needed from time to time. He/she will report to the Operations Manager and will also coordinate his/her day-to-day work with the Senior Executive Assistant/ACS coordinator. The

Team Assistant’s duties will include but are not limited to:

• Drafting routine correspondence and proofreading materials using proper grammar, punctuation, and style.

• Assisting with the preparation and logistical planning for various events, e.g. conferences, workshops, negotiations, meetings, missions, etc.; liaising with Resource Management team for compliance with Bank policies.

• Coordinating schedules taking priorities into account, monitoring changes, and communicating the information to appropriate staff, inside and outside the immediate work unit, including officials outside the World Bank Group.

• Working with the Country Office team monitoring project performance.

• Filing correspondence in WBDocs/Sharepoint site.

• Processing contracts in the Bank’s electronic system (Admin Portal).

• Collecting and inputting project related data provided by Task Team Leaders (TTLs) into the Bank’s Operations Portal

• Helping maintain up-to-date distribution lists, travel and leave schedules.

• Providing assistance in arranging activities such as reserving meeting rooms, arranging catering services, AV equipment, video and tele-conferencing coordination, etc.

• Assisting with travel arrangements (TRs, flight & hotel booking, transportation).

• Providing back-up/cross-support to colleagues in the Brasília Office during absences or peak periods as needed.

• Solving non-routine problems, with appropriate guidance as relevant.

• Performing other ad-hoc duties as required by the Senior Executive Assistant or Country Operations Manager.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum Education/Experience: High school diploma with 3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Fluent English and Portuguese skills (verbal and written).

• The selected candidate may be required to work flexible hours.

• Ability to retrieve reference materials from various sources (e.g. databases or other filing systems, Internet, etc.).

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with utmost discretion.

• Committed, self-motivated team player with good inter-personal skills, and ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

• Ability to produce high-quality work under pressure.

Required Competencies

Technology and systems knowledge

– Demonstrates knowledge and experience working with Microsoft office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.). Has ability and willingness to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills as technology and workflow change.

Project and task management

– Demonstrates good organizational skills, and ability to work capably with minimal supervision in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment; can identify and resolve routine and non-routine issues. Able to stay organized, calm, and constructive in stressful situations. Able to select task and project delivery process and schedule, manage multiple tasks within tight deadlines; demonstrates willingness to do what it takes to get a task completed within the agreed schedule. Demonstrates orientation to detail and quality; able to independently conduct quality control of own work (review for accuracy, fulfillment of relevant requirements, etc.

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.