Senior Operations Officer Pretoria, South Africa

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world, with the aim to fight poverty with passion and professionalism by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. The World Bank seeks applications for the following vacancy:

Senior Operations Officer
Pretoria, South Africa
(Local 3-year term appointment)

Sub-Saharan Africa is the largest and most complex region in the Bank, spanning 47 countries (including 34 of the world’s poorest countries) with a population approaching 800 million. While it was badly hit by the global financial and economic crisis, the continent has been on the rebound since 2010. Beyond growth, making headway against poverty will require a focus on job creation with Africa’s youth entering the labour force at an estimated 7-10 million annually. A new Africa strategy is under implementation. It has two pillars - competitiveness & employment and vulnerability & resilience - and a foundation of governance & public sector capacity. It will be implemented through partnerships, knowledge and financing.

The Southern Africa Department 1 (AFCS1) is a dynamic Country Management Unit (CMU) which covers five countries in Southern Africa: Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia. All, but one of these countries, Lesotho, are Middle Income Countries (MIC). The Country Director is based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Responsibilities: The Senior Operations Officer will be a key member of the Country Management Unit (CMU) team in Pretoria and will cover all countries in the Unit. S/he will support strategy formulation, relations with clients and partners, manage the work programme, and monitor the portfolio. S/he will support and report to the Country Director (CD).

Country strategy formulation: • Support the country strategy formulation process (including CPS and annual business plans) • Catalyse and integrate various perspectives from Country Team members and other stakeholders in the strategy formulation • Support portfolio management, including review of ISRs, ICRs management of trust funds and portfolio indicators • Lead/contribute substantially to CPPRs • Monitor the development impact and implementation progress of the portfolio • Assist CD and the CMU in resolving portfolio issues • Draw lessons from portfolio management for design/adjustment of CPS and future lending operations • Support the CD in the harmonisation of aid assistance/policy dialogue with multilateral and bilateral donors.

Selection criteria: • An advanced degree (Master or higher level) in a discipline linked to the main lines of Bank activities • Minimum of 8 years’ relevant experience • A proven record in timely delivery of outputs with high quality • Outstanding planning and organisational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines • The ability to adapt to shifting priorities and work pressure.

For the full job description and full selection criteria for the position, qualified candidates are requested to visit and submit an electronic application through the World Bank careers website: www.worldbank.org/careers and click on Employment opportunities then > Non-managerial job opportunities – then > Current vacancies > and then on vacancy reference number 121786. E-mail or paper/postal applications will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The closing date for the receipt of your electronic application is the end of the day on 13 August 2012.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are
equally encouraged to apply.