Counsel
| Job #: | req35299 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Legal |
| Grade: | GF |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Washington, DC,United States |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | French, Spanish, Arabic or Portuguese |
| Closing Date: | 1/28/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data. Legal Vice Presidency. In the context of the World Bank Group's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel (SVP-GC), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters. Department Context:The Operations Policy Unit (LEGOP), under the Chief Counsel, provides advice and expertise on operational policy matters, strategy, and partnerships. Topics covered as part of the policy work include operational procurement, access to information, fragility, conflict and violence, fiduciary and integrity matters, lending instruments and contractual arrangements, and country engagement. LEGOP also advises on World Bank Group strategy, legal risk management, and on questions of interpretation of World Bank Articles of Agreement. LEGOP negotiates new World Bank Group Memoranda of Understanding and structures innovative partnership arrangements with Multilateral Development Banks and other organizations. LEGOP works closely with Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Vice Presidency and other corporate as well as operational units, as well as with LEG Management, and provides additional, topic-specific advice and assistance to country lawyers regarding operational policies and specialized legal advice as they relate to specific financing operations. In addition, LEGOP helps to ensure that all World Bank Group activities comply with the institutions’ Articles of Agreement, as well as its operational policies and procedures.Responsibilities and Accountabilities:The Counsel will function as a legal advisor to one or more assigned internal World Bank clients. The selected candidate will work under general supervision of the Chief Counsel, with day-to-day guidance provided by one or more Lead or Senior Counsels working in the same practice specialties. The Counsel will be expected to handle at least some of the following areas of responsibility:• Cover a broad portfolio within legal and policy issues in LEGOP’s work program in one or more areas of concentration, with a particular focus on: (1) fraud and corruption issues in World Bank Group operations, including review and drafting of legal provisions to ensure proper application of the Anti-Corruption Guidelines (ACGs), and/or (2) legal and policy issues arising from private sector participation in public investments, including PPPs; • Engage in policy discussions and negotiations with officials internally and externally, developing relationships with members of the legal profession and lawyers working in development partner agencies;• Conduct comparative legal analyses on a range of issues in a given area, identify legal and policy issues, research for relevant precedents, and propose appropriate solutions to colleagues and clients;• Provide legal support to ongoing projects and programs for adherence to World Bank Group policies and procedures;• Prepare legal memoranda on pertinent legal and policy issues, including on matters related to domestic law (at the national and sub-national levels) and international law;• Support the development of policies, procedures and guidance and delivery of trainings to operationalize ongoing or new policy or other initiatives designed or supported by LEGOP;• Assist with the strategic engagement with the Board of Executive Directors;• Participate in missions and negotiations within the above functional areas;• Protect World Bank Group's interests and promote its goals and values;• Write and review policy papers, undertake legal research on topics in area of concentration and contribute to dissemination of policy and best practices in a given field;• Prepare legal briefs on diverse topics;• Work to advance the LEG VPU’s knowledge management agenda and use of technology; and• Perform ad hoc assignments as requested by the Chief Counsel or designated Lead/Senior Counsel. The location of the duty station will be Washington, D.C. The Counsel may be expected to be decentralized during the course of their career in LEG.
Selection Criteria
Academic qualifications and experience: • Law degree: JD, LLB, LLM, or equivalent, with at least 5 years of relevant experience.• Be admitted/qualified to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.• Experience in international, administrative, commercial or contract law, in transactional legal and/or policy work including the preparation of policy papers.• Experience with risks and frameworks applicable to integrity (fraud and corruption) and/or public private partnerships (PPP).• Familiarity with the work of international financial institutions is a plus. • Familiarity with regulatory, transactional or policy issues arising from private investments in emerging markets is a plus. • Familiarity in the use of varied legal research sources (including electronic sources on the internet) and other databases, including AI tools.• Language skills. Fluency in English, both written and oral, is required, with additional fluency in French, Spanish and/or Portuguese highly desirable.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.
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.
