WBG Young Professional

WBG Young Professional

The World Bank Group’s Young Professionals Program (YPP) offers exceptional professionals from around the world the opportunity to apply their specialized technical expertise, broaden their experience, and contribute to solutions to some of the most pressing development challenges. Young Professionals (YPs) work across the World Bank, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID in support of our mission to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more than 60 years, this highly competitive program has selected outstanding professionals to contribute to the institution’s work and develop as future leaders in global development. 
 
We seek candidates who demonstrate strong leadership potential, exceptional technical skills, and a clear commitment to our mission and values. As a YP, you will collaborate with colleagues across disciplines and institutions, applying your expertise to help address pressing development challenges and improve lives around the world. 
 
YPs join the World Bank Group on an initial two-year term contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance. During this period, YPs complete three eight-month rotations: one with their primary function and area of expertise, one cross-institutional rotation, and at least one rotation based in a country office.  These assignments enable YPs deepen their technical and operational knowledge while gaining experience across different areas of the institution. 
 
Through the YP Academy, YPs undertake a structured learning and development journey that includes technical and operational training, language programs, negotiation and business skills, and leadership development. They also receive individual coaching, connect with mentors, and participate in strategic dialogues with senior leaders. 

The World Bank Group’s Young Professionals Program (YPP) engages global talent with distinctive technical skills and diverse backgrounds to work across the World Bank, MIGA, and IFC towards a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Through the YPP, we select top talent to advance the World Bank Group’s mission. 

For over 60 years, the YPP has been both a highly competitive and uniquely rewarding opportunity to join the World Bank Group. As a premier international organization at the forefront of development, we look for prospective Young Professionals (YPs) to join us from around the world with diverse backgrounds, exceptional technical skills, outstanding leadership potential, and a demonstrated commitment to our mission and values. Working across the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA, the YPs help solve the world’s most pressing development challenges to improve the lives of millions globally.

The Chief Risk Officer Environmental and Social Risk function provides independent, risk-based oversight of environmental and social risk across the World Bank Group, with a focus on strengthening portfolio quality, management attention, and accountability for higher-risk operations. The function works across regions, sectors, and institutions to identify emerging E&S risks, support credible risk escalation, and provide analytical inputs to management on risk trends, systemic issues, and lessons from implementation. This YP-level role will support CROE’s review and assurance work across a range of operations by contributing to document review, site-based assessment, risk analysis, documentation, reporting, and follow-up on key E&S issues.

What You’ll Deliver 

• Support independent E&S reviews of selected operations, including review of project documentation, risk classification, E&S instruments, supervision records, implementation status reports, incident records, management responses, and other relevant materials.
• Prepare structured desk-review summaries that identify key E&S risks, implementation gaps, recurring issues, areas requiring clarification, and matters that may warrant management attention or additional follow-up.
• Support planning and preparation for site visits, including development of review questions, document request lists, stakeholder meeting plans, site visit agendas, and issue-tracking templates.
• Participate in site visits with senior E&S specialists, as needed, to observe project implementation, review mitigation measures, meet relevant stakeholders, document field observations, and support triangulation of risks identified through desk review.
• Analyze information from documents, interviews, supervision records, site observations, and portfolio data to identify material E&S risks, implementation constraints, systemic weaknesses, and lessons relevant to risk oversight.
• Prepare clear and evidence-based documentation of findings, including mission notes, issue logs, risk summaries, briefing notes, tables of observations, and draft inputs to management reports.
• Contribute to periodic reporting on E&S risk trends, portfolio issues, implementation bottlenecks, incident patterns, and follow-up actions, ensuring that outputs are concise, accurate, and decision useful.
• Maintain organized records of review materials, evidence, correspondence, findings, and agreed follow-up actions, while ensuring appropriate confidentiality and quality control.
• Engage constructively with regional, sector, legal, operations, accountability, and risk teams to validate findings, clarify issues, and support timely escalation or resolution of higher-risk E&S matters.

The ideal candidate will combine strong E&S technical grounding, analytical capability, and interest in institutional risk management, with the ability to work across disciplines and communicate clearly with senior audiences.

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in environmental management, social development, sustainability, finance, economics, development studies, engineering, law, public policy, or a related field.
• 2-6 years of relevant professional experience in environmental and social risk management, development operations, infrastructure, social development, sustainability, safeguards, or implementation support.
• Familiarity with internationally recognized E&S standards and approaches, including the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, IFC Performance Standards, safeguards policies, and/or sector-specific E&S risk management practices.
• Demonstrated ability to review project documentation, assess implementation risks, synthesize evidence from multiple sources, and prepare clear written outputs for technical and management audiences.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills, including ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative information into concise risk findings and practical recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to prepare clear briefing notes and management-facing materials under tight timelines.
• Ability to work effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary teams and engage constructively with operations, sector, legal, risk, and management stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and confidentiality.
• Proficiency in English required; fluency in additional languages and experience in emerging markets or fragile and conflict-affected settings would be an advantage.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful 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.