World Bank Senior Procurement Specialist

Job Description

Senior Procurement Specialist

Job #:	req36940
Organization:	World Bank
Sector:	Procurement
Grade:	GG
Term Duration:	5 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:	International Recruitment
Location:	Phnom Penh,Cambodia
Required Language(s):	English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:	6/16/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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.

Build a Career with Purpose at the World Bank Group

Are you passionate about using your expertise to tackle complex development challenges and drive meaningful reform? The World Bank Group (WBG) is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Procurement Specialist to join its East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region, focusing mainly on Cambodia, as part of the Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos CMU (VCL). With 189 member countries and over 120 offices worldwide, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of development, financing and knowledge. We work with governments, the private sector, and civil society to create innovative, evidence-based solutions that promote sustainable development, shared prosperity, and the end of extreme poverty.

Why Join the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region?

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region has made strong progress in reducing poverty and expanding opportunity, yet important challenges remain, including uneven access to basic services, infrastructure gaps, and vulnerability to climate and disaster risks, and job creation.

World Bank Portfolio and Procurement Policy engagement in Cambodia

The World Bank’s portfolio in Cambodia is guided by the 2025–2029 Country Partnership Framework, focusing on three priorities: strengthening human capital, enhancing competitiveness and job creation, and building resilience to economic and climate shocks. The program combines IDA financing with IFC and MIGA support, with strong emphasis on public private partnerships and private sector development, particularly in infrastructure such as energy and transport. The active portfolio is largely composed of Investment Project Financing (IPF) operations across transport, water, agriculture, and human development, with major projects such as the Regional Connectivity Improvement Project and the Water Supply and Sanitation Acceleration Project highlighting the importance of procurement intensive, works-heavy investments. Programmatic approaches, including MPA, are also used to support long-term infrastructure development.

Complementing lending, the World Bank supports procurement policy reform in Cambodia through close collaboration with the government, focusing on strengthening the legal and institutional framework, enhancing fiduciary oversight, and improving service delivery. Through the MAPS assessment and ongoing technical assistance, the Bank has helped identify system gaps and advance reforms to improve competition, efficiency, and transparency. Key areas include green procurement, strengthened accountability and grievance redress mechanisms, and improved governance and fiduciary standards. The Bank also supports capacity building, professionalization, and increased use of digital and data-driven tools, helping modernize procurement systems and align them with international good practices.

Prosperity Global Practice | East Asia and Pacific Region

The Prosperity Global Practice—often referred to as the Prosperity Vertical—is a strategic pillar within the World Bank’s operational structure that aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, resilience, and good governance. It integrates global practices across procurement, public sector management, governance and anti-corruption, and financial management to help client countries build capable institutions and deliver impactful results.

EAP Procurement Team Overview

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) procurement team, comprising 38 staff, 6 ETCs and short-term consultants, operates through a decentralized structure based in seven country offices. The team supports 225 active World Bank-financed operations across the region, with a total commitment of $32 billion.

Role Profile

We are seeking a high-performing and delivery-oriented and innovative procurement specialist capable of addressing the complexity of the Cambodia portfolio. The role requires a shift from compliance-focused processing to portfolio-level results management, prioritizing high-impact contracts and linking procurement performance to disbursement outcomes. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Advanced expertise in complex works procurement, including packaging strategies and market analysis

• Strong capability in process optimization and risk-based decision making to reduce delays and bottlenecks

• Proven experience in upstream planning and readiness, addressing weaknesses in preparation, budgeting, and STEP programming

• Strong commercial acumen, including proactive market engagement to enhance competition and reduce single-bid outcomes

• Solid contract management and payment monitoring skills to accelerate disbursement and improve implementation performance

• Ability to leverage data, dashboards, and AI-enabled tools to enhance transparency, quality, and decision making

• Strong risk management and integrity oversight, combined with stakeholder engagement and capacity-building skills to strengthen institutional performance

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Accredited Practice Manager and working closely with the Procurement Lead Specialist based in Hanoi and the Vietnam-Cambodia and Laos (VCL) procurement hub, the selected candidate will:

• Serve as a senior procurement advisor and portfolio delivery lead for the PMB portfolio

• Provide expert advice on complex procurement issues across sectors and project teams

• Promote procurement modernization and innovation, including fit-for-purpose approaches and Procurement Change Program initiatives

• Support upstream engagement and procurement strategy development, ensuring market-informed and risk-based approaches

• Provide hands-on support to task teams and implementing agencies to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate procurement and contract implementation

• Maintain fiduciary oversight, ensuring timely reviews and appropriate follow-up on compliance

• Use data and digital tools to track performance, identify issues, and improve delivery

• Strengthen country procurement systems and capacity, building trusted relationships with government counterparts

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/temporaries).

External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience

1. Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Law, Procurement, Finance, Business, or Commerce, engineering background preferred)

2. At least 8 years of relevant experience in procurement and contract management, ideally in middle-income country contexts

Core Competencies (proven experience/Knowledge)

3. Strong knowledge of World Bank procurement policies and practices

4. Experience in applying innovative approaches

5. Experience in providing enhanced implementation support.

6. Ability to translate principles into practical, fit-for-purpose solutions

7. Experience in market engagement and supplier outreach

8. Knowledge of country systems, procurement reforms, and e-GP platforms

Skills and Capabilities

9. Excellent communication and drafting skills

10. Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement capabilities

11. Proven ability to work in multicultural, matrixed environments

12. High level of professional judgment, adaptability, and delivery under pressure

13. Strong business acumen and analytical skills

14. Proficiency in digital tools, data analytics, and AI-enabled applications

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.

This position is no longer open.

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