Senior Procurement Specialist

Senior Procurement Specialist

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd.

Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) plays a pivotal role in achieving the World Bank Group's mission by assisting frontline staff in delivering results to clients. OPCS develops and oversees the Bank's operational policies for country strategies, lending operations, advisory services and analytical support, procurement, and environmental and social standards. OPCS teams also provide advice and support to World Bank senior management and staff as well as hands-on assistance to help teams apply the Bank's policies, processes, and risk management tools. 

The Operations Procurement Department in OPCS is responsible for setting procurement policy, providing oversight, and supporting good practice in Bank-financed operations. The OPCS Procurement Team manages the World Bank’s Procurement Framework, develops and maintains Standard Procurement Documents (SPDs), leads operational procurement policy development, provides oversight for major projects, and delivers training and outreach to stakeholders. The department also coordinates with other multilateral development banks to harmonize procurement standards and practices. The department is currently leading a number of Bank-wide reforms and initiatives that have a considerable impact on the Bank’s operations and contribute significantly to several of the Bank’s priorities and policy commitments. 

Scope of Work: Reporting to the Director and Chief Procurement Officer and/or the Manager of the Procurement Department, the selected candidate will be a dynamic and energetic professional with strong market instincts, a keen awareness of evolving industry trends, and the ability to translate market insights into the Bank’s work. The candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Partner with OPSPR colleagues to shape and deliver new policy initiatives, with particular emphasis on the industry outreach workstream of the Bank’s Procurement Change Program across priority sectors, including energy, transport, urban, water, health, education, and digital;
• Working with OPSPR, sector, operational, corporate, and external relations colleagues and across the WBG:
  - Build strategic relationships with industry leading companies, private sector, associations, regional and national trade agencies, leading suppliers, bilateral donors, MDBs, and other partners to sharpen and expand outreach, systematically capture industry feedback, and channel relevant insights to operational sector teams to strengthen the design and implementation of sectoral projects;
  - Design and deliver targeted market-specific sector and/or subsector engagement plans. 
  - Position the Bank at key industry forums and identify opportunities to leverage IFC and MIGA offerings;
• Equip sector teams in these priority areas with practical procurement guidance and tools to strengthen sector- and subsector-level strategy design and implementation;
• Contribute to priority reviews and provide focused advisory input to programs and projects in coordination with OPSPR and regional colleagues;
• Create compelling communications that amplify industry outreach, working with the OPSPR communications lead and regional colleagues; and
• Advance internal outreach and change management across the Bank’s procurement profession.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Law, International Policy, Public Procurement, or a related discipline.
• Understanding of World Bank operations, corporate priorities, and development issues, with the ability to identify risks and opportunities in an international environment. For external candidates, demonstrated knowledge of World Bank and/or MDB operational procurement.
• At least eight years of relevant procurement experience in sectors, including energy, transport, urban, water, health, education, and digital.
• Demonstrated ability to follow, interpret, and anticipate market and industry trends in the priority sectors, with a genuine curiosity about how supplier markets, technologies, and supply chains are evolving, and the drive to keep that knowledge current.
• Proven success in designing and executing private-sector engagement strategies, complemented by a strong record of producing high-quality communications.
• Ability to source, analyze, and translate diverse data, including Bank and public procurement data, dashboards, and AI-enabled insights, into focused outreach and action.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering stakeholder engagement and capacity-building initiatives.
• Collaborative, energetic self-starter who builds strong relationships, takes initiative, and pursues innovative solutions.
• Sound judgment and decisive execution, with the ability to work autonomously, remain composed under pressure, and deliver multiple priorities to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Additional languages would be an advantage.
  
  The assignment will begin on December 15, 2026. 

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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.