Research Assistant

Washington D.C.

Organization: World Bank Group
Location: Washington D.C.
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Administrative support
- Scientist and Researcher
Closing Date: 2025-04-04

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 25 Executive Directors of the WBG Board, assisted by their Alternates, Senior Advisors, Advisors and Administrative staff represent the interests of the 189-member countries who nominated or elected them. They also ensure the oversight of the general operations of the Bank Group and the group’s results on the ground. The institutions under their purview are: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. The Board, working closely with Management, approves several policies, financial commitments and knowledge products that ensure the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge results for its clients in developing countries.

The Office of the United Kingdom (‘EDS03’) is looking for a motivated and proactive Research Assistant with excellent administrative, organizational, and interpersonal skills to join the team.

The Executive Director’s Office deals with all aspects of the Bank's work, interacts with Senior Bank Management, staff in other departments in the Bank, IFC, MIGA, as well as ministries, governments, embassies and high-level officials, representatives from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, academia, and others from the countries represented.

The office of the EDS03 (the UK Delegation to the World Bank – ‘UKDel’) is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant. S/he will support the office work, as a core member of the team and provide support on research related assignments to the ED, AED and all the Advisers. S/he will interact with a wide range of stakeholders within and outside the World Bank and will be expected to handle all tasks necessary for the efficient functioning of the office. Candidates should be prepared to work under pressure and in a busy and stimulating environment.

In addition to the Executive Director, the office consists of an Alternate Executive Director, five Advisors, and a Senior Executive Assistant.

The successful candidate will report to the Executive Director.

Note:

Administrative support staff hired into the Executive Directors’ offices will be offered an initial 2-year Term appointment. Staff on open-ended appointments who are selected into the EDs’ offices are strongly advised to obtain a re-entry guarantee from their releasing units to be able to return to open-ended status. An open-ended staff who does not have a re-entry to his/her releasing unit acknowledges that by applying to this position, s/he is entering a Term position, if selected, and will not be able to maintain his/her open-ended status. Executive Directors must conduct an annual overall performance review for their administrative support staff consistent with WBG annual performance review processes.

If an already open-ended candidate in an ED office gets selected, s/he will retain his/her open-ended status based on already meeting the eligibility and prior conversion decision per the ED ACS conversion policy. Such candidate may be subject to rotation as required by Corporate Secretary.

Duties and Accountabilities:

• The Research Assistant will provide the full range of office, administrative and policy support to the Executive Director’s office including, but are not limited to the following:

• Working with a high level of discretion and diplomacy in setting and managing priorities and workflow in an efficient and organized manner for the Executive Director, Alternate Executive Director and Advisors.

• Independently responding, in a timely and highly professional manner, to extensive and diverse external/internal inquiries and general requests by drafting and formatting – in English – standard and routine correspondence and making decisions when multiple courses of action are possible.

• Lead on the management of the UK Office’s assessment of the World Bank Group’s projects, ensuring that documents are sent to colleagues, deadlines are met and messages are delivered in line with UK objectives. Draft and proofread a wide range of project-related documents using proper grammar, punctuation, and style.

• Assist with and/or lead on research projects within the Office, including working with counterparts in London and within the World Bank.

• Assist with performing literature reviews.

• Work closely with the Office team to ensure research deliverables are produced in a timely fashion.

• Support the planning and preparation of relevant meeting materials, summaries, etc.

• Handle meetings logistics for the Office team, including close collaboration with colleagues in the UK Office in the IMF.

• Ensure internal databases and content, including for knowledge management of UK positions and decisions, are up to date.

• Discretely handle sensitive and confidential correspondence and information.

• Screen, track, prioritize, and appropriately channel all inquiries, requests, and telephone calls to ensure timely attention to priority issues.

• Establish and maintain an effective network of contacts, both inside and outside of the Office, to ensure effective coordination in support of execution of activities and efficient flow of information and communication.

• Play an active role in the planning, logistics and delivery of the yearly Spring (April) and Annual (October) Meetings, including supporting the programs of UK ministers and senior officials visiting Washington, working with colleagues in the Office, across the Bank and IMF, and with London and the British Embassy.

• Accompanying the office team to the Annual Meetings when held in member countries (once in three years).

• Providing administrative and logistical support to the ED’s office and delegations from the UK and other visitors, including support in meetings and on any follow up actions, including delivering travel plans and other office tasks such as management of any expenses and other budget costs.

• Performing ad hoc duties and wider support, including back-up to the Senior Executive Assistant, as required.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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