Senior Executive Assistant

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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.

Regional Context

The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) Region

The Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region serves 22 countries across different income groups, of which 14 are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers (Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia, and Yemen), with a total of 251 projects and over US$51 bn in total commitment. Eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis (Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). The mission of the region is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance. The region attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, and client service, underlined by professional excellence. The region places high value on diversity. The region is organized into seven Country Departments (CMUs), the Office of the Regional Chief Economist, and the Development Effectiveness Unit (MAPDE).

With an expanded regional strategy, the World Bank aims to help the region weather the current crises, move from stabilization to transformation, unlock its vast economic potential of youth and women, develop its human capital to adapt to global megatrends, and foster innovation. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena.

Infrastructure Vice Presidency

Globally, one billion people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 685 million people lack electricity, and nearly 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Vice Presidency within the World Bank is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. The Vice Presidency currently consists of four global practices (GPs): Energy & Extractives (EEX); Transport (TRA); Urban, Resilience and Land (URL), and Infrastructure Finance Practice (IFP). It oversees the World Bank's work across energy and transport sectors, urban development, as well as efforts to promote energy transition, low-carbon transportation, livable cities, disaster risk resilience, land management, and quality infrastructure services through public-private partnerships. Infrastructure represents around $110 billion of the Bank’s portfolio. For more information, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure.

The Regional Practice Director for Infrastructure in MENAAP is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and oversees the EEX, TRA and URL program in the region, which in turn are each led by Practice Managers.

Digital Transformation Vice Presidency

The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and will guide World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Transformation Vertical will have the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through two engagement pillars, six business lines, and multiple cross-cutting areas: 
 
• Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network, affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online safety.
• Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services, and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital school, digital health, etc.). 
 
Both pillars will be the channels through which the Vertical will support World Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills, climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and inclusion. For more information, please visit
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment.

The Regional Practice Director for Digital is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, mapped to the MENAAP region but also covers digital transformation in Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) and Western and Central Africa (AFW), with a reporting line to all three Vice Presidents. For more information on these regions, please visit the following sites:
 
Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/eastern-and-southern-africa
Western and Central Africa (AFW) visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/western-and-central-africa

Position Context

The two Regional Practice Directors for Infrastructure and Digital Transformation are looking for a Senior Executive Assistant to be based in Riyadh, KSA (regional duty station of the RPDs). The selected candidate will need to have broader regional experience, proven ability to work in a matrix environment, and will work with both RPDs as well as the broader group of administrative and client services team (ACS) and country management units in the regions.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Responsible for highly proactive time, travel and calendar management for the RPDs, including effective prioritization and resolution of related conflicts and competing demands.  Initiates dialogue with the RPDs to proactively resolve scheduling complexities and conflicts.
• Responsible for the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the RPDs’ workflow in close coordination with the Program Assistant for the Portfolio and Operations teams and the Program Assistants for regional Practice Managers.
• In consultation with other colleagues, screens and prioritizes invitations received for the RPDs and senior management (e.g., for speaking engagements) and make recommendations to the RPDs.
• Ensures quality assurance and operational accuracy of all documents requiring the RPDs’ signature. Guides staff on official formatting and standard protocol in processing executive correspondence and briefing materials. Works closely with the Program Assistant for the Portfolio and Operations teams to ensure all operations-related correspondence conforms with operational guidelines.
• Provides general research support on a range of topics on behalf of RPDs utilizing all relevant software programs.  Participates in regular Management Team meetings as requested by the RPDs.
• Where requested by the RPDs, liaises with senior officials both inside and outside the World Bank Group including a wide variety of high-level contacts in government offices, other international organizations, NGOs and the public sector.
• Establishes and maintains contact with executive assistants of all relevant clients of the RPDs and with the executive assistants of the MENAAP/AFE/AFW RVPs and DSOs.
• Independently responds to diverse inquiries and makes decisions when multiple courses of action are possible. Keeps relevant parties informed of actions taken by the RPDs by providing pertinent information, reports or status updates.
• Supports the RPDs in ensuring that management decisions are properly communicated, carried out and delivered in a timely manner.
• Stays informed on technological developments as introduced by the World Bank Group; makes sure all staff in the RPDs’ office are informed.
• Contributes to office administration, maintains and updates contact lists, the filing system, and ensures the general efficient functioning of the RPDs’ office, including ordering supplies and materials needed for the smooth running of the Office and any other necessary tasks.
• Assists the RPDs with the preparation of mission materials, including, where needed, through the solicitation of preparatory materials from relevant colleagues.
• Assists the RPDs with mission planning, scheduling and booking, including mission meetings and liaising with the program assistants of Country Directors and other colleagues required for mission planning.
• Works with the program assistants of the global Infrastructure and Digital Verticals as needed to support the RPDs.
• Takes the lead in setting up relevant departmental and managerial meetings for the RPDs.
• Takes responsibility for maintaining a high degree of organization and efficiency in the RPDs’ front offices.