External Affairs Officer

Job #: req13562

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Energy

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): French, Russian, Spanish

Closing Date: 11/5/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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 Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), multi-donor trust fund is looking for an External Affairs Officer with excellent writing, media, advocacy and communications skills, including significant experience in developing communications strategies, stakeholder outreach mapping, media relations campaigns, event management plans, and creating social media and online platforms. This position is for a three-year term contract and based in Washington, D.C., USA.

The Infrastructure Practice Group

Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. Infrastructure improves lives by connecting people to opportunity. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure

Energy & Extractives Global Practice

Energy is at the heart of development. Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the center of efforts to tackle climate change. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy

Unit Overview

The Extractives side of the Global Practice helps governments seize opportunities for economic development by focusing on effective natural resource governance. This includes supporting governments decarbonize their oil, gas, and mining sectors; strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to promote equitable growth of the extractives sectors and leverage extractives-related infrastructure for public benefit. It also includes increasing transparency, improving domestic resource mobilization, and promoting inclusive growth while ensuring local community needs are met and the environment protected. The Bank has been successfully supporting countries improve the governance and management of their extractive industries through two Trust Funds.

One Trust Fund is the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), financed by governments and oil companies working to reduce global gas flaring at thousands of oil production sites worldwide. Key GGFR objectives include reducing global CO2, methane, and black carbon emissions while identifying gas utilization solutions and expanding energy access. In most cases, the solution to gas flaring lies in domestic energy policies: effective regulation and energy sector frameworks; access to and availability of energy infrastructure; energy market development; and a sound investment climate and operating conditions. Therefore, GGFR works closely with regional energy and World Bank country management units to address flaring within the wider energy and extractives sector agenda.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Work with GGFR and External and Corporate Relations colleagues in designing, implementing, monitoring, and assessing results-oriented communications strategies for GGFR; including messaging, positioning, stakeholder identification, partnerships, opportunities, horizon risk scanning and monitoring/impact evaluation.
• Develop impact and success stories and talking points around gas flaring reduction, oil, and gas production decarbonizing efforts and GGFR’s work program and initiatives.
• Draft communications products, including (but not limited to) briefing notes, op-eds, blogs, feature stories, materials for report launches, news releases, Q&As, and talking points.
• Assist with report launches and help manage media requests, coordinating responses with managers, task team leaders (TTLs) and colleagues in different regions and time zones.
• Help organize and manage events and meetings, including donor and Steering Committee meetings, and GGFR’s engagements at conferences and events, such as the United Nations General Assembly, the Conference of Parties (COP), etc.
• Monitor traditional and online media for relevant industry coverage and to help secure media placements for GGFR programs and initiatives. Develop media lists segmented by type and region; constantly update and refine.
• Monitor and analyze current events and public and media/social media opinion with a view to risk management. Advise GGFR’s Program Manager and other relevant Bank staff on trends, news developments, or changing/unexpected circumstances that may impact GGFR’s work and help determine appropriate strategic responses to address them.
• Design and develop content, including data dashboards and visualizations, for the GGFR, Zero Routine Flaring, and Energy and Extractive Industries websites.
• Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the GGFR Program Manager and the Extractives unit Practice Manager.
• Support GGFR’s Program Manager, project teams and others to identify and mitigate reputational risks, enhance stakeholder engagement efforts, and clearly communicate the long-term development impact and the Bank’s value-add.
• Help manage and administer GGFR’s interactions with current and potential new “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” (ZRF) initiative endorsers. Strategize with the GGFR team to garner new ZRF commitments/endorsements from governments and oil companies in close collaboration with the GGFR team, partners and others. Maintain the database of all ZRF endorsers and their contact details.
• Prepare and send the annual (and periodic) requests for reporting of flare volumes (total and routine volumes) from all ZRF endorsing companies and countries, with follow-up reminders as necessary.
• Collate and publish annual reported data submissions for the ZRF initiative, validating the completeness and consistency of the data with ZRF reporting requirements, and maintaining records (Excel datafiles) of the data. Develop a new, more automated system and process for ZRF reporting.
• Help manage events, workshops, presentations, and other activities in support of the ZRF initiative.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s Degree, plus 6-8 years of experience in communications, public relations, public affairs, media relations, journalism; previous experience at the World Bank Group or with a multilateral organization is a plus.
• Fluency in English is essential; fluency in French, Russian, or Spanish is a major plus.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, design, and implement communications plans, strategies, campaigns or programs; practical experience in a full range of communications approaches, tools and methodologies.
• Excellent English writing and editing skills and an ability to operate under pressure and tight deadlines with accuracy and professionalism; the same in French highly desirable.
• Experience creating multimedia and interactive content (such as presentations, slideshows, videos, and timelines).
• Demonstrated working knowledge and application of social media communications principles and other web technologies, including web content management systems.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of graphic design principles and what makes for compelling visual and print communications.
• Proficiency with industry-standard online applications and web technologies; basic ability to work with Adobe CMS tools a plus; proficiency in online usage data, trends, and analysis results; setting appropriate targets, developing gap analysis, producing reports, and making recommendations for action, maximizing effectiveness of existing online communications strategies or designing new ones.
• Event planning and management skills, with experience executing a wide variety of high-profile events.
• Self-motivated with excellent organizational skills and ability to work with both internal and external constituencies.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic, and teamwork skills, with an ability to work in a multicultural team environment.
• Strong initiative, judgment, and decisiveness in accomplishing tasks; proven ability to work independently; good time-management skills and an eye for detail; ability to work effectively under stress and to juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
• Understanding of international development issues and of the communication needs of key stakeholders, such as bilateral donors, government counterparts, the private sector, foundations, CSOs, media, and academic institutions.
• Values working in collaboration and respecting the views of others, especially in a multicultural environment; understands differences in culture and values and the importance of including others’ views in achieving the strategic goals of the World Bank and its partners.
• Identifies and meets (internal or external) client/constituent needs; builds productive client/constituent relationships; delivers client-centric solutions; takes responsibility for ensuring client/constituent satisfaction and loyalty.

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.