The World Bank Group : Senior level Job Opportunity

JOB #141045
JOB TITLELead Specialist- Leadership and Learning
JOB FAMILYLearning
JOB TYPEProfessional & Technical
GRADEGH
LOCATIONWashington, DC
RECRUITMENT TYPEInternational Hire
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTEnglish [Essential]
CLOSING DATE01-Nov-2014

Background / General description:

Leadership, Learning, and Innovation (LLI) is a new WBG Vice Presidency (VPU) dedicated to building the capacity of staff and country partners to accelerate achievement of the twin WBG goals:  to eradicate extreme poverty by reducing the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day to 3 percent by 2030, and promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40 percent in every country. 

This new LLI VPU leverages, for the first time, the combined strength of the WBG in building the capacity of staff and country partners to lead, learn, and innovate.  LLI is being created from existing practices within the former World Bank Institute (WBI) and Human Resources (HR).  HR’s staff-facing Leadership and Learning Practices are being merged into WBI’s client-facing Leadership, Learning, and Innovation Vice-Presidency, to create a new organization that can help both staff and country partners learn how to more effectively catalyze change and achieve accelerated results.  The integration of the client-facing and staff-facing roles enables LLI to capitalize on new opportunities for sharing methods and expertise and bringing staff and country partners together for joint work.  The principal integration work is focused on leadership and learning pillars (innovation is already focused on both clients and staff), with a major effort needed particularly for leadership.  The integration will take place between July 1, 2014 and January 1, 2015.  [WBI’s existing thematic practices moved to the Global Practices and Cross-Cutting Solution Areas on July 1, 2014.]

During FY15, a major transition effort will be required to integrate HR’s staff leadership program with WBI’s client leadership program under one department, while at the same time launching entirely new programs for culture change and for leading across the new matrix with new GP leadership, CDs/regions and leaders across WB, IFC, MIGA.  To this end, an intensive effort has been launched to develop an integrated and scaled up leadership program that will:  (1) help to create a new WBG culture that is aligned with the new WBG strategy and goals; (2) build the capacity of WBG leaders to inspire and manage staff to execute our mission; and (3) build the capacity of country partners to drive change and achieve accelerated results.  To execute this, LLI will need an integrated staff and client leadership and culture change team that brings together HR, WBI, and new team members for scale-up programs within the Collaborative Leadership Department.  

The Position:

The Collaborative Leadership Department in LLI is seeking a Lead Specialist in Leadership and Learning to play a key leadership role in building the department, by providing strategic input and technical leadership in aligning our programs to achieve maximum impact for the leadership development needs of the new World Bank Group.  S/he will be a member of the department’s management team, and a member of the LLI VPU’s extended management team.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Duties and Accountabilities:

Reporting to the Manager for Leadership Development and Culture Change, the successful candidate will be accountable for the following:

• Support design and lead execution of leadership development strategy and business model for both staff-facing and client facing programs

• Review/revise existing and develop new curricula as needed, to ensure close linkage to WBG business goals and reflects best practice

• Work closely with HR and operations to link staff-facing programs closely with career and talent management

• Lead development of approach to virtual leadership development, so that staff can access leadership development programs from the field at low cost

• Help build the evidence base on 'what works' through research and M&E,  in order to make the business case for both staff-facing and client-facing leadership development

• Facilitate learning for leadership development staff, so that we continually strengthen the impact of our programs and deepen the skills of our staff

• Oversee our outreach, internally and externally, to help create a buzz around our programs, working closely with the LLI Communications team

• Oversee development of new leadership programs as business needs arise (e.g. high-potential leadership program for World Bank staff)

• Find and leverage synergies with the existing client leadership, culture change and managerial leadership programs

• Work closely with the Culture Change Working Group, ensuring that WBG values and behaviors are appropriately embedded in staff leadership programs

• Manage and mentor small team working on strategy, analytics and communications

• Contribute as a member of the department’s management team, and a member of the LLI VPU’s extended management team

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to design, execute and manage new leadership programs, preferably with experience outside of the World Bank Group

• Proven ability in developing strategy and business models and leading their implementation

• Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: the change management, organizational design, organizational psychology, leadership development, executive coaching, adult learning or a related field

• Outstanding interpersonal, diplomatic and partnership skills and proven ability to work in a collaborative environment with team members and across organizational boundaries

• Strong track record in effective and timely delivery of high-quality programs

• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to lead a wide range of tasks

• Strong written and oral communication skills; strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to engage in high-level dialogue with both within the WBG and externally

• High ethical standards and deep sense of fairness

• Masters or PhD degree in relevant field; the successful candidate will have at least 12 years of relevant experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility

WBG Core Competencies:

Effective WBG staff demonstrates personal leadership and commitment to the WBG’s values and mission. They take initiative, and are persistent in their drive for results.  They seek opportunities to improve and find innovative solutions, where appropriate, to problems. They inspire and encourage others to have a positive attitude and impact, are able to adapt to changing circumstances, and are willing to be bold to increase the Bank’s Group’s effectiveness.

Deliver Results for Clients:

Effective WBG staffs demonstrate personal leadership and commitment to the WBG’s values and mission. They take initiative, and are persistent in their drive for results.  They seek opportunities to improve and find innovative solutions, where appropriate, to problems. They inspire and encourage others to have a positive attitude and impact, are able to adapt to changing circumstances, and are willing to be bold to increase the Bank’s Group’s effectiveness.

Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries:

Effective WBG staffs collaborate and work with others across and outside of the World Bank Group in order to achieve the best results for clients. They cultivate and leverage their professional networks to this end. They are inclusive in gathering options and information, and align their behavior and priorities with the needs and goals of WBG. They maintain a WBG corporate mindset above an individual or team perspective and are proactive in mitigating and managing conflicts.

Create, Apply and Share Knowledge:

Effective WBG staffs understand the value of creating, applying, and sharing knowledge. Staff, rapidly and readily share their expertise; create and contribute to the WBG’s body of knowledge and efficiently reflect and draw on lessons of past experience from colleagues, clients, partners and external sources to drive the WBG to achieve its goals. They expand their professional networks in their areas of expertise by forging linkages with others. They energize others to create, apply and share knowledge and learn from each other. They also seek opportunities to grow personal and institutional knowledge and invest in the growth of others through mentoring, as well as developing themselves and others through feedback and continuous learning.

Make Smart Decisions:

Effective WBG staff balance the need for risk management with a sense of urgency by making quick, timely, and relevant decisions. They display the confidence to take smart risks and make timely and effective decisions and show confidence in own judgment and actions. They are good problem solvers, collect evidence, lessons from past experience, and research to support their actions, and are willing to make decisions and take smart risks that advance the goals of WBG. They take ownership for decisions they make, and ensure issues are pushed to the right level for decision-making when needed.

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