External Affairs Associate

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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. Please visit www.worldbank.org. External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR) The mission of External and Corporate Relations (ECR) is to help deliver financial and political support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group’s role as a global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding its reputation, and supporting operational teams to achieve country outcomes. ECR manages corporate communications and global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, foundations, private sector, donor countries, and international organizations, as well as employee engagement. ECR also manages strategic communications for the World Bank Group’s Regions and Global Practices and leads the management of reputation risk. External and Corporate Affairs – Europe ECR Europe manages relationships with key stakeholders, including government counterparts, parliament, civil society, private sector, media, academia and international organizations in the traditional European development partner and donor countries. The Brussels Office opened in 1996 and works to deepen the World Bank Group’s partnership with the European Union Institutions (EUIs), Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and NATO and now counts over 90 staff. The Brussels Office is headed by the World Bank Special Representative to the EU, Belgium, Luxembourg and NATO, who reports to the Director for Government Relations, under the External Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency. The Brussels Office supports the WBG's operational departments (1) in their dealings with the EU Institutions, particularly the EC, the EIB, and with member states on the Council of the EU chaired by the rotating Presidency, and (2) in implementing effective outreach and communications strategies vis-à-vis other Brussels-based actors – including the European Parliament, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, think tanks and media outlets. Duties Responsibilities The successful candidate will report to the Special Representative to the EU and will work closely with the ECR teams in Washington DC and Western Europe. The incumbent will substantially contribute to ECR’s mandate by increasing support for, and awareness of, the mission and work of the WBG among key stakeholders in Brussels and Luxembourg. The External Affairs Associate’s major responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following: • Maintain and develop strong partnerships with key interlocutors, more specifically European Commission Directorates-General and services (e.g. INTPA, ECFIN, ENEST, EEAS), as well as the Council of the European Union (e.g., CODEV working party) and EU Development Finance Institutions, to advance the WBG’s strategic agenda. • Involve relevant WBG teams to ensure collaboration is advanced at policy and operational level and support VPUs on business development, including around innovative financing mechanisms and fundraising opportunities. • Engage with relevant partners to ensure the Brussels Office is well represented and WBG’s agenda advanced across a spectrum of development priorities. This will entail close collaboration with various WBG units, including Development Finance (DFi), the IFC, with a geographic focus on LAC and Asia. The incumbent will also be asked to support the bilateral relationship with Luxembourg stakeholders. • Gather intelligence and write policy briefs/papers in tandem with the Special Representative and ECR teams located in Europe and/or World Bank headquarters (HQ) on key issues i.a. related to the EU Global Gateway, or the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework. • Represent the WBG at meetings, events and conferences, including in UN Brussels Team coordination meetings, informal and formal sessions and launches of partner publications. • Facilitate the work of other units to organize, plan, coordinate, and implement outreach activities of the WBG in Brussels, including consultations with stakeholders and launches. • Provide issue and logistical support on agendas of WBG strategic engagements with EU institutions and high-level missions to Brussels and Luxembourg. • Support effective professional relationships with key external constituencies within civil society stakeholders (NGOs, think-tanks, academia, and private sector). • Specific tasks may include, but are not limited to: Draft presentations, speeches, key messages and talking points, and organize briefing materials for the Special Representative and other senior level staff; • Prepare the EU Donor Country Profile and the weekly newsletter (update); • Support/coordinate the World Bank participation to EU-led events (e.g. EU Global Gateway Forum); • Plan, organize and provide logistical support to WBG senior management missions to Brussels; • Plan, organize, and implement the Brussels Office's outreach activities designed to share and leverage WBG knowledge with stakeholders, including consultations with stakeholders and launches of knowledge products.