Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity 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 World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly-growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The Bank’s strategy in LCR is focused on five pillars: (a) stimulating growth and improving competitiveness; (b) reducing poverty and inequality; (c) making governments and institutions work for people; (d) providing a platform for tackling global issues (climate change, trade, disease, migration); and (e) reducing risk, whether from extreme weather events, climate change, crime and violence or other.

CMU and Country Office Context

The Central America and Dominican Republic CMU (LC2 CMU) is responsible for overseeing the World Bank program in the Dominican Republic and six Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The CMU bears the responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the Bank’s business model and the effective delivery of services through country strategy formulation and implementation, policy dialogue, portfolio management, and country relations. The CMU’s management team was decentralized from Washington, DC, to Panama in 2021.

Panama is a high-income country with an evolving Bank program, which includes investment and policy lending, technical assistance, and cooperation on global development issues. The Panama country office is based in Panama City and is co-located with IFC and MIGA. The portfolio includes IBRD and trust fund financing of over $850 million and technical assistance across key development sectors, with a focus on strengthening institutions and inclusion. The LC2 Country Director and Management Team are based in Panama, as well as several Practice Managers and technical and support staff.

The Panama Country Office is looking for an energetic and proactive team member for the position of Operations Analyst who possesses adaptability and flexibility in providing support to the country team and in taking on special assignments as the need arises. The Operations Analyst will work closely with the operations team and CMU staff under the supervision of the Operations Manager based in Panama. The position is for an initial term of two years.

Roles & Responsibility:

The Operations Analyst (OA) will join the Country Office team in Panama City, to support the coordination of the programming and implementation of the Bank portfolio in Panama. The selected candidate will participate in strategy development and implementation, monitor the implementation of the portfolio, and support technical teams in addressing operational issues. The OA may also participate as a member of the LC2 regional operations team, supporting portfolio monitoring and reporting across the CMU countries, and they may also engage in and contribute to other initiatives as an integral member of the country office and broader country team.

The OA’s responsibilities will include:

Country Program Management

• Provide substantive operational, research, statistical and other analytic support to the CO with respect to the country work program activities ranging from program and strategic document preparation, monitoring program implementation and deliverables, portfolio monitoring and quality assurance;

Participation as team member in the preparation of Country Engagement products, such as the Progress and Learning Review (PLR) and Country Partnership Framework (CPF);

• Review and screening of relevant documents/reports for consistency with country strategies;

• Collection of Bank system data and production of portfolio and ASA monitoring tables as an input to the monthly LC2 portfolio monitoring dashboard; Analyses of portfolio trends, drivers and performance;

• Verification and regular updating of milestones by Task Team Leaders (TTLs) and proactive follow-up to ensure timeliness of activities;

• Support to Country Manager in portfolio reviews;

• Review of operational packages to ensure compliance with Bank policies and procedures;

• Support to task teams by providing strategic input to the preparation of agendas, and joining key meetings and events to facilitate interaction and follow-up with government counterparts and Bank teams, as needed;

• Support to task teams by providing advice on processing operational documents for management approval;

Reporting and Brief Preparation

• Preparation of responses to ad hoc information requests from internal and external parties (e.g. cooperation agencies and other international organizations);

Prepare briefing material on country program/sector and project issues and follows up on portfolio issues;

• Keep a general brief up-to-date with information on projects, results, general overview of the portfolio that could be used to prepare other materials such as briefs for senior management, articles, interviews, etc.

• Preparation, under guidance of more senior staff, of country reports to management (e.g. Annual Meeting Briefs) and external agencies (e.g., minutes of Consultative Groups).

Client and Stakeholder Relations

• Contribute to Country Office outreach activities and products (e.g. presentations, reports, briefs, talking points) requiring operational input and/or operational follow up action;

• Interact with client representatives on issues identified by the country office team;

• Lead knowledge sharing with the country office staff on operational matters (policies, new guidelines);

• Support the outreach programs with media, academia and local stakeholders;

• Support the Country Manager / Operations Manager with outreach on social media platforms; and

• Act as a focal point for stakeholders for operational inquiries.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate should meet the following selection criteria:

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Social Sciences or other field related to development, and two or more years of work experience in a relevant discipline (e.g. public-sector management, financial analysis, etc.);

• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, and ability to apply these in carrying out complex research and operational tasks, identifying issues, presenting findings/ recommendations and contributing to resolution of sector and country issues;

• Familiarity with national & international development issues;

• Familiarity with project management, including knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies;

• Capacity to work simultaneously on a variety of issues and tasks, and ability to prioritize;

• High degree of initiative, flexibility and ability to work independently with good track record of being able to work in a team;

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with internal/external partners and promote collaboration in a multi-cultural environment;

• Committed to provide great service to clients with an ability to deliver timely and high-quality products in his/her areas of responsibility;

• Excellent oral and written communications skills in both Spanish and English;

• Familiarity with international financial institution and/or multilateral/bilateral organization would be advantageous; and

• Familiarity with operational issues and broad understanding of links to sectoral policies, are preferred.

Competencies

COS Generic Competencies: https://tinyurl.com/y34lnxvu

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 2-year term appointment.

The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.