Financial Sector Specialist

Job Type: Location Type: Remote: open to residents of any country

 

Financial Sector Specialist

Job #:
req34123

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Financial Sector

Grade:
GF

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
9/21/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

“This position is a part of the Japanese recruitment mission.”

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.

THE GLOBAL PRACTICE FOR FINANCE, COMPETITIVENESS AND INNOVATION (FCI) IN THE WBG: FCI works towards creating an enabling environment in which financial stability, inclusion, resilience as well as competitiveness and firm support solutions are provided in an integrated way to crowd in the private sector, support the creation of markets and jobs, and accelerate resilient and equitable growth. FCI professionals lead or participate in a wide variety of analytical and advisory work that add to the core expertise delivered to client countries. Knowledge and learning are a central part of the FCI agenda, with work focused on the following thematic areas: (a) Crisis & Disaster Risk Finance; (b) Financial Stability and Integrity; (c) Long Term Finance; (d) Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure; (e) Industry Solutions; and (f) Firm Capabilities and Innovation.

The Crisis & Disaster Risk Finance team supports policy reforms and innovative (market-based) risk finance solutions to help countries (governments, firms and households) increase their financial resilience against disasters, climate shocks and other crises. The team offers a set of analytical and advisory services, financial services, and knowledge services to support the countries toward improved financial resilience. The programs managed by the team include the Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Program (DRFIP) funded by the Risk Finance Umbrella Multi-Donor Trust Fund; the Global Shield Financing Facility (GS-FF); and regional programs such as the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI).

Roles & Responsibilities

The Crisis & Disaster Risk Finance team is seeking a Financial Sector Specialist with background and experience in developing and implementing risk finance and insurance instruments and policies against climate shocks, disasters and other crises, or regulating insurance industries. S/he will (i) support the policy dialogue on climate and disaster risk finance with public and private partners; (ii) support implementation of the MDTF programs, including Global Shield Financing Facility,; (iii) provide country clients with advisory services and technical assistance on climate and disaster risk finance and insurance, informed by strong analytical work; (iv) create global knowledge. He/She will be assigned to work on countries and issues which span a full global portfolio.

The candidate will:
• Design and implement climate and disaster risk finance and insurance solutions (e.g., insurance, financial risk management instruments) for governments, businesses, farmers, and households;
• Support the overall technical, trust fund and operational management of different programs managed by the unit including the Risk Finance Umbrella Program and PCRAFI, including preparation of internal and external reporting, annual reports, monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, and implementation of communication strategy.
• Support the preparation and implementation of grant funded components on climate and disaster risk finance in World Bank lending operations, in close collaboration with the regional teams.
• Support donor relationships (e.g., preparation of technical meetings, Partnership Council and Steering Committee meetings) and prepare briefs for senior management
• Support provision of knowledge management products (including policy notes, country case studies and lessons learned for clients) and contribute to learning events (workshops, training courses, and distance-learning events).

The candidate will also perform any other tasks requested by the Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

Required Competencies:
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives
• Lead and Innovate – Contributes to development of innovative solutions.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
• Operational Project Management – Demonstrates broad knowledge of project management tools & methodologies; identifies key risks and mitigation measures; interprets background analysis and proposed solutions.
• Financial Economic Policy – Demonstrates knowledge of economic policy development; demonstrates strong analytical skills & writing ability to help identify and assess policy issues in support of policy dialogue.
• Sector/Program Representation – Ability to constructively participate in strategic cross-sector dialogues within the network, across the country, among Bank colleagues and other development institutions, government, and other organizations.

Knowledge and experience in the following areas:
• Experience in working for/with development partners and/or multilateral development banks on climate and disaster risk finance, climate change adaptation, financial sector development, or related topics.
• Knowledge of international policy framework and institutional architecture of climate change adaptation and resilience, and crisis risk finance.
• Knowledge of insurance regulatory and policy framework.
• Experience in managing Trust Fund programs.
• Experience in World Bank operations.
• Experience in public financial management; risk management; budget execution; management of contingent liabilities.
• Experience in advising governments on financial risk management in developing countries.
• Knowledge of public and private disaster risk finance and insurance instruments (e.g., contingent financing, traditional reinsurance, parametric reinsurance, catastrophe bonds, insurance-linked securities) and catastrophe risk pools.

Other Selection Criteria:
• Master’s degree [or equivalent professional qualification] plus at least 5 years of experience in public policy, financial economics, development economics, public finance, risk management, or related discipline.
• Proven ability to work in teams, as well as support the delivery of complex analytical and advisory services.
• Excellent writing skills in English and ideally another language.
• Excellent presentation skills demonstrating the ability to present the results of complex analytical output to a variety of audiences with different levels of technical knowledge and experience.
• Willingness to travel.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

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.