ackground / General description

* Note: this is a one year Extended Term Consultancy appointment, with the possibility of extension for an additional year.

The External Affairs Vice Presidency (EXT) manages strategic communications and relationships with key stakeholders for the World Bank Group. EXT’s overall mandate is to increase understanding and support for the Bank Group’s mission both at the global and country levels, and to leverage the Bank Group's development impact through effective communications, advocacy, diplomacy and issues management. The Bank’s relationship with the UN is managed directly by EXT and is supported by two units, one in New York (EXTUN), and one in Geneva (EXTGE), each headed by a Special Representative. Both teams work closely together, coordinating positions as necessary with a Bank-wide network of managers and staff engaged in UN matters.

The New York Office team is now looking for a Communications consultant to help carry out its work program. The team in New York focuses on three levels of engagement: the Bank’s relationship at the intergovernmental level, interacting with diplomatic missions represented in New York and the bodies governing the UN General Assembly, ECOSOC, and Security Council; the Bank’s relationship with interagency bodies, such as the Chief Executives Board (CEB) led by the Secretary-General, the High Level Committee on Program (HLCP) and High Level Committee on Management (HLCM) and the UN Development Group (UNDG), in which the Bank is an observer member; and the Bank’s relationship at the institutional level with the UN Secretary-General and the UN Secretariat. In all of these areas, the goal is to ensure a partnership with the UN that capitalizes on the relative strengths in the relationship.Duties and Accountabilities:
- Assists the Special Representative (SR) on developing and shaping an external communications strategy for the New York Office
- Contributes to the strategy and program development for diverse and highly complex diplomatic and communications strategies, contributing to the formulation of the Bank’s position on critical issues with the UN and the NY public at large.
- Prepares and oversees communications products, including speeches and briefing materials, strategic guidance notes and logistical support to the Bank’s management engagement with the UN
- Assesses and analyzes diplomatic initiatives, movement and proposals at the intergovernmental and interagency levels to recommend actions and advise management.
- Engages with negotiating partners as appropriate and liaises with Bank management and staff to ensure best outcomes in the UN intergovernmental process
- Maintains and deepens the relationship with the interagency structures such as UNDG and HLCP
- Advises management and contributes to the Bank’s understanding of the UN process to enhance the Bank’s influence and leverage in the UN
- Plans and coordinates an on-going series of events at the UN and New York City including strategic visits of senior Bank management and staff.

Selection Criteria:
- A Masters degree in Communications, Political Science, International Relations, Public Affairs, Marketing, Journalism, Economics or other related field and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience;
- Sound knowledge of national international trends, political-economic issues and conditions, and developments related to the UN and the UN system;
- Excellent diplomatic and political skills and proven ability to persuasively present and defend controversial issues positions;
- Capacity to operate effectively in a matrix environment both as a team leader and team member;
- Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues;
- Excellent communications skills, both oral and written, and skills in making a variety of public presentations;
- Excellent English is critical; knowledge of another UN language is highly desirable.
Vacancies Contact
http://web.worldbank.org