Division Director - Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela Job #: req34958 Organization: World Bank Sector: Operations Grade: GI Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Lima,Peru Required Language(s): English, Spanish Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 12/5/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the worldโs greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
VPU Context:
The World Bank Group serves 33 client countries in Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR).ย Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state, and to varying degrees face three key challenges โ low productivity and growth, low quality jobs and low resilience to shocks. The region is tackling these challenges with a strong WBG approach, underpinned by selectivity and complementarity between the value added of public and private arms, and in strong partnership with relevant regional development partners.
A. The challenge of low growth: After recovering lost output, the region is returning to pre-pandemic low growth and productivity scenario. After a solid post-pandemic rebound in economic activity (7.2% and 3.9% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively), GDP growth returned to the pre-pandemic low growth around 2.2% in 2023 and 2024, with a medium-term outlook of 2.5%. With an average Gini co-efficient of [0.52] LAC remains also one of the most unequal regions in the world. It is a region where the bottom 50% earn 27 times less than the top 10%. It also represents stark differences in opportunity, a child born today in the poorest 20% quintile in LAC will on average be 17 percentage points less productive than a child born in the richest 20%.
B. The challenge of quality jobs: the need for better quality jobs is paramount, with 6.2% unemployment rates, these low levels mask a deeper issue of job quality. Reflecting stagnating living standards, labor earnings have only grown by 1% or less per year in most countries over the past decade, and some 19% of workers in the region are earning incomes below the poverty line.
โข Investing in foundational infrastructure critical to job creation, LAC needs to invest at least 3.1% of GDP in infrastructure investments per year, yet it only invests 2%, which is significantly lower than the world average of 5.4% of GDP. This underinvestment in physical infrastructure, including in key infrastructure sectors (including resilient transport, water, energy etc.) is holding back potential for better jobs. The region is supporting clients by supporting selective transformative infrastructure projects (e.g. urban mobility, regional transport and connectivity). On human infrastructure challenge, firms in the region continue to cite skills shortages (55% of firms in LAC vs 45% in MIC regions) as a key barrier to growth and job creation. A child born in LAC is expected to reach only 56 percent of their productive potential. Three out of four 15-year olds fail basic math proficiency and cannot read adequately the soft side involves supporting clients revamp their education and health sectors. The region is supporting clients to revamp their education and health care sectors.
โข The LAC region also needs to foster a predictable, business-enabling policy and regulatory environment. These include ensuring macro stability, eliminating restrictive business regulations in product and factor markets, and improving access to finance, especially long-term capital. Labor market regulations in LAC are noted to be on par with the most restrictive labor market regimes among OECD countries. Further, enforcement of competition policy needs to be supported due to high levels of market concentration in LAC markets: the 50 largest firms in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile have revenues greater than 30% of GDP. At 55% of GDP, domestic credit to the private sector remains much lower than EAP (178%).
โข Private capital needs to be appropriately incentivized to support the provision of public goods and investments in key sectors, especially those that have the highest potential to enable and/or create better quality jobs. However, at only 19.8% of GDP, gross capital formation remains lowest among all regions (EAP is at 38% and South Asia at 30%). Private capital mobilization in the region is being held back by shallow capital markets, lack of long-term finance, high cost of capital, regulatory and institutional barriers (including in PPP frameworks). Based on country contexts, the WBG will support investments in productive clusters (energy/mining, value added manufacturing, agribusiness, tourism, etc) across the public-private spectrum.
C. The challenge of vulnerability to shocks:ย Building resilience of the countries to shocks, including natural disasters, through contingent financing and other innovative risk management platforms at country and regional levels is critical given the high exposure to climateโrelated disasters and natural hazards. Central America and the Caribbean have recurrent hurricanes that have impacts on GDP significantly higher than the regional average of 1.7%. Several countries are experiencing deep, long droughts, increasingly intense storms, and floods that disrupt economic activities and affect livelihoods, with impacts on the most vulnerable populations.
Unit Context:
The LC6 Country Management Unit (CMU) now includes Colombia and Venezuela as part of the Andean Countries Division. As a result, LC6 oversees Bank operations in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The unit has a decentralized office in Lima, where the Division Director is located, along with Country Offices in Bogota, Quito, La Paz, and Santiago, all headed by a Country Manager.
The Peru Country Office employs approximately 60 staff members, while Colombia's office has 45 staff dedicated to the IBRD program. The offices in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile each have about 20 staff, with Bolivia and Chile successfully pioneering the One WBG offices model since 2024.
The CMU oversees a wide range of Bank activities, including a large lending program (34 projects under implementation with commitments of close to $7 billion) and a strong yearly delivery of over $2 billion, accounting for about one quarter of the Regionโs annual new lending. The program also includes a robust analytical and advisory engagement, comprised of about 20 ASAs, including a large RAS program in Chile. Country Partnership Strategies were recently completed or updated in all five countries.
Duties and accountabilities:
The Division Director will be accountable for modeling WBG leadership values and managerial behavior, and ensuring that the unit delivers on its commitments. Accountability means being answerable for making strategic choices, managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives, external and internal resources, and compliance with WBG policies and procedures.
Business Management responsibilities:
โข Serves as the Bankโs focal point for communications with country authorities.
โข Develops and leads the implementation of the Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), with special attention to selectivity and relevant analytical and financing interventions at the sub-regional, country, sectoral and program levels that produce practical, visible and sustainable development results.
โข Leads the coordination and delivery of the Bankโs dialogue, strategy and related work program in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in close coordination with the Heads of offices, the Operations Manager and shared services team.
โข Provides guidance, advice and support on political, social, economic and other relevant developments in in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela to country team members and others.
โข Supports the development and monitors the implementation of high-quality work programs which must be based on the CPFs and are attuned to client demands and country contexts.
โข Provides oversight on portfolio management (including trust funds) and quality issues, working with clients and the country team to provide timely and effective implementation support.
โข Manages the day-to-day operations of the country offices in close coordination with the OM, RR and other corporate offices (e.g., GCS on security).
People/ Talent Management responsibilities:
โข Leads and motivates the country team with a focus on continuing to motivate teams, beneficiary orientation, development outcomes, partnerships, cross-sectoral coordination, and problem-solving, and takes ownership for achieving and communicating these outcomes to operational staff, and management.
โข Manages the CMU, models integrity and inclusion, and offers mentoring and development opportunities for staff.
Resource Management responsibilities:
โข Ensures that deployment of CMU resources is consistent with relevant resource management rules, policies, and internal controls.
โข Sets priorities and allocates budget within and across countries, in line with institutional priorities and a view to improving the impact beneficial to the Bank's activities.
โข Ensures that CMU budget utilization is consistent with regional and corporate priorities.
Relationship Management responsibilities (Internal and External):
โข Manages the complex political economy, demonstrating strategic patience with partners, interim administration officials, civil society and private sector. Exercises courageous and transformative leadership in dialogue.
โข Works proactively with IFC and MIGA to leverage World Bank financial and technical support, including with the private sector.
โข Appreciates the complexities and relevance of political economy considerations on the Bankโs development efficiency in the region. Collaborates appropriately with other Directors, regional and sub-regional institutions, and partners to improve such efficiency.
Knowledge Management responsibilities:
โข Embraces good corporate citizenship, including contributing to the development, implementation, and communication of corporate policies, strategies, and priorities (including ongoing reforms in investment lending, knowledge management, HR policies, and the โGlobal Bankโ).
โข Champions corporate and regional management initiatives.
Security responsibilities:
โข In accordance with the Framework of Accountability for the WBG Security Management System (WBG Directive), acts as Head of Security for the Duty Station and Duty Station Area responsible and accountable for resident Staff, business and benefit travelers, Registered Dependents and Bank Group property.
โข Represents the Bank in the country-level UN Security Management System.
Selection Criteria
โข PhD or Masterโs degree in economics or related field, with a minimum of 15 years of experience in positions of growing complexity and responsibility
โข Recognized expert within WBG or among one or more of the following: academia, private sector actors and policymakers โ and with a proven track record of applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results
โข Experience and ability to engage with clients at the senior level and represent the Bank at high-level international fora
โข Understanding of macro/fiscal challenges and demonstrated thought leadership on (sector) through economic research and publication recognized by academic and policy community
โข Substantive experience working in client countries of different regions and familiarity with the WBG services including deep technical knowledge and experience on (sector) policy
โข Demonstrated in-depth experience working across practice and disciplinary boundaries, with different units of the WBG and with multiple partners both public and private in building collaborative alliances for results
โข Extensive experience managing complex and large work programs, budgets, portfolio monitoring and supervision with proven results
โข Fluency in oral and written Spanish is required.
โข Proven ability to effectively implement complex change management initiativesWBG Managerial Competencies
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.
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