Division Director, China, Mongolia, Korea

Division Director, China, Mongolia, Korea Job #: req34949 Organization: World Bank Sector: Operations Grade: GI Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Beijing,China Required Language(s): English 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 world’s 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:  

EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines, Indonesia and China. Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth and job creation has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are already affected by climate change and need to build resilience to more frequent disasters. The Bank plays a significant advisory and financial role on improving living standards through sustained growth and job creation and is increasingly embedding global public goods in country programs. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing. 

For more information on East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap 

Unit Context:  

The China, Mongolia, and Korea Country Management Unit (CMU) oversees the World Bank’s engagement in China, Mongolia, and Korea. The China program is pivoting towards a more knowledge focused engagement, underscoring both inbound and outbound knowledge. Mongolia has adynamic lending and AAA program. The Republic of Korea, while not a borrower, engages with the Bank as a learning partner, donor, and stakeholder. The Division Director is based in Beijing, China, and is supported by an Operations Manager in Beijing, China, a Country Manager in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, a WBG Country Manager in Songdo, South Korea, and a Senior Country Officer in Washington, D.C.

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:

• Serves as the Bank’s focal point for communications with country authorities.

• 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.

• Leads the coordination and delivery of the Bank’s dialogue, strategy and related work program in (countries) in close coordination with the Country Manager for Mongolia, the WBG Country Manager for South Korea and the Operations Manager and shared services team.

• Provides guidance, advice and support on political, social, economic and other relevant developments in (countries) to country team members and others.

• 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.

• 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.

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the country offices in close coordination with the OM, CM for Mongolia, WBG Manager for Korea, and other corporate offices (e.g., GCS on security).

People/ Talent Management responsibilities:

• 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.

• Manages the CMU and models integrity and inclusion, and offers mentoring and development opportunities for staff.

Resource Management responsibilities:

• Ensures that deployment of CMU resources is consistent with RM rules, policies, and internal controls.

• 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.

• Ensures that CMU budget utilization is consistent with regional and corporate priorities.

Relationship Management responsibilities (Internal and External):

• 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.

• Works proactively with IFC and MIGA to leverage World Bank financial and technical support, including with the private sector.

• Appreciates the complexities and relevance of political economy considerations on the Bank’s development efficiency in the region. Collaborates appropriately with other Directors, regional and sub-regional institutions, and partners to improve such efficiency.

Knowledge Management responsibilities:

• 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 “Global Bank”).

• Champions corporate and regional management initiatives.

• As the Division Director in reference to the FCV strategy support collecting and sharing lessons from the engagement with peers and colleagues working in the FCV committee and contributing to the further evolution of the Bank’s strategic engagement in difficult context. 

Security responsibilities:

• 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.

• Represents the Bank in the country-level UN Security Management System.

Selection Criteria

• PhD or Master’s degree in economics or related field, with a minimum of 15 years of experience in positions of growing complexity and responsibility

• Recognized expert within WBG or among one or more of the following: academia, private sector actors and policymakers – and with a proven track record of applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results

• Experience and ability to engage with clients at the senior level and represent the Bank at high-level international fora

• Demonstrated thought leadership on (sector) through economic research and publication recognized by academic and policy community

• Substantive experience working in client countries of different regions and familiarity with the WBG services including deep technical knowledge and experience on (sector) policy

• 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

• Extensive experience managing complex and large work programs, budgets, portfolio monitoring and supervision with proven results

• Proven ability to effectively implement complex change management initiatives

WBG 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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.