Lead Procurement Specialist

Lead Procurement Specialist Job #: req34340 Organization: World Bank Sector: Procurement Grade: GH Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Sydney,Australia Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 9/30/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a Career with Purpose at the World Bank GroupAre you passionate about using your expertise to tackle complex development challenges and drive meaningful reform? The World Bank Group (WBG) is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead Procurement Specialist to join its East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region, focusing on the Pacific Island Countries and Papua New Guinea (PNG). With 189 member countries and over 120 offices worldwide, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of development, financing and knowledge. We work with governments, the private sector, and civil society to create innovative, evidence-based solutions that promote sustainable development, shared prosperity, and the end of extreme poverty.
Why Join the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region?The EAP region has made impressive progress in reducing poverty and driving economic growth. Yet, challenges persist: institutional weaknesses, climate vulnerability, geographic isolation, and growing inequality. The Pacific Islands are a group of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, PNG, and others—spread across a vast ocean and facing development constraints that demand tailored and innovative solutions.
The World Bank supports the region through regional platforms and instruments such as the IDA Small States Program, investing in climate and disaster resilience, human capital, digital transformation, and governance reform.https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/pacificislands.
Pacific Islands Subregion ContextThe World Bank’s Pacific Island member countries (The Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu – for Papua New Guinea see this page) have a combined population of about 2.3 million people, spread across a vast ocean, these countries face unique development challenges such as geographic isolation, limited institutional capacity, vulnerability to climate change, and narrow economic bases. The populations in these countries are small, ranging in size from 12,000 (in Tuvalu and in Nauru) to about 900,000 in Fiji. Pacific Island countries have substantial natural resources and extraordinary linguistic and cultural diversity. They are also among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. 
Prosperity Global Practice | East Asia and Pacific RegionThe Prosperity Global Practice—often referred to as the Prosperity Vertical—is a strategic pillar within the World Bank’s operational structure that aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, resilience, and good governance. It integrates global practices across procurement, public sector management, governance and anti-corruption, and financial management to help client countries build capable institutions and deliver impactful results.
EAP Procurement Team OverviewThe East Asia and Pacific (EAP) procurement team, comprising 38 staff and short-term consultants, operates through a decentralized structure based in seven country offices. The team supports 244 active World Bank-financed operations across the region, with a total commitment of $3.38 billion. 
Job Duties and Responsibilities: Under the guidance of the Accredited Practice Manager for East Asia and Pacific, the Lead Procurement Specialist will provide strategic leadership across the two Pacific CMUs, steering procurement on operational, policy, and institutional matters while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics. The role will focus on accelerating project preparation and delivery across a $3.38B portfolio of 90 active projects, advancing initiatives such as hands on expanded implementation support (HEIS, BFP), aggregation of demand, and the Procurement Change Program. The Specialist will manage key relationships with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other partners, strengthen capacity through support to procurement coordinators and national institutions, and contribute to the Bank’s broader operational and advisory agenda in MICs, IDA countries, small states, and FCV contexts. This position requires strong diplomatic and relationship management skills to position procurement as a strategic enabler of faster, higher-quality development outcomes.
The selected candidate will undertake the following tasks:
1. Provide leadership across the EAP portfolio under the direction of the Procurement Practice Manager, ensuring fiduciary standards, quality control, and consistent policy application in complex, cross-sector procurement operations.2. Advance APM’s regional procurement integration by increasing adoption of uniform approaches (e.g., MPAs) and facilitating cross-CMU resource and knowledge sharing—resulting in greater efficiency, harmonized practices, and improved support to country programs.3. Develop and promote innovations in Bank procurement policy, advise on systemic and operational issues.4. Contribute to corporate initiatives (e.g., Better Bank, Procurement Change Program) and regional strategies (e.g., project delivery and disbursement strategy) by applying Procurement Framework flexibilities and leveraging AI-enabled tools—resulting in faster delivery, improved efficiency, and measurable enhancements in procurement outcomes.5. Support client countries in achieving value for money, strengthening procurement systems, and advancing reform agendas to improve service delivery, integrity, and institutional capacity.6. Contribute to the Prosperity agenda by integrating procurement reforms into broader governance and development efforts, collaborating closely with sector colleagues.7. Lead procurement reviews of key Bank documents (e.g., PADs, DPFs, legal agreements, Board papers), ensuring consistency across the region.8. Handle high-level procurement cases subject to APM and OPRC review, and participate in precedent-setting missions requiring innovative, practical solutions.9. Promote the use of electronic systems (e.g., STEP) for tracking, monitoring fiduciary metrics, and managing portfolio performance.10. Mentor colleagues, guide knowledge dissemination, and design training programs and capacity-building workshops for Bank staff and borrowers.11. Promote a positive and inclusive team culture that reflects the World Bank’s corporate values, strengthens collaboration, and recognizes contributions—leading to higher staff engagement, knowledge sharing, and collective impact.
Carrying out the responsibilities of the Lead Procurement Specialist will involve interaction with TTLs, Program Leaders, Practice Managers, government officials, counterparts in other international organizations, and Governance-Public Sector and -Financial Management specialists. The Lead Procurement Specialist is critical in building and maintaining relations with internal and external parties, including sectors, CMU, and government officials. This is particularly important when considering the responsibility to engage the governments in advancing policy dialogue on public procurement reform!

Selection Criteria

1. Master’s degree with a major in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Law, Procurement, Finance, Business, or Commerce).2. A minimum of 12 years of experience as a procurement specialist or responsibilities with substantial content in the World Bank’s Operational procurement. This includes proven direct expertise and leadership in applying and promoting new features of the 2016 World Bank Procurement Framework (Rate criteria, complex PPSD, sustainability, HEIS, BAFO, competitive dialogue, national procedures, disruptive technology, etc.) and incorporating ESF into Procurement.3. Proven experience applying and a strong understanding of new trends in Procurement (i.e., supply chain resilience, automation of procurement processes, promoting data-driven strategies). The LPS shall understand the importance of having a stable, agile procurement process. 4. Pioneering knowledge of public procurement principles, systems, processes and planning, and approaches to international procurement with proven ability to independently provide well-researched analyses of complex procurement issues and problems.5. The candidate should have worked in at least two regions or a combination of regional and corporate assignments.6. Excellent communication skills with the ability to defend orally and write complex issues and positions to Bank management, government officials, etc.7. High level of integrity and a sense of personal responsibility for achieving quality and timeliness in delivering the work program of the APM office.8. Strong managerial and organizational skills, including a proven track record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment.9. Demonstrated ability to effectively mentor/guide staff and clients and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills.10. Ability to function effectively, deal sensitively in multicultural environments, and build effective relationships with clients and colleagues.11. Familiarity with Bank’s Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.12. Oral and written mastery of English is required.13. Advanced technical qualifications and broad expertise in all aspects of procurement, including proven experience in designing, managing, and delivering large-scale and complex procurement operations. Experience in FCV countries and small states is also preferred.14. In-depth knowledge of Bank operations and demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate procurement-specific knowledge with broader operational policies, research objectives, etc. 15. Public Procurement Systems & Reform - Has adequate knowledge and experience to contribute to the broader analytical Governance work, with specific expertise in sustainable procurement (green, gender-responsive procurement, etc., data analytics, supply chain, etc.16. Proven track record of designing, managing, and delivering relatively complex, large-scale procurement operations, policy work, etc.

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.

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