Procurement Specialist - Policy and Third-Party Risk Management Job #: req33949 Organization: World Bank Sector: Procurement Grade: GF Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Sofia,Bulgaria Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 8/18/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities โ the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).ย It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.ย ย
Vice-Presidency Context:
The Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning Vice Presidency (BPS VPU) was created in July 2013 and expanded to include Corporate Procurement in July 2024. The purpose of the VPU is to deliver high value for money with efficient, effective, and professional finance, procurement, and resource management services to help drive sustained business success through delivery of the WBG strategy. At the same time, it is focusing on improving governance to enable better oversight of what and how services are provided and continuing to strengthen its professional workforce with up-to-date skills, knowledge, and experience. The BPS VPU delivery model has three core roles designed to provide high quality, relevant and consistent services:
โข Business Partners: embedded partners focused on decision support and performance oversight with strong understanding of the business.
โข Centers of Expertise: providing thought-leadership and analytics, designing resource management policies, practices, and coordinating business finance knowledge management.
โข Service Center: central unit to manage delivery of high volume and transactional and reporting services across Bank, including help desk to provide support to clients.
Department Context:
The Corporate Procurement Department supports the mission of the WBG by performing the procurement function following the principles of transparency, fairness, competitiveness, best business judgment and best value in an efficient, effective, and customer-focused manner. These principles are employed globally and represent the strategic elements that guide the Bank Groupโs activities in procurement and contracting practices. Corporate Procurement is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the sourcing strategy, selection, and contract execution for more than 130 Bank Group offices around the globe, serving our clients from offices located in Washington, D.C., Chennai, India and Sofia, Bulgaria. Within the BPSCP delivery model, the Corporate Procurement Department focuses on three core principles:ย
โข Commerciality: Deliver best โvalue for moneyโ supply solutions measured by cost, quality, and speed.
โข Risk Management: Assess, mitigate, and monitor vendor related risks to protect WBGโs interests
โข Sustainability: Develop environmentally and socially sustainable supply chains.ย
Categories of spend include: i) Corporate Services and Real Estate; ii) Human Resources and Professional Services; and iii) Technology. To learn more about Corporate Procurement, visit: CP website.
ย
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Procurement (Policy & Risk Management) Specialist position is based in Sofia, Bulgaria and will report to the Senior Procurement Specialist who in turn reports to the Global Head, Center of Excellence. The primary focus of this role will be on supporting the Corporate Procurement Policy & Third-Party Risk Management team. Responsibilities of the team include development of procurement directives, procedures, guidance, best practices, reference documents; quality assurance; compliance; communications and change management of policy enhancements; management of vendor eligibility procedures. Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) responsibilities include ongoing implementation and review/update of the WBG TPRM Framework in collaboration with Risk Partners, to effectively manage third-party risk in accordance with internal policy requirements and in response to emerging risks.ย The team also provides support to WBG business units, Category Management teams, Risk Partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate understanding and compliance with procurement processes including integration of risk management throughout the procurement and contract management cycle.
Key accountability for this position includes:ย
โข Support the administration of WBGโs Vendor Eligibility procedures, including supporting WBG Integrity Vice Presidency investigation of vendors alleged to have engaged in sanctionable practices, reviewing findings from investigations, drafting notices to vendors and providing recommendation of actions to be taken by WBG in accordance with relevant procedures.
โข Provide advice to WBG staff and vendors on conflicts of interest related to the procurement process. This would include providing resources and training to Corporate Procurement Tier 1 and 2 resources to ensure consistency in practice and in interpretation of procedures and guidance in addressing inquiries and requests from internal and external parties.
โข Support the design and implementation of outreach activities to internal and external parties, based on lessons learned related to governance and risk management.
โข Identify issues to be addressed and propose and implement corrective actions.
โข Support the drafting of procedures, guidance and best practice documents and propose updates and revisions to existing procedures and guidance documents to address changes in processes or practices.
โข Support WBG business units in the interpretation and application of Corporate Procurement directives, procedures and guidance.
โข Provide insights to support decision-making on systems and processes based on feedback from business units.
โข Provide training and change management support to internal clients and external parties.
โข Support Corporate Procurement governance and risk management change initiatives and analyze post-implementation feedback from clients and stakeholders for follow-on action as necessary.
โข Conduct quality assurance and governance reviews of corporate procurement processes and records and recommend improvements where necessary.
โข Support internal audits and reviews of Corporate Procurement processes, including serving as liaison with WBG Group Internal Audit as necessary.
โข Support periodic review of contract terms and conditions and work closely with WBGโs legal department and Risk Partners to propose timely updates to align with market conditions and emerging risks.
โข Support vendor management initiatives.
โข Review vendor complaints and protests and draft appropriate responses based on findings and in keeping with the relevant procedures and guidance.
Due to the requirements of the job, this position may require frequent adjustments to the work schedule created by the time zone difference with many of the clients it supports and may also involve a limited amount of travel.
Selection Criteria
โข Masterโs degree, JD or LLB or equivalent combination of education and experience.
โข Minimum five years of relevant experience in governance, compliance or risk management.
โข Knowledge of international procurement practices and processes is preferable.
โข Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to deal with ambiguity, think critically, objectively and facilitate solutions, along with experience in conducting research and analysis on well-defined tasks, articulating issues, and recommending solutions.
โข Excellent organizational and project management skills, ability to work independently to manage multiple projects or tasks within tight deadlines. โข โข โข โข Ability to establish and monitor quality standards and work assignments and manage client expectations.
โข Familiarity with risk management frameworks, environmental, social, and governance risk domains within third-party risk management, best practice, and governance structures used to manage vendor risk programs and vendor risk mitigation and oversight.
โข Ability to work collaboratively with subject matter resources, in a matrix, virtual and cross border environment to influence change in corporate understanding and adoption of governance and risk management initiatives.
โข Ability to confidently communicate with stakeholders at all levels within the organization, including senior level management. Excellent English writing and communication skills; able to translate technical concepts into laypersonโs terms. Other language skills would be an asset.
โข Ability to deal sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
โข Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office suite and other business-related software systems.
General Competencies:
โข Superior communication skills in English (verbal, written, and comprehension), and ability to resolve interpersonal conflict.
โข Cross-functional team player with the ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix management environment,
โข Strong client service orientation.
โข Understand and manage digital information, data, and content.
โข Utilize emerging technology for work program delivery and be proficient in using new technologies and ability to create diverse digital content.
โข Other language skills would be an asset.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of Urgency โ Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking โ Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability โ 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 theย World Bankย andย IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.