Senior Executive Assistant Job #: req33954 Organization: World Bank Sector: Administration/Office Support Grade: GD Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Riyadh,Saudi Arabia Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Arabic, French Closing Date: 8/28/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
Regional Context
The Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) Region
The Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region serves 22 countries across different income groups, of which 14 are active/potentially active IBRD/IDA borrowers (Afghanistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Tunisia, and Yemen), with a total of 251 projects and over US$51 bn in total commitment. Eight are users of the Region's non-lending services, mostly on a reimbursable basis (Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). The mission of the region is to foster sustainable growth with a focus on job creation and poverty reduction, economic and social inclusion, and good governance. The region attaches importance to creating a supportive work environment based on the values of teamwork, transparency, trust, and client service, underlined by professional excellence. The region places high value on diversity. The region is organized into seven Country Departments (CMUs), the Office of the Regional Chief Economist, and the Development Effectiveness Unit (MAPDE).
With an expanded regional strategy, the World Bank aims to help the region weather the current crises, move from stabilization to transformation, unlock its vast economic potential of youth and women, develop its human capital to adapt to global megatrends, and foster innovation. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena.
People Vice Presidency
The People Vertical at the World Bank Group supports countries with their human development โ to protect and invest in their people, enabling them to reach their full potential and enjoy a good quality life.ย ย Better lives and better futures are only possible when all people have equal access to quality health care, education and social protection, and when all people have the opportunity to build and draw on their human capital throughout life to learn, work, create businesses, have dignity and quality of life, even amid challenges.
When Countries strategically invest in people and the systems designed to protect and build human capital at scale, they unlock the wealth of nations and the potential of everyone.ย Entire societies are more resilient against economic downturns, climate change, and conflicts.ย When girls and women are given equal opportunities to develop their full potential, everyone benefits.ย And when people migrate, whether by choice or not, their human capital can make the critical difference between surviving and thriving.ย
The Regional Practice Director for People in MENAAP is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and oversees the Education, Gender, Health, Nutrition and Population, Social Protection and Labor program in the region, which in turn are each led by Practice Managers.
Planet Vertical
The Planet Vertical in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region consists of four global practices: Agriculture and Food; Environment, Natural Resources and the Blue Economy; Social Inclusion, and Water. The Climate Change Group is also part of the Vertical.
The MENA Planetโs mission is to help clients protect and effectively use their natural wealth โ air, land, and water โ for inclusive and stable societies. In line with this mission, the MENA Planetโs value proposition is to help client countries promote water and food security and build resilience against climate risks; use natural resources well for jobs and long-term growth; and increase stability and trust between society and government on key development issues.ย
While the MENA Planetโs work in the region is thematically broad, there are clear priorities. The first is to put insights from the World Bankโs Climate Country and Development Reportsย into action, seizing opportunities for jobs and green growth, managing transitions, and adapting to climate risks in a way that makes macro-fiscal sense and advances poverty reduction. Secondly, the World Bankโs focus on water and food security is critically relevant to stability and growth in the MENA region and will continue to form a central part of the Verticalโs portfolio, including through work on subsidy reform. Thirdly, vertical looks to do more to protect coastal resources, grow the blue economy, and sustain livability and livelihoods in drylands, forests, and oases, in alignment with the World Bankโs global efforts to enhance forest management. Finally, the MENA Planet vertical will continue to emphasize its enabling role for work in the regionโs fragile and conflict-affected economies, and for the critical challenge of inclusion, especially with a view to jobs for youth and women.
Within the department, the Regional Directorโs front office is a small team consisting of operations, analytical, climate, and administrative specialists. It supports the Regional Director in managing the investment portfolio, overseeing analytical work, as well as corporate and external relations roles.
The Regional Practice Director for Planet is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Position Context
The two Regional Practice Directors for People and Planet are looking for a Senior Executive Assistant to be based in Riyadh, KSA (regional duty station of the RPDs). The selected candidate will need to have broader regional experience, proven ability to work in a matrix environment, and will work with both RPDs as well as the broader group of administrative and client services team (ACS) and country management units in the regions.
Duties and responsibilities:
โข Responsible for highly proactive time, travel and calendar management for the RPDs, including effective prioritization and resolution of related conflicts and competing demands.ย Initiates dialogue with the RPDs to proactively resolve scheduling complexities and conflicts.
โข Responsible for the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the RPDsโ workflow in close coordination with the Program Assistant for the Portfolio and Operations teams and the Program Assistants for regional Practice Managers.
โข In consultation with other colleagues, screens and prioritizes invitations received for the RPDs and senior management (e.g., for speaking engagements) and make recommendations to the RPDs.
โข Ensures quality assurance and operational accuracy of all documents requiring the RPDsโ signature. Guides staff on official formatting and standard protocol in processing executive correspondence and briefing materials. Works closely with the Program Assistant for the Portfolio and Operations teams to ensure all operations-related correspondence conforms with operational guidelines.
โข Provides general research support on a range of topics on behalf of RPDs utilizing all relevant software programs.ย Participates in regular Management Team meetings as requested by the RPDs.
โข Where requested by the RPDs, liaises with senior officials both inside and outside the World Bank Group including a wide variety of high-level contacts in government offices, other international organizations, NGOs and the public sector.
โข Establishes and maintains contact with executive assistants of all relevant clients of the RPDs and with the executive assistants of the MENAAP RVP and DSO.
โข Independently responds to diverse inquiries and makes decisions when multiple courses of action are possible. Keeps relevant parties informed of actions taken by the RPDs by providing pertinent information, reports or status updates.
โข Supports the RPDs in ensuring that management decisions are properly communicated, carried out and delivered in a timely manner.
โข Stays informed on technological developments as introduced by the World Bank Group; makes sure all staff in the RPDsโ office are informed.
โข Contributes to office administration, maintains and updates contact lists, the filing system, and ensures the general efficient functioning of the RPDsโ office, including ordering supplies and materials needed for the smooth running of the Office and any other necessary tasks.
โข Assists the RPDs with the preparation of mission materials, including, where needed, through the solicitation of preparatory materials from relevant colleagues.
โข Assists the RPDs with mission planning, scheduling and booking, including mission meetings and liaising with the program assistants of Country Directors and other colleagues required for mission planning.
โข Takes the lead in setting up relevant departmental and managerial meetings for the RPDs.
โข Takes responsibility for maintaining a high degree of organization and efficiency in the RPDsโ front offices.
Selection Criteria
โข Bachelorโs degree or with at least 8 years of relevant experience, preferably in operations within a regional context in an English language environment.
โข Previous experience in effectively managing or supervising staff or STTs.
โข Ability to process, handle, and communicate matters of a sensitive and confidential nature with a high degree of judgement and maturity.
โข Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to speak articulately and to write clearly in English, precisely and concisely for various audiences, and strong ability to work within a team environment.
โข Ability and willingness to work with a diverse set of colleagues, cooperating and working seamlessly with all key members of the MENAAP VPU, People and Planet VPUs, and the CMU management team.
โข Excellent organizational, administrative, and time management skills with proven ability to work promptly and efficiently under pressure and meet tight deadlines.ย Ability to shift gears at short notice to work on a wide range of assignments, remaining flexible and effective with a clear understanding of objectives to be achieved.
โข Demonstrated initiative, and drive for results including ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.
โข French and/or Arabic would be additional assets.
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.