Senior Operations Officer/Senior Government Liaison

Senior Operations Officer/Senior Government Liaison Job #: req34267 Organization: World Bank Sector: Operations Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Riyadh,Saudi Arabia Required Language(s): English, Arabic Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 9/29/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) 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, www.worldbank.org.

Regional Context

The Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region serves twenty two countries across different income groups, of which fourteen 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 $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 (MNADE).

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 (https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena).

The World Bank’s GCC Country Department: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/gcc

The Senior Operations Officer will primarily focus on the WB KSA program. The program is delivered through a Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) Agreement with the Ministry of Finance and stand-alone agreements with various ministries and government entities. It covers activities in a wide range of sectors connected with the Vision 2030 goals with clearly defined deliverables. In addition, the Senior Operations Officer will also serve as a Senior Government Liaison to foster and deepen the trusted relationships with clients and partners in Saudi Arabia.

The Senior Operations Officer will report to the Country Director based in the Riyadh office.

Roles & Responsibilities:

1. Client/Country Relations: 

- Develop and maintain excellent and trusted relationships with the government counterparts, actively contributing to business development and growing the World Bank’s Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) program in Saudi Arabia.
- Actively support the country and project teams by playing a critical role in coordinating the implementation of the World Bank RAS program in the Kingdom and working with the Program Manager in the Bank dialogue with the government counterparts. 
- Provide support to visiting technical teams and join key meetings with senior government agencies.
- Liaise with Global Practices and task teams to ensure consistency in reports and correspondence with the government.  
- Coordinate and facilitate close partnership with IFC and MIGA towards development and implementation of joint World Bank Group programs.
- Keep abreast of latest developments in KSA and their implications for the WBG, including identification of new business opportunities.
- Develop and maintain close working relations with the Washington-based Country Anchor Unit, the CMU staff in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Oman, GP colleagues, operational services and quality staff, and regional management.

2. Portfolio Monitoring and Implementation

- Undertake a monthly analysis of operational data and information.
- Oversee the development of a TCP monitoring dashboard with MoF.
- Track and report on key deliverables, the work program and budget execution.

3. Monitor Program Delivery and Provide Quality Assurance
 
- Implement monitoring system to formally track concept notes, aide memoires, completion summaries, and budget utilization. 
- Conduct regular monitoring of activities with the Operations Team in the Country Office and Headquarters.  
- Participate in the review of CMU budgets and RAS billing in close cooperation with the World Bank Budget department.
- Monitor and follow up on payment arrears where needed.

4. Play a key role on facilitating VIP visits to the Kingdom

- Lead the preparations for the visit, liaising with the relevant government entities and World Bank teams.  
- Contribute to the preparation of briefing documents and internal and external correspondence for Bank management, and external audiences.

5. Serve as the Security focal point for KSA.

Selection Criteria

• Masters, or higher degree in a relevant field/discipline (economics, public policy, business administration, finance, or similar field relevant to the Bank’s mission).
• Minimum eight years of directly relevant experience in Bank Operations.  
• Wide range of operational experience as leader of teams.
• recognized as an operations/portfolio expert by peers and managers.    
• Solutions oriented and ability to actively shape, drive, and provide high level contributions.
• Strong Organizational skills and can multi-task and reliably deliver under tight deadlines.  
• Aptitude to respond quickly to client demands, find ways to enhance effectiveness. 
• Strong team player, able to collaborate closely with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.   
• Strong client orientation and ability to operate effectively in complex situations, with due regard to political economy, social and cultural contexts.  
• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic, verbal and written with ability to adapt complex messages to a variety of stakeholders, balancing flexibility, with firmness and clarity of message.  
• Ability to focus on big picture and overall country framework for development.

Required Competencies: COS Competencies

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.

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