Senior Partnership Specialist, Private Sector and Foundations, GPE

Senior Partnership Specialist, Private Sector and Foundations, GPE Job #: req33773 Organization: World Bank Sector: Education Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Paris,France Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): French, other European languages Closing Date: 7/30/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.
Who We Are GPE is a shared commitment to end the world’s learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency. 
What We Do GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue. 
How We Work GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive, and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2025 and 2030, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories—home to 1 billion children—through country-led reforms that accelerate access, improve learning outcomes, and advance gender equality. Transforming education is about creating lasting change and achieving impact at scale, and GPE delivers this by convening partners, mobilizing funds, and catalyzing reforms.  
5th  Financing CampaignTo realize this ambition, GPE is launching its 5th financing campaign to mobilize the resources needed to implement its new strategic plan for 2025–2030. This campaign presents a unique opportunity to engage private sector and philanthropic actors in unlocking innovative and sustainable financing—through co-investments, blended finance, and strategic advocacy—to help deliver inclusive, high-performing education systems in the world’s most challenging contexts.
Governance And Organizational Arrangements The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership’s breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Ms. Christine Hogan. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions. 
The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat’s headquarters are in the World Bank’s offices in Washington, D.C., with a European office in Paris, an Africa office in Nairobi, a satellite office in Brussels, and a support office in Chennai.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The External Relations team (EXR) responsibilities include donor relations, external communications, advocacy, civil society engagement, private sector and private foundation partnership development and it has the primary responsibility for overseeing GPE's Financing Campaigns.
The Private Sector and Foundations Team (PS&F) is part of External Relations (EXR). This team leads on strategic engagement with private and philanthropic entities and their networks in support of GPE’s mission and goals, leveraging the multiple capabilities this category of partners brings to education and to the Partnership. In addition, the team also manages the Secretariat's support to the Private Foundations and the Private Sector constituencies with their participation in GPE governance processes (GPE Board and committees).
ABOUT THE JOB
This position will be based initially in Paris but may be relocated if business needs arise that makes it necessary to do so.
DescriptionThe Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Senior Partnership Specialist to advance its engagement with private sector actors and philanthropic foundations. Positioned within the Private Sector and Foundations team, this role will provide senior-level support in developing and managing high-impact partnerships and will contribute to the sustainable and innovative financing agenda critical to achieving GPE’s mission of transforming education systems and improving learning outcomes worldwide.
Duties And AccountabilitiesStrategic Partnership Development and Management• Support the strategic coordination and stewardship of GPE’s portfolio of partnerships with private sector actors and philanthropic foundations, ensuring alignment with GPE’s mission, priorities, and long-term goals.• Cultivate and maintain senior-level relationships with key partners, facilitating strategic dialogues that drive mutual accountability, shared vision, and measurable impact.• Identify, assess, and prioritize new partnership opportunities, leveraging insights from regional networks, advocacy coalitions, and sector leaders to expand GPE’s influence and catalyze transformative change.• Provide strategic input into the design and rollout of high-impact initiatives that leverage partner expertise in priority thematic areas such as digital innovation, climate resilience in education, gender equality, and 21st-century skills development.• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align partnership strategies with broader GPE objectives, ensuring coherent and effective engagement across all levels of the organization and partner ecosystem.Sustainable and Innovative Financing • Collaborate closely with regional teams to identify and pursue new private and philanthropic co-financing opportunities that align with country-led education sector priorities and GPE funding frameworks. • Support the structuring and implementation of blended finance and co-investment models that combine these resources with GPE funding to maximize impact and strategically unlock private capital. Advocacy and Global Policy Dialogue• Engage private sector and foundation partners as influential advocates in global education policy dialogue, working in close coordination with GPE’s advocacy and communications teams, as well as regional and technical teams, to integrate their perspectives into key policy platforms, events, and campaigns at global and regional levels.• Support the development of joint advocacy strategies that mobilize resources and political will for inclusive, quality education in GPE partner countries.

Selection Criteria

EducationMaster's degree in relevant field of study or equivalent years of experience.
ExperienceA minimum of 8 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.Relevant private sector engagement and partnership development experience, including working within a comparable international organization or partnership, and a strong familiarity with developing countries.Expertise in two or more of the following areas: project lead and co-creation/cooperation development in global education, health, or other areas relevant to the work of the Global Partnership; CompetenciesAccountability & Results Focus -  Engages in productive consultation without losing sight of responsibility for own, and team, decisions, deliverables and deadlines. Doesn’t let the pursuit of perfection prevent forward progress, in self or on teams. Seeks clarity from colleagues or leadership team when needed; Helps junior staff get needed clarity to move work forward; works within and across teams to remove obstacles and resolve issues. Takes ownership of own mistakes, failures or oversights, and seeks to correct them; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team mistakes. Manages differences of opinion to productive resolution so as not to impede progress. Ensures group efforts produce clear actions and decisions and tasks conclude.
Adaptability -  Models flexibility - responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills, performs work in different ways and coaches team members to do the same. Exerts a calming influence on colleagues and staff in stressful situations. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment and helps others do so.
Collaboration & Teamwork -  Views the whole of the Secretariat as greater than sum of the parts and works collaboratively with colleagues with shared goals in mind. Acts as a teammate; steps in to supports teammates and colleagues across teams as needed, regardless of organizational boundaries. Recognizes, values and reinforces the role of each team in delivering on GPE’s mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome and leads groups to this outcome. Fosters productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when decisions don’t reflect own position.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills -  Has extensive experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences, internally and externally. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways; coaches others to develop this skill. Shares information and keeps people informed; Operates with transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment; Within and across teams, addresses behaviors that undermine transparency and trust. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and holds team members responsible for doing the same. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately.  Learns from others’ ideas and expertise.
Planning & Organizing -  Works well independently and in teams. Develops clear goals aligned to agreed strategies and direction. Plans and prioritizes work effectively, for self and assigned teams Works under pressure and against tight timelines, and still delivers high-quality work. Manages own and team time efficiently, and delegates appropriately. Foresees risks and identifies mitigation strategies and contingencies.
Conceptual and Analytical Skills  -  Expert level research skills and experience developing them in others. Extensive experience leading efforts to quickly analyze and synthesize information from technical reports and other sources, summarize it into key messages, and use it for political influencing. Experience modeling analytical and problem-solving skills for junior staff and guiding them in applying them to their operational tasks. Strategic thinker with ability to translate strategy into tactical actions.
Foundational Technical Knowledge in Education & Development -  Experience supporting work on education and/or development issues in low and middle income countries. Understanding of the policy process. Understanding of unique considerations in fragile and conflict affected contexts. Knowledge of stakeholders, major issues and challenges. Knowledge and/or experience in one or more of the following GPE focus areas: Education finance, education planning and management, education in fragile contexts, girls' education, inclusive education, learning, teacher development, other areas relevant to work of GPE.
Relationship Management -  For assigned stakeholder group (e.g. donors, private sector & foundations, civil society, or other), deep knowledge of the organizations and their unique characteristics, and strong professional network with key players. Understanding of, and sensitivity to, stakeholder perspectives, interests and needs and their intersection with GPE’s goals and interests. Extensive experience forging and managing relationships and developing partnerships that expand the reach and impact of the organization. Strong influencing and negotiation skills; Skilled at getting alignment behind a common goal, and support for specific courses of action or solutions. Possesses strong political judgment, diplomatic sense, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. 
Representation Skills -  Well-rounded with a broad base of knowledge about GPE, its partners, its work, its challenges and its impact (not expected for external candidates). Expert ability to think and respond quickly and extemporaneously with tact and diplomacy, and to present a credible and convincing presence. Ability to represent GPE and the full range of its activities and products to external stakeholders. Thorough understanding of the political landscape within which GPE and its partner countries operate.
BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION