External Affairs Officer Job #: req35317 Organization: World Bank Sector: Communications Grade: GF Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Papua New Guinea Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 1/26/2026 (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 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. Including the need to create jobs. For more information, visitย www.worldbank.orgย External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR)
The mandate of the External and Corporate Relations (ECR) Vice Presidency is to strengthen the World Bank Groupโs (WBG) development impact by increasing public support for, and awareness of, the mission and work of the WBG. ECR manages stakeholder engagement and communications strategies to help deliver financial and political support to the World Bank Group, while enhancing and protecting the reputation of the institution. ECR manages global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, private sector, foundations, think-tanks, donor countries, and multilateral and international organizations; manages corporate communications, including online and social media; manages reputational risks and employee engagement.
The East Asia Pacific External and Corporate Relations Unit (ECREA)
East Asia and the Pacific remains one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Over the past two decades, most countries in the region have achieved strong and stable growth that has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and transformed economies across the region. Many East Asia and Pacific countries have risen to upper-middle income status and have set the goal of reaching high-income status in the near to medium term. The East Asia and Pacific region consists of more than 20 countries, under the supervision ofย Country Management Units.ย
Like all regional WBGโs communications teams, the ECREA focuses on 4 core duties:
1. Stakeholder Engagement - to build trust and mobilize coalitions that enable the WBG to deliver jobs and growth in each country.2. Strategic Business Marketing - to generate demand for WBG lending, private capital mobilization, and knowledge services and products by showcasing results and the WBGโs value added.3. Advocacy and Campaigns - to convert understanding into action by building support for reforms and solutions that drive private sectorโled job creation and address all key WBG priorities.4. Risk and Issue Management - to enable the WBG to deliver, including in complex environments, by anticipating challenges early, identifying pathways to keep progress on track, and protecting the institutionโs reputation.
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatuย
This World Bank Group Country Management Unit covers Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is led by the Division Director based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Over the past few years, the Bank Group has substantially scaled-up its program and field presence in the Pacific, with a focus on initiatives that address the challenges of fragility, isolation and size. Country-specific initiatives work with client governments and the private sector to target critical structural constraints to growth and jobs in the context of high exposure to shocks.
Responsibilities
The External Affairs Officer will be based in Port Moresby and works under the overall supervision of the External Affairs Manager. His/her specific responsibilities include. but may not be limited to, the following in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu:
โข Work as part of the World Bank Groupโs communications team, demonstrating abilities to support its agenda both with public clients (supported by the IBRD) and private sector clients (supported by IFC and MIGA, the private sectors arms of the Group)โข Plan, design, execute, monitor and evaluate the impact of communications strategies, activities, and campaigns about the World Bank Groupโs work in PNG, Solomon Islands , Vanuatu. ย โข Produce both routine and complex outreach products, writing and packaging materials (e.g. press releases, stories, website content, social media posts, talking points) that promote the strategic and timely flow of information about the World Bank Groupโs policies, projects, and reports to key audiences.ย Create multimedia packages as part of this, recruiting and managing vendors to support Strategically disseminate these products through media or relevant external channel outside WBG, based on regular mapping and assessment of visibility opportunitiesย โข Nurture and maintain strategic relations with key external stakeholders. Forge strategic partnerships to improve dialogue and outreach and to promote a better understanding of the World Bank Group. Identify entry points for positioning the World Bank Group into national conversations and platforms and drive forward opportunities. Support WBG efforts to capture third-party validation, leveraging testimonials / commentaries from external clients and partners.ย โข Monitor and analyze current events, including through media monitoring.ย Keep management informed of trends, news developments or changing circumstances that may impact the Bank and its work, including by producing timely political briefings.ย ย โข Identify potential reputational risks and advise on mitigation and response.โข Organize events, often in collaboration with partners, that convene constituencies for informed dialogue around pressing development agendas.โข Manage media relations, responding to queries, pitching stories, staff interviews, and arranging press briefings.ย โข Deploy effective social media strategy, including in-depth mapping of relevant online voices (experts, influencers, opinion leaders) and leveraging the regional social media channels as a vehicle for messaging, positioning and stakeholder engagement.ย ย โข Provide communication support to operational teams. This includes review and comment on key documents, guidance on contextual factors and communication interventions as needed.โข Provides support to regional initiatives and corporate priorities as requested.
Selection Criteria
โข Masterโs degree and at least five years of professional experience in Communications, Political Science, Economics, International Relations/Public Affairs, Journalism, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
โข Experience with multilateral organizations, development, and/or international financial institutions or working in the local private sector can be a plus.ย ย
โข Proven track record of communications work, including stakeholder engagement, media and creative story telling.ย
โข Relationships and experience in working with NGOs, government officials, academia, private sector and other audiences critical to the Bank's workย
โข A strong understanding of the development context and stakeholder environment in PNG, Solomons and Vanuatu.
โข Proven ability to identify, assess and mitigate reputational risks.ย
โข Outstanding inter-personal, organizational and teamwork skills, judgment, ability to collaborate with others in a multi-cultural environment.
โข Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to multitask, take initiative, personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines, identify and respond to needs as they arise, and remain flexible and self-motivated in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment
โข Proven ability to nurture and sustain positive working relationships at all levels with internal and external stakeholders; and identify and act on strategic communications opportunities in a time-bound fashion.
โข Fluency in oral and written in English required.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.