Program Assistant Job #: req35454 Organization: World Bank Sector: Administration/Office Support Grade: GC Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Kingston,Jamaica Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 1/29/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity 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 140 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 World Bank Group serves 33 client countries in Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state, and to varying degrees face three key challenges โ low productivity and growth, low quality jobs and low resilience to shocks.ย The region is tackling these challenges with a strong WBG approach, underpinned by selectivity and complementarity between the value added of public and private arms, and in strong partnership with relevant regional development partners.
A. The challenge of low growth. After recovering lost output, the region is returning to pre-pandemic low growth and productivity scenario. After a solid post-pandemic rebound in economic activity (7.2% and 3.9% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively), GDP growth returned to the pre-pandemic low growth around 2.2% in 2023 and 2024, with a medium-term outlook of 2.5%.ย With an average Gini co-efficient of [0.52] LAC remains also one of the most unequal regions in the world. It is a region where the bottom 50% earn 27 times less than the top 10%. It also represents stark differences in opportunity, a child born today in the poorest 20% quintile in LAC will on average be 17 percentage points less productive than a child born in the richest 20%.
B. The challenge of quality jobs: the need for better quality jobs is paramount, with 6.2% unemployment rates, these low levels mask a deeper issue of job quality. Reflecting stagnating living standards, labor earnings have only grown by 1% or less per year in most countries over the past decade, and some 19% of workers in the region are earning incomes below the poverty line.ย
โข Investing in foundational infrastructure critical to job creation, LAC needs to invest at least 3.1% of GDP in infrastructure investments per year, yet it only invests 2%, which is significantly lower than the world average of 5.4% of GDP. This underinvestment in physical infrastructure, including in key infrastructure sectors (including resilient transport, water, energy etc.) is holding back potential for better jobs. The region is supporting clients by supporting selective transformative infrastructure projects (e.g. urban mobility, regional transport and connectivity).ย ย On human infrastructure challenge, firms in the region continue to cite skills shortages (55% of firms in LAC vs 45% in MIC regions) as a key barrier to growth and job creation. A child born in LAC is expected to reach only 56 percent of their productive potential. Three out of four 15-year olds fail basic math proficiency and cannot read adequately the soft side involves supporting clients revamp their education and health sectors. The region is supporting clients to revamp their education and health care sectors.ย ย
โข The LAC region also needs to foster a predictable, business-enabling policy and regulatory environment. These include ensuring macro stability, eliminating restrictive business regulations in product and factor markets, and improving access to finance, especially long-term capital. Labor market regulations in LAC are noted to be on par with the most restrictive labor market regimes among OECD countries. Further, enforcement of competition policy needs to be supported due to high levels of market concentration in LAC markets: the 50 largest firms in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile have revenues greater than 30% of GDP.ย At 55% of GDP, domestic credit to the private sector remains much lower than EAP (178%).
โข Private capital needs to be appropriately incentivized to support the provision of public goods and investments in key sectors, especially those that have the highest potential to enable and/or create better quality jobs. However, at only 19.8% of GDP, gross capital formation remains lowest among all regions (EAP is at 38% and South Asia at 30%). Private capital mobilization in the region is being held back by shallow capital markets, lack of long-term finance, high cost of capital, regulatory and institutional barriers (including in PPP frameworks). Based on country contexts, the WBG will support investments in productive clusters (energy/mining, value added manufacturing, agribusiness, tourism, etc) across the public-private spectrum.
C. The challenge of vulnerability to shocks.ย Building resilience of the countries to shocks, including natural disasters, through contingent financing and other innovative risk management platforms at country and regional levels is critical given the high exposure to climateโrelated disasters and natural hazards. The Central America and the Caribbean have recurrent hurricanes that have impacts on GDP significantly higher than the regional average of 1.7%. Several countries are experiencing deep, long droughts, increasingly intense storms, and floods that disrupt economic activities and affect livelihoods, with impacts on the most vulnerable populations.
CMU and Country Office Context
The Caribbean Country Management Unit (CMU) covers 19 countries, with a total population of about 18 million people, ranging from Sint Maarten (40,000) to Haiti (11 million). The CMU and key staff, including the Division Director and Operations Manager, are based in Kingston, Jamaica.
In collaboration with Global Practice Groups, the Caribbean CMU supports the development priorities of Caribbean countries through financing and knowledge services and also provides reimbursable advisory services in Overseas Countries and Territories. The active program includes a portfolio of about 70 projects with commitments of about US$3 billion in World Bank and Trust Fund financing and 50 advisory services and analytics products.ย
In addition to the Country Office in Kingston, Jamaica, where the Country Director and the Operations Manager are based, the CMU has Country Offices in Haiti, Barbados, Sint Maarten and in Guyana. A Caribbean CMU anchor unit represents the CMU in Washington, D.C., and supports the overall work program.
The Caribbean CMU is recruiting a Program Assistant to be part of the CMUโs Administrative Client Support team, under the management of the Operations Manager for the Caribbean and in close coordination with the Executive Assistant. The duty station for this position is Kington, Jamaica.
Principal Program Assistant responsibilities:
The program assistant carries out the full range of office support work, including managing processes and monitoring schedules related to their team's/unit's products and tasks. They coordinate extensively with service units and liaise frequently with team members both at headquarters and in the field, as well as external counterparts. Program Assistants may also be assigned responsibility for some aspect of the unit's administrative functions.
General Office/Program Assistant Support
โข Maintain an effective network of contacts with government officials, donors, civil society, academia, businesses, and other World Bank offices.
โข Provide logistical support in the preparation and planning for various events including meetings, high level visits, conferences, and other events (such as organizing for in-country project negotiations) related to World Bank program management.
โข Provide administrative, logistical and substantive support to the Jamaica Country Office.
โข Draft and format a variety of standard project-related correspondence, drafting minutes and ensuring timely submission for clearance and distribution.
โข Incorporating agreed comments into documents, making full use of shared drives and software capabilities.
โข Using word processing or desktop publishing skills to produce complex text, reports, figures, graphs, etc., according to standard Bank formats and distribution.
โข Tracks assigned task/project steps/timetables, coordinate with relevant staff and provides assistance and/or information on project-related matters.
โข Maintains up-to-date work unit project and other files (both paper and electronic).
โข Coordinates schedules taking priorities into account, monitors changes, and communicates the information to appropriate staff, inside and outside the immediate work unit, including officials outside the Bank Group.ย
โข Mentor more junior members of the administrative team.
โข Solves non-routine problems (e.g., responds to requests requiring file search, etc.).
โข Serve as a back-up to the Executive Assistant and Program Assistants on project and administrative tasks.
Visiting Missions Support
โข Provide logistical support for visiting missions travelling to Jamaica including โ transportation, meetings, and catering requests.
โข Performs and other duties that may be assigned.
Selection Criteria
โPreference will be given to local talent, that is, applicants that are authorized to work in the duty station for any employer. Internal applicants may apply per existing guidelines.โ
โข A High School Diploma is required, University Degree will be an advantage.
โข At least 7 years minimum, 10 years desirable, working experience in a similar position.ย Candidates with experience working with the World Bank Group or another international development partner will be given preference.
โข Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
โข Ability to prioritize and balance competing demands under pressure, demonstrate proactivity, while keeping attention to detail and exhibiting good judgment
โข Excellent organizational and time management skills to undertake diverse tasks with minimum supervision
โข Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with ability to effectively interact with internal and external clients and staff at all levels.
โข Experience in event planning would beย a plus.
โข Proven ability to work in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment and managing a diverse portfolio of activities and tasks.
โข Positive attitude and proactive approach, high degree of motivation, initiative, flexibility and reliability.
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.