Manager SME and Enterprise Development, Policy & Regulations, Washington DC

Manager SME and Enterprise Development, Policy & Regulations Job #: req37125 Organization: World Bank Sector: Other Grade: GH Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 6/25/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Note: “The location for this position is Washington, DC. An alternative location may be possible, subject to business needs and management approval”.

The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit

Prosperity Vice Presidency

The WBG Prosperity Vice Presidency is responsible for getting the right public and private sector solutions to our operational teams and to our clients, and to produce scalable impact. It leads the WBG’s key global engagements in support of: growth and jobs (including supporting teams across the WBG on the jobs agenda); debt sustainability and debt management; improved domestic resource mobilization and expenditure efficiency; a resilient and inclusive financial sector; business-enabling policies and regulations; trade policy and facilitation; and transparent, effective, and accountable government institutions world-wide. The Vice Presidency also houses the group that examines the distributional/poverty impacts of all policies. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to enable and support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs; supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, a business-enabling policy environment, and private sector mobilization; focusing on agribusiness, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and tourism; and support and accelerate corporate targets and commitments. The VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams in the areas of its mandate.

SME and Enterprise Development – Policies & Regulations

The Trade, Competition and Business (TCB) in the Prosperity Vice Presidency is comprised of five units: Trade Policy and Facilitation; Competition Policy; SME and Enterprise Development – Policies & Regulations; SME and Enterprise Development – Solutions & Impact; and Manufacturing & Services.

The department is seeking an outstanding WBG Manager to lead its SME and Enterprise Development – Policies & Regulations unit. The unit brings together colleagues delivering thought leadership in the areas of firm dynamics, business regulations, and investment policy & promotion.

The Manager for SME and Enterprise Development – Policies & Regulations will report to the WBG Director, TCB, who is accountable to the WBG Vice President for Prosperity.

Key responsibilities

Policy and regulations

• Delivers thought-leadership, cutting-edge analytics, policy and regulations, and ease of doing business on SME and Enterprise Development;

• Leads on innovations and frontier approaches in the unit’s core topic areas.

• Defines model policies, laws & regulations, & ease of doing business.

People/Talent Management:

• Models exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behaviors and reinforces these qualities in own team and staff

• Leads, drives and inspires technical excellence within the team and the Department by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients

• Closely supports and advises staff on their performance, skills development and career planning

Strategy and Knowledge Management:

• Ensures that the department is at the forefront of the development debate and contributes to the global dialogue on SME and Enterprise Development, working across the WBG and DEC.

• Mobilizes and leads the Policy and Regulations team and ensures alignment with the Solutions and Impact team to: (1) produce, curate, validate, and share knowledge with operational teams, clients, and partners, and (2) capture, scale, and replicate innovations. Monitor the impact of solutions.

• Promotes innovative and cross-cutting analytical, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning.

• Leads efforts to produce, curate, validate, and disseminate SME and enterprise development -related knowledge and information, including contributions to the Data360.

• Ensures the team’s knowledge-generation activities map well into solutions-delivery functions, capturing, scaling, and replicating innovations and monitoring their impact.

• Maintains and grows dissemination channels to ensure knowledge reaches operational teams, clients, and partners.

• Designs, implements, and delivers training, learning, and capacity-building programs for internal and external clients.

Resource Management

• In consultation with relevant stakeholders within the WBG, decides on the best use of internal and external resources for maximum client and developmental impact.

• Is accountable for delivering the agreed-upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal controls and policies, and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the unit outputs.

Selection Criteria

• In addition to meeting all WBG-wide Grade GH level position criteria, work in at least two world regions or a combination of regional and corporate assignments is required; field experience is preferred.

• A Ph.D. (preferred) or Master’s in economics or related areas such as international development or business with at least 12 years of relevant experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.

• Recognized international thought leadership in SME/enterprise development and its various dimensions — firm productivity and growth, business regulatory environment, and investment policy and promotion including industrial policy — with the ability to develop synergies across team members and work streams for maximum development and operational impact.

• Demonstrated leadership and people management skills, including high emotional intelligence, courage of conviction, and experience managing multi-location teams with diverse professional backgrounds. Proven ability to lead effectively through periods of institutional change, using both formal and matrixed authority.

• Knowledge of World Bank Group operations, instruments, and processes, including policy and investment lending, complex operations and policy dialogue across multiple regions, Global Practices, and institutional settings (IBRD, IFC, MIGA).

• Strong strategic orientation and ability to prioritize, streamline, and rationalize activities across a complex portfolio.

• Excellent communication and representational skills, with proven experience engaging senior stakeholders and external constituencies. Commitment to proactively position the SME and Enterprise Development agenda both externally and internally, including through donor engagement, client country dialogue, and the development and nurturing of internal and external partnerships.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate budget and HR management systems, as well as adaptability, flexibility, and resilience in supporting and guiding staff through evolving institutional contexts.

WBG Managerial Competencies

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 the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.