Business Development Officer

Business Development Officer

Job #:
req37216


Organization:
World Bank


Sector:
General Services


Grade:
GF


Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment


Location:
Washington, DC,United States


Required Language(s):
English


Preferred Language(s):


Closing Date:
6/30/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC


Description

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. Visit

About the Unit

GCS Corporate Services' (GCSCS) mission is to support the World Bank Group's strategic agenda by delivering high-quality corporate services to WBG VPUs and individual staff, enhancing effectiveness and efficiency through stronger integration, streamlined processes, and largely outsourced to external vendors. GCSCS seeks to obtain the best overall value for the WBG while promoting innovation and socially and environmentally sustainable practices.

GCSCS is structured into four main divisions: (I) Travel and Staff Services; (II) Innovation and Client Solutions; (III) Global Business Centers; and (IV) Integrated Business Services.

GCS Integrated Business Services (GCSBA) provides services in the areas of Translation and Interpretation, Graphic Design, Publications, Printing, Photography, Video, AR/VR, and Cartography.

Duties and Accountabilities

As part of the World Bank's regionalization and digital transformation agenda, Integrated Business Services (GCSBA) is evolving its delivery model to provide agile, high-quality services across HQ and country offices. The Business Development Officer will drive this effort - identifying business needs, strengthening local vendor networks, and ensuring regional hubs are equipped with the tools, skills, and systems needed to meet Bank standards in quality, branding, accessibility, sustainability, and confidentiality.

Reporting to the GCSBA Manager and working closely with Program Leads and the Outreach team, this role is pivotal in developing and executing a strategy to expand service reach and operational capacity. The Business Development Officer will align decentralized delivery with centralized standards to enable a more inclusive, responsive, and cost-effective service model.

This position may require travel to Country Offices.

Key Responsibilities

Needs Assessment

• Lead structured engagement with Country Offices to map service needs and identify capacity gaps.

• Compile preliminary vendor inventories in priority locations; highlight sourcing gaps.

• Develop regional rollout and capacity-building plans with measurable targets.

• Analyze data and prepare strategic briefs and presentations for GCS leadership.

• Establish baseline KPIs (e.g., cost, turnaround time, client satisfaction) to guide implementation and scaling.

Vendor Sourcing & Onboarding

• Identify and engage qualified local vendors across service lines.

• Negotiate terms, facilitate registration, and provide onboarding packages including training on branding, accessibility, sustainability, and WBG procurement policies.

• Maintain an up-to-date vendor database integrated with GCS systems for reporting and quality assurance.

Process Alignment & Quality Assurance

• Implement monitoring mechanisms and continuous improvement loops.

• Apply WBG quality frameworks to ensure institutional standards are upheld while leveraging regional delivery models.

Efficiency & Cost Management

• Drive efficiency by optimizing turnaround times and utilizing local market advantages.

• Produce periodic reports on vendor performance, spending, and client satisfaction.

Knowledge Sharing & Capacity Building

• Train regional staff on GCS systems, workflows, and procurement policies.

• Foster cross-regional learning and institutional consistency through knowledge exchange initiatives.

Client Engagement & Outreach

• Analyze the current reach of GCS services and identify unmet client needs.

• Cultivate partnerships with Country Office clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

• Collaborate with the Outreach Team to develop a global plan for client outreach, engagement, and digital communication by region, service, or Organizational Unit; and to promote business services through regionally tailored materials, web content, and multilingual outreach campaigns.

Selection Criteria

• Master's or Bachelor's degree in International Relations, Business Administration, Communications, Economics, International Development, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in outreach, vendor management, or service delivery in an international or decentralized setting, with demonstrated success in building local capacity while maintaining global standards.

Technical & Functional Skills

• Proven ability to translate business needs into scalable strategies and operational solutions.
• Strong understanding of service workflows related to language, creative, and multimedia production (e.g., translation, interpretation, editing, graphic design, photo, video, and print).
• Familiarity with WBG systems, procurement procedures, branding, and accessibility standards.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills; ability to coordinate across cultures and functions.
• Data literacy and analytical skills to assess capacity, monitor performance, and drive informed decisions.
• Fluency in English required; working knowledge of another WBG language (Spanish, French, Arabic, or other) preferred.

Personal Attributes

• Collaborative and client-focused, with excellent interpersonal judgment, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to handle confidential or sensitive information with discretion.
• Adaptability, communication under pressure, and initiative.

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.

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.