Senior Communications Officer - Infrastructure

Washington D.C.

Organization: World Bank Group
Location: Washington D.C.
Grade:
Occupational Groups:
- Communication and Public Information
- Infrastructure and Urban-Rural development
Closing Date: Closed

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet.

Organizational Background

IFC’s Communications and Outreach Department is responsible for managing IFC’s communications and outreach strategy with a focus on the corporation’s business priorities. The department has three integrated units that facilitate strategic engagement with both internal and external stakeholders. The units include Corporate Communications, Regional Communications, and Global Industry and Thematic Communications.

To support business teams, the Global Industry and Thematic Communications unit delivers global thematic/sectoral communications and outreach, developing strategic communications outreach plans; producing, publishing, and promoting industry insights and thematic reports; organizing and marketing global events; promoting IFC’s thought leadership; managing reputational risk, and coordinating across the World Bank Group communications network to highlight IFC’s impact. The team works closely with IFC’s Regional Communications unit on outreach related to country and regional level investments and sector trends, and with IFC’s Corporate Communications team to communicate IFC’s development impact.

The selected Senior Communications Officer will join the Global Industry and Thematic Communications team supporting themes around Infrastructure, such as energy, transportation, extractive industries, waste management and circularity, water, digital solutions, cities, and sustainable infrastructure advisory services. The role works closely with the other Senior Communications officer supporting Infrastructure in the Global Industry and Thematic Communications Team.

Role and Responsibilities

As an experienced Communications professional, the Senior Communications Officer leads the planning, development, and implementation of effective communications and outreach strategies for the Infrastructure Department, which includes investment and advisory activities in power, transport, cities, extractive industries and digital solutions. For more information, please see https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/industry_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/Infrastructure.

• Products: Conceptualizes and supervises the preparation, production and dissemination of communication products (e.g., media packets, news releases, brochures, Q&As, presentations, briefing notes, online and social media content, speeches, etc.) and thought leadership. Writes and/or oversees preparation of high-profile speeches, talking points, op-eds, and presentations, as well as client-facing collateral and internal staff engagement content.
• Networks: Initiates effective professional relationships with key external and/or internal constituencies (e.g., the media, civil society, academia, businesses, government agencies, World Bank Group colleagues, etc.).
• Events: Oversees planning, coordination, and logistics, often across multiple teams, for press briefings, IFC-organized industry conferences and seminars, executive missions and speeches, public or broadcast appearances, and other communications-related activities involving external and/or internal audiences.
• Stakeholder engagement: Works with Risk and Issues Management team to provide tailored communications and stakeholder-risk management advice to teams working on high-risk projects, including meeting clients and conducting stakeholder mapping and analysis. Assist project teams with procuring specialist communication firms to work on projects, including developing terms of reference, evaluating proposals, and onboarding consultants.
• Risk management: Works with Risk and Issues Management team to coordinate risk identification and mitigation activities in the context of corporate and operational communication interventions. Focus includes current events, public opinion, social or political issues, and other external or internal developments related to IFC’s thematic work.
• Team oversight: Leads and directs a cross-cutting thematic communications officer charged with developing and monitoring high visibility communications plans and activities. For specific deliverables, responsible for assigning work, monitoring work quality, reviewing output and ensuring that staff in the unit is effectively trained to successfully deliver the work.
• Resource management: Manages specific human and financial resources for team/unit and specific tasks/projects. Helps plan and supervise procurement tasks and/or issues as needed.

Sample Activities:

• Take a deep dive into IFC’s infrastructure work to understand challenges, opportunities, and master key facts and figures
• Adopt an issue and story-driven approach to message development to ensure that IFC’s voice can resonate with global concerns and stand out
• Develop impactful content with tone and format tailored to the needs and audiences, both external – such as: investors, funds, media, partners, etc. – and internal – such as: IFC’s staff and board members
• Leverage strategic-thinking skills to proactively contribute to the communications strategies for Infrastructure, and execute related communications plans and tactics
• Determine communications activities best suited to business needs. Write and/or oversee the preparation, production, and dissemination of both routine and complex best-in-class outreach products for print or digital purposes (e.g., backgrounders, media packets, news releases, multi-media packages and features, op-eds, talking points, blogs, radio\TV\podcast interviews, presentations, brochures, Q&As, websites, fact sheets, social media, briefing notes, etc.) that promote the strategic and timely flow of information and major issues about IFC’s Infrastructure work.
• Initiate, build, and sustain effective professional relationships with key internal and external contacts. Specifically, explore synergies and connections between IFC’s Infrastructure work and other global priorities and sectors to create a continuum from mobilization to strategic investment.
• Actively contribute to developing a relevant network of media contacts in key business and financial print and online publications.
• Develop, through regular monitoring and insight gathering, a solid understanding of elements that could impact / shape messaging – including key internal developments across the World Bank Group.
• Contribute to reputational risk mitigation strategies related to IFC’s infrastructure work.

This vacancy is now closed.