Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Job #: req36633
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Urban
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: 5/29/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.
Infrastructure Vertical
The WBG Infrastructure Vertical provides public and private solutions to operational teams and clients across the WBG to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs by: (i) supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, (ii) policy environment, and (iii) enabling and mobilizing private sector capital. With 60 years of experience, the WBG is poised to support the sector becoming an engine of growth and jobs through improving policies and governance, foundational infrastructure and private sector investments. The WBG lending in the sector is expected to grow substantially. The Infrastructure VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.   For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure
The Disaster Management, Solutions & Impact Unit (KIUSD) supports low and middle-income countries to understand, manage, and reduce their risks from natural hazards and climate change. Within KIUSD, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) umbrella trust fund is a global partnership that helps low- and middle-income countries better understand and reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change. GFDRR supports analytics and technical assistance to governments in the most vulnerable countries and communities where it will have the greatest positive impact. As a donor-funded program, GFDRR consults regularly with donors and actively strives to maintain and develop new partnerships for increased impact. For more information: https://www.gfdrr.org/en
About the Position
The KIUSD is recruiting a Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist to support the strategic and technical direction of the Unit’s work and services on Disaster Risk Analytics, including but not limited to: 1) rapid post-disaster damage assessments, 2) hazard exposure modeling of the built environment, 3) quantification of disaster risk, and 4) economics of resilience. The Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist will mentor and coach other staff and support the Practice Manager and broader unit leadership team in developing and cultivating relationships with internal and external clients, supporting task teams across the range of corporate, operational, and technical tasks related with Disaster Risk Analytics. The Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist will be based in Washington D.C and reporting to the KIUSD Practice Manager. The Lead DRM Specialist is expected to demonstrate the highest collaborative competencies, working with colleagues across the range of technical areas within the unit and, equally importantly, from other Global Practices and Bank corporate units. 
Roles and Responsibilities
Specific tasks include:
• Provide analytical guidance and leadership for the Urban, Subnational Finance, Tourism & Disaster Management Global Department and KIUSD staff, including supporting countries in their disaster risk management efforts to provide better evidence-based decision-making tools, knowledge and information. 
• Mentor and guide teams in all aspects related to Disaster Risk Analytics design and knowledge service delivery to task teams in the regions, including but not limited to rapid post disaster assessments, and the development of country and sector-based disaster risk profiles. 
• Lead/initiate/participate in developing tools and databases to better understand and track various aspects of the exposure of the built environment to natural hazards. In addition to developing tools and scalable methods to quantify value of physical assets at the national and city level as well as for different sectors.
• Lead/initiate/participate in documenting the benefits of resilience to disaster and climate-related risks interventions and policies and the possible synergies and tradeoffs that resilience interventions entertain with other public objectives (poverty reduction, welfare).
• Collaborate and engage with internal partners to identify cooperation opportunities and leverage financial and intellectual resources to complement KIUSD resources.
• Engage with external political, donor, and technical partners representing KIUSD and when applicable the Bank.
• Represent Urban, Subnational Finance, Tourism & Disaster Management Global Department in all aspects of disaster risk analytics, including by contributing to corporate, regional, and department level initiatives when requested and representing the Bank in events, as needed.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree or PhD in economics, engineering, disaster risk management, policy or equivalent, and at least 12 years professional experience.
• Extensive experience with probabilistic modeling, stochastic simulations, and scenario-based analyses for disaster risk assessments, which involve identifying hazards, analyzing exposure and vulnerability, and the associated impacts.
• Strong analytical track record in the core areas of disaster risk management.
• Track record of delivery of client-oriented solutions through Bank instruments.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to write q uickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner and deliver complex concepts and messages orally in an understandable and compelling manner.
• Ability to think innovatively and strategically in dealing with policy issues while maintaining a strong client focus. 
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively engage in policy dialogue with World Bank clients.
• High energy and demonstrated interest and experience in achieving impact through operational and analytical work.
• Demonstrated experience to lead teams, mentor staff and enhanced quality of analytical and operational documents in a collaborative manner.  
• A proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently.
• In addition to the above selection criteria, the following competencies are expected of the successful candidate:
• Project Management - Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of the project management concepts, as they relate to the implementation of complex, multi-functional projects in varied geographical and economic conditions 
• Portfolio Management - Leads the monitoring of country/sector strategy and work program; Flags implementation issues for attention of clients and Bank management and takes a leading role in resolving these. 
• Analytical and Technical Skills, Operational Strategy Development & Advice - Recognized by peers and/or managers for ability to identify and proactively solve operational issues and problems. 
• Bank Instruments, Policies, Procedures, and Systems - Recognized by peers and/or managers for providing high quality, pragmatic advice to teams on the appropriate use of Bank policies, procedures and instruments and financing mechanisms. 
• Team Leadership - Leads teams to achieve challenging outcomes, providing a role model and enhancing the team-leadership skills of team members. 
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels. 
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.
• Knowledge of Relevant Operational Policy and Associated Good Practices - DPL - Has an advanced understanding of all aspects of OP 8.60 and associated Good Practice Notes, including fiduciary aspects, disbursement arrangements, and risk assessment.  
• This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.