Senior Private Sector Specialist
| Job #: | req37661 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Water/Sanitation |
| Grade: | GG |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Washington, DC,United States |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 8/5/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 www.worldbank.org.
The WBG Planet Vice Presidency is leading WBG’s efforts to make the planet livable, as a necessary condition for job creation and poverty elimination. It is responsible for getting the right public and private sector solutions to our operational teams and to our clients, and to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact and business 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, focusing on agribusiness, tourism (nature-based tourism), infrastructure (water) and health (sanitation, nutrition); supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, policy environment, and private sector mobilization; and supporting and accelerating specific targets and commitments such as Mission AgriConnect, Mission Water, Climate Change Action Plan. 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.
World Bank Group Water Department:
The World Bank Group’s (WBG) Water team works with regions to implement the Water Strategy Implementation Plan (https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099122425094016453). The key purpose of the plan is to improve water security for 400 million people by 2030 through scalable solutions geared toward key client segments, namely, national and sub-national governments, private sector operators, investors, and financial institutions. Read more about the World Bank’s Water Department at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water
2030 Water Resources Group:
The 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) is a global multi-donor trust fund, established to advance global water security through public-private collaboration. WRG works with governments, corporations, and civil society to address water risks affecting food, cities, and ecosystems. By offering strategic insights, fostering collaboration, and securing financing, we help scale solutions that deliver lasting impact (www.2030wrg.org). WRG is hosted by the World Bank Group’s Water Department.
WRG’s work is structured along three themes, namely: (1) Water for Planet, to address water pollution and water use for catchment protection and restoration, (2) Water for Cities, to support resilient city regional water systems, balancing the demand and supply of water, and (3) Water for Food, in particular through climate-resilient irrigation.
The WRG Governing Council recently approved the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan to increase the impact of WRG’s work. The strategy pivots WRG’s work to greater alignment with the World Bank Group’s Water Strategy Implementation Plan to enhance impact.
The Sr. Private Sector Specialist will be based at the Headquarters of the World Bank in Washington DC, USA. She/he will report to Program Manager of 2030 WRG.
Duties and Accountabilities:
2030 Water Resources Group is seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as a Senior Private Sector Specialist. The principal duties and responsibilities would include:
• Provide technical leadership on private sector development and private capital mobilization in 2030 WRG’s global and country programs and activities, including the design of investment funds, PPPs, capital markets instruments etc.
• Support Bank operations as agreed with the Program Manager with respect to enabling private capital mobilization.
• Lead high-quality global analytical products on private capital mobilization and private sector development.
• Coordinate engagements with key partners at senior-most levels on private sector participation in the water sector, including public sector, private sector, multilateral development banks, bilateral agencies, and civil society.
• Innovate on private sector financing solutions across water sub-sectors with IFC, MIGA, and other parts of the WB.
• Support the engagement with various private sector companies (e.g., agribusiness companies, technology companies, industrial/ manufacturing companies, operators, financiers etc.) as potential 2030 WRG/ WBG partners at the global, regional, and national levels.
• Support strategy development, business planning, financial management and monitoring of the global WRG program.
• Lead the coordination of the 2030 WRG global governance structure and the development of the annual operational plan.
Selection Criteria
Candidates must demonstrate professional excellence and outstanding oral and written communication skills. They must also demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to find practical solutions to problems and to think strategically.
The following specific criteria will also apply:
• An advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in water, economics, finance or other qualifications relevant to the position and at least 8 years of relevant experience in mobilizing private capital and supporting private sector participation.
• Track record of driving innovations for private sector development and financing in the water sector across different instrument types.
• Demonstrated experience in developing high-quality analytical products, supporting enabling environment improvements, and designing public-private partnership models, fund structures, and capital markets instruments to crowd in the private sector.
• Strong analytical skills and expertise in the technical, financial, and economic aspects of the water sector.
• Experience in leading partnerships with an established network of partners across public sector, private sector, and international organizations, among others.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams.
• Excellent writing and presentational skills, and ability to synthesize large amounts of material into crisp briefing memos and Power Point presentations.
• Strong written and spoken English language communications skills are required; Any additional language skills will be an advantage.
WBG Competencies:
• Lead and Innovate - Develop innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients - Achieve results and identify mission-driven solutions for clients.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Initiate collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and bring differing ideas into the forefront.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Create, apply and share knowledge from across and outside the WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
• Make Smart Decisions – Recommend and take decisive action.
If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment.
Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce.
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.