Product Manager

Job #: req37932
Organization: World Bank Group
Sector: Information Technology
Grade: GG
Term Duration:  3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
Location: Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 8/20/2026 (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.
ITS Vice Presidency Context:
The Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) enables the World Bank Group to achieve its mission of ending extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet by delivering transformative information and technologies to its staff working in over 150+ locations. For more information on ITS, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=VTFGffa1Y7w
Department Context:
ITS Operations and Country Engagement Department (ITSOE) delivers innovative products and services to frontline staff working on over 6,000 projects throughout every Region and Global Practice. Our teams support and enable Bank priorities, boost operations efficiency and effectiveness, and facilitate Operational knowledge discovery. Our delivery model leverages global expertise, design and architecture, leading technology, and robust processes to deliver business solutions that ensure value for money.
Unit Context:
The ITS Country Engagement unit (ITSCE) provides digital support for global and country-specific products, aiding thousands of task teams and country management units in better planning, tracking, and managing their operations, thereby improving country engagement. Additionally, ITSCE enables geospatial capabilities through self-service tools and analytics, allowing teams to monitor project preparation and implementation from anywhere. 
The Geospatial Solutions team is responsible for the delivery, evolution, and adoption of enterprise geospatial products and services that support operational, analytical, and decision-support needs across the World Bank Group. The team develops and manages platforms that integrate geospatial, statistical, and development data to generate location-based insights supporting country programs, project design and implementation, infrastructure planning, climate resilience, disaster risk management, results monitoring, and other operational priorities.
The ITSCE unit is seeking a Product Manager who is passionate about geospatial technologies and committed to maximizing business value through technology delivery. The role will lead business engagement and product strategy for the Geospatial Solutions portfolio, working closely with operational stakeholders, Country Management Units, Global Practices, regional teams, and technology partners to identify opportunities, shape demand, and ensure geospatial investments deliver measurable operational impact. The Product Manager will play a key role in connecting development and operational needs with innovative geospatial capabilities while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and technology strategy.
Duties and responsibilities
• Leads the product portfolio for Geospatial Solutions, working with agile team and Country Management Units, Global Practices, Regional teams, and operational stakeholders to identify high-value opportunities where geospatial solutions can improve development outcomes, operational efficiency, decision-making, and project delivery.

• Deep understanding of business and operational priorities across regions and sectors, and translates these needs into geospatial product strategies, roadmaps, and investment priorities.

• Defines and communicates a clear, scalable product vision and roadmap for Geospatial solutions that balances operational demand, delivery capacity, organizational priorities, and long-term sustainability.

• Builds strategic relationships across the WBG and with external partner organizations to advance the adoption and impact of geospatial solutions.

• Promotes the use of geospatial intelligence and spatial analytics in support of country programs, project implementation, climate resilience, disaster response, infrastructure planning, and monitoring and evaluation activities.

• Provides leadership across agile teams, ensuring alignment, coordination, and execution so that development cycles translate into timely, high-quality product releases and operational value.

• Facilitates continuous stakeholder engagement and feedback, identifies emerging opportunities, and evolves the product roadmap to maximize adoption and business impact across operational teams.

• Designs governance structures and operating models for geospatial products, ensuring compliance with WBG policies, technology standards, and data management requirements while maintaining agility and innovation.

• Oversees vendor and partner relationships, ensuring timely access to specialized geospatial expertise, technical capabilities, and delivery support.

• Evaluates and recommends strategic investments that accelerate product development, improve scalability, enable replication across regions and business units, and effectively manage technical debt.

• Monitors product-level financials and investment performance, ensuring resources are utilized effectively and aligned with business value and operational outcomes.

• Leads complex, cross-functional initiatives involving software engineers, data scientists, GIS specialists, solution architects, business stakeholders, and operational teams to deliver impactful geospatial capabilities.

• Identifies systemic challenges and cross-cutting opportunities across sectors and regions, applying structured analysis and strategic thinking to accelerate the adoption of geospatial solutions throughout the World Bank Group.

• Represents the Geospatial Solutions portfolio in strategic discussions and governance forums, advocating for investments and priorities that support operational effectiveness and development impact.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in a STEM discipline with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience, or a bachelor's degree with at least 10 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience in geospatial technologies, spatial analytics, remote sensing, geospatial data management, and the application of location intelligence to solve complex business, operational, and development challenges.

• Strong understanding of geospatial products, platforms, and data ecosystems, including the ability to translate geospatial capabilities into practical business and operational solutions.

• Proven experience engaging with business stakeholders, operational teams, and technical teams to define vision, prioritize investments, and deliver products that create measurable business value.

• Strong understanding of development and operational processes, including how technology and geospatial solutions support project design, implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation, disaster risk management, infrastructure planning, climate adaptation, and country-level decision making.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex operational and business needs into product strategies, roadmaps, and actionable requirements that support scalable and reusable solutions.

• Experience working with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), international development organizations, government institutions, or similar environments, as well as knowledge of MDB operational processes, country engagement models, project lifecycles, and development programs, is highly desirable.

• Ability to synthesize stakeholder input, analyze business and operational processes, and identify opportunities where geospatial solutions can be scaled across countries, regions, and sectors.

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to balance innovation, business priorities, operational needs, risk management, and delivery constraints.

• Proven experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams and building trusted partnerships across organizational boundaries.

• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, stakeholder management, and communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate complex geospatial and technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• High degree of ownership and accountability, with proven ability to manage competing priorities, drive execution, and deliver results in fast-paced environments.

• Strong passion for innovation and continuous learning, with demonstrated interest in emerging geospatial technologies, spatial analytics, digital platforms, and delivery approaches.

• Preferred certifications include SAFe Agile Product Management, Design Thinking, GIS, or related certifications.

• Proficiency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills suited for global, multicultural collaboration.

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.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
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.