Senior External Relations Officer (Internal and Executive Communications)

Senior External Relations Officer (Internal and Executive Communications)

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. Please visit www.worldbank.org.

Communications and External Relations Vice-Presidency (CER)
The mission of External and Corporate Relations (CER) is to help deliver financial and political support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group’s role as a global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding its reputation, and supporting operational teams to achieve country outcomes. CER manages corporate communications and global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, foundations, private sector, donor countries, and international organizations, as well as employee engagement. CER also manages strategic communications for the World Bank’s Regions and Global Practices and leads the management of reputation risk.

CER Communication & Marketing (CERCM)
Communications and Marketing at the World Bank Group is a unified, strategic organization representing all areas of the institution. Its mission is to deliver world-class communications and marketing leadership—driving clarity, creativity, innovation, and impact across every audience and channel. Through compelling storytelling, global brand stewardship, and data-driven engagement, the team advances the Bank Group’s vision of creating a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Together, we shape the institution’s voice, strengthen trust and reputation, and connect the World Bank Group’s work to people and partners around the world. 

The Senior External Affairs Officer plays a strategic role in strengthening narrative discipline and advancing a coherent, institution-wide communications approach across the World Bank Group. The position leads the Messaging team, providing strategic direction, oversight, and leadership while driving the development and implementation of the Bank Group’s corporate narrative and strategic priorities. Working closely with the Internal and Executive Communications Manager, Director of Communications and Marketing, and communications colleagues across the WBG, this role provides strategic counsel on messaging, storytelling, and communications priorities. Serving as a trusted thought partner and connector across teams, the position helps align Senior Leadership communications, identify high-impact storytelling opportunities, and strengthen consistency of voice across major institutional moments and priority initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Narrative Strategy and Corporate Storytelling
• Lead and manage the CERCM Messaging team, providing strategic direction, oversight, and leadership to ensure the development and delivery of clear, consistent, and impactful corporate messaging across the World Bank Group.
• Help shape and reinforce the World Bank Group’s corporate narrative, ensuring communications consistently reflect institutional priorities and leadership objectives.
• Champion narrative discipline across communications activities, ensuring messaging, stories, and leadership communications reinforce a consistent institutional narrative.
• Identify and elevate high-impact stories that showcase the World Bank Group’s work across regions, sectors, and institutions.
• Monitor emerging issues and external trends to identify opportunities and risks that inform communications strategy and narrative development.

Strategic Communications Counsel
• Serve as a strategic advisor to CER communications teams, providing guidance on messaging, positioning, and storytelling for high-profile initiatives and complex issues.
• Review and provide strategic input on high-profile communications products to ensure consistency with the World Bank Group’s narrative, voice, and strategic priorities.
• Act as a thought partner to CER leadership, connecting emerging themes, institutional priorities, and external developments into cohesive communications strategies.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of communications processes, templates, and playbooks that strengthen narrative consistency and strategic planning.

Senior Leadership Communications
• Liaise with Senior Leadership Team communications colleagues across the Bank Group to ensure coordinated messaging and alignment around institutional priorities.
• Support communications planning for select leadership engagements, speeches, and major institutional moments, translating leadership priorities into clear messaging and communications products.
• Lead select executive writing assignments, including speeches, op-eds, thought leadership pieces, and strategic messaging for senior leadership.
• Coordinate across communications, operational, and regional teams to ensure narrative coherence and effective delivery.

Cross-Institution Collaboration
• Convene and connect communications colleagues across CER and the wider World Bank Group to identify shared storytelling opportunities, align messaging, and strengthen collaboration across teams.

Special Projects and Other Tasks
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner on high-priority projects requiring senior-level judgment, coordination, and execution.
• Support strategic communications initiatives assigned by the Internal and Executive Communications Manager and the Director of Communications and Marketing.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, international relations, political science, or a related field; or a Bachelor’s degree with additional years of relevant professional experience. 
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in external communications, public affairs, media relations, or strategic communications, preferably in a global, multilateral, government, or complex institutional environment. 
• Strong track record of strategic communications work, including messaging, narrative development, and integration of traditional and digital communications approaches. 
• Demonstrated experience managing high-level media engagement and relationships, including working with international media, NGOs, government officials, international institutions, and other external stakeholders relevant to institutional communications. 
• Experience designing and executing communications strategies for senior leaders, including major speeches, international engagements, institutional events, and high-profile initiatives. 
• Proven ability to manage complex, fast-moving workflows involving senior principals, multiple stakeholders, and tight deadlines in a highly matrixed organization. 
• Strong experience translating leadership and institutional priorities into clear, actionable communications strategies, plans, and deliverables. 
• Excellent writing and editorial skills, including experience producing briefing materials, speeches, talking points, background documents, and strategic messaging for senior leadership. 
• Strong editorial judgment, with demonstrated ability to ensure consistency, accuracy, and tone across multiple communications outputs. 
• High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive or confidential information appropriately. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and work effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional teams. 
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy while remaining aligned with managerial direction and institutional priorities.

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.