Health Specialist

Health Specialist

Job #:	req38123
Organization:	World Bank Group
Sector:	Health/Nutrition/Population
Grade:	GF
Term Duration:	4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:	International Recruitment
Location:	Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):	English
Preferred Language(s):	French, Spanish
Closing Date:	9/3/2026 (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 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Pandemic Fund is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder partnership among donor countries, co-investors (countries that are eligible to receive funding from the Pandemic Fund), multilateral development banks (MDBs), other international organizations, philanthropies, foundations and civil society organizations. 

The Pandemic Fund’s mission is to ensure that the next infectious disease outbreak, wherever it emerges, is rapidly detected and contained before it becomes a global crisis. To that end, the Fund finances critical investments to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) capacities at national, regional, and global levels, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. In just over three years, the Pandemic Fund has built an investment portfolio of US$11.5 billion, currently comprising 67 projects spanning 128 countries across six geographic regions.    

The governing and administrative bodies of the Pandemic Fund are its Governing Board, Secretariat (hosted by the World Bank), Trustee (a function performed by the World Bank), and Technical Advisory Panel (TAP). The Pandemic Fund channels resources to eligible countries/regional bodies through a group of accredited Implementing Entities.

The Secretariat is staffed by a dynamic, high-performing team based at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Its work is organized into five workstreams: Governance and Board operations; Grant Operations, Portfolio Management and M&E; Partnerships; Communications; TAP support. An Executive Office comprising the Executive Head, Deputy Executive Head, and a Sr. Assistant, oversees the Secretariat’s deliverables, results and impact, coordinating across the five workstreams.   

The Grant Operations, Portfolio Management and M&E team is responsible for designing, developing and rolling out new funding rounds/calls for proposals for the Board’s approval, in consultation with the Board and its Committees, as well as other partners and stakeholders; supporting the Board in its oversight function of the large and growing portfolio of Pandemic Fund-supported projects, including through regular monitoring of projects under implementation, portfolio analysis and reporting; and implementation of relevant Board-approved operational policies and procedures.

The Secretariat is looking for an energetic, resourceful, and qualified Health Specialist with experience working on global health and program management to join the Grant Operations, Portfolio Management and M&E team. The selected candidate will work with Secretariat leadership and other members of the team and in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the timely delivery of high- quality results.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Coordinate with implementing entities, grant recipients and the trustee to monitor the operational and financial performance of Pandemic Fund-supported projects under implementation, analyze and present performance and results data at the project and portfolio levels, and prepare implementation progress reports for the Board;

• Contribute to the Pandemic Fund annual portfolio progress reports and provide inputs to the mid-term review/evaluation of the Pandemic Fund;

• Provide guidance to implementing entities and grant recipients on the Pandemic Fund’s policies, processes and requirements as approved by the Governing Board, to facilitate smooth implementation of projects;

• Review and analyze project change requests, as per the Pandemic Fund’s policies and preparing change request packages for Secretariat, TAP and Board review/decisions;   

• Support the implementation of the Pandemic Fund’s Emergency Financing Procedures, as needed; 

• Foster strong relationships with project teams, Board members, and other partners/stakeholders.  

• Support the development of Calls for Proposals/funding rounds, as needed, receiving and screening Funding Proposals to ensure completeness and consistency with requirements; 

• Coordinate with implementing entities and grant recipients to launch new projects;

• Provide inputs to update relevant electronic portals;

• Support M&E and learning functions, including through portfolio analysis, preparation of annual portfolio progress reports, regular meetings with implementing entities and project partners, and knowledge exchange webinars. 

• Contribute to reviews and evaluations of the Pandemic Fund and oversee external consultants, as needed.

• Support meetings of the Governing Board and facilitate the Governing Board’s decision-making on operational matters; 

• Support the review of key operational policy documents, as needed; 

• Perform any other functions that may be necessary for the smooth operation of the Pandemic Fund.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in economics, public health, or a relevant discipline (public policy, international development, business management, or related social sciences field), and a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience with a focus on global health issues and especially topics related to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in low- and middle-income countries. 

• Demonstrated understanding of the global health financing landscape, complementarities among different institutions engaged in this space, and an ability to apply this knowledge to work effectively both within the Bank and across organizational boundaries.

• Experience working in multilateral organizations and/or multi-stakeholder partnership funds with demonstrated familiarity with the operational policies and procedures of one or more of the Pandemic Fund’s implementing entities would be an added advantage. 

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to distill complex data into actionable insights.

• Strong integrative thinking and ability to support teams, internally and externally, in developing an integrated point of view around challenges, as they arise. Ability to seek out, collate and synthesize inputs from across sectoral, thematic, and organizational boundaries.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills. Ability to tailor communication style to meet audience needs and deliver information effectively.

• Commitment to teamwork and demonstrated willingness to provide help and support to others in a dynamic environment.

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal and external partners at all levels, in a multicultural and multinational environment.

• Strong coordination and organizational skills across multi-stakeholder environments.

• Strong personal organization skills and a demonstrated ability to take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, and achieve agreed-upon results.  

• A “can do” mindset, flexibility, reliability, and strong problem-solving skills.

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.