Senior Operations Officer
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Job #: |
req39343 |
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Organization: |
World Bank |
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Sector: |
Operations |
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Grade: |
GG |
| Term Duration: | Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP) |
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Recruitment Type: |
Local Recruitment |
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Location: |
Tbilisi,Georgia |
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Required Language(s): |
Georgian, English |
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Preferred Language(s): |
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Closing Date: |
11/25/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd
Regional Context
The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises of 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises a large number of diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. A predominantly middle-income region, ECA continues to be at the forefront in confronting the numerous development challenges that countries face in the evolving global economy. Several countries in the region face structural and legacy issues, including an incomplete transition to a market economy and declining productivity, weak institutional capacity, dependance on fossil fuels, limited physical and digital connectivity and demographic transition. The spillover impacts of recent shocks have further exacerbated these challenges, with significant impacts on the level, inclusiveness and sustainability of growth and overall living standards. IBRD and IDA are working closely with IFC and MIGA to support countries in the region to address these issues, with increasing focus on productivity and jobs, physical and digital connectivity, human capital and economic inclusion, and resilience, including access to reliable, secure and sustainable energy and water management. The region has a large project portfolio, a strong lending pipeline as well as a portfolio of Trust Funds (TFs) and Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS). Knowledge is critical to the Bank’s value proposition to client countries in the ECA region in both lending and advisory services.
Country Management Unit (CMU) Context
The South Caucasus Country Unit (ECCSC) includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; three middle income countries with active WBG programs in place. The size of the overall portfolio is approximately $1.9 billion, as of October 2025, and comprises 18 projects. The unit is decentralized, with the Regional Director based in the Regional Office in Tbilisi, Georgia. The offices in Yerevan and Baku are led by Country Managers and a Senior Country Officer is based in Washington DC.
The South Caucasus region is characterized by its rich cultural heritage, long history and diversity of economic foundations. Recent years have seen notable progress, including Georgia’s impressive achievements in economic growth and ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions. Azerbaijan continues to leverage its substantial oil and gas reserves, while also exploring opportunities for economic diversification. Armenia is building on its strengths in minerals, agriculture, tourism, and food processing, with increasing regional and international engagement. Georgia’s dynamic growth in hydropower, transit, and tourism highlights its potential as a regional hub. While historical tensions and closed borders present challenges to deeper regional integration and trade, there is growing interest in cross-border cooperation and investment. Governance climates vary across the three countries, but ongoing reforms and regional initiatives signal a positive trajectory for development and collaboration.
Roles & Responsibilities:
The Senior Operations Officer (SOO) is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, reports to the Division Director, and works with the Georgia Country Team to: help prepare and implement the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) and other country engagement products; maintain strong relationships with key clients and partners to facilitate strong engagement; and manage the Georgia work program, portfolio, and budget, in coordination with the SCO based in Washington DC (ECCSC SCO), sector focal points, and the Operations Analyst based in Tbilisi. The SOO will have supervisory and mentoring responsibilities within the Tbilisi Country Office . The specific responsibilities of the Senior Operations Officer include the following:
1. Strategy Formulation and Implementation
• Under the guidance of the Division Director and in close collaboration with the ECCSC SCO and Country Team, help prepare and implement the CPF and other country engagement products, taking accountability for results while catalyzing and integrating perspectives from the country team members and other stakeholders.
• Lead the Annual Business Planning Exercise for Georgia collaborating closely with colleagues from IFC and MIGA.
2. Client Engagement and relations with External Partners
• Support the Division Director in developing and maintaining strong relations with government counterparts.
• Promote effective coordination and relations with other development partners, in particular the EC, EBRD, EIB, AIIB and ADB, civil society, and the private sector in Georgia.
• Act as the key program contact point in Tbilisi for parties external to the WBG, including responding to queries from NGOs, the private sector, the media, and others in close collaboration with ECR team.
• Participate in political, economic, and social development monitoring and prepare written briefing materials, including for Annual/Spring Meetings, for Bank management and external audiences, with inputs from the country team.
3. Work Program Management
• Under the guidance of the Division Director, support business planning and work program preparation, including Work Program Agreement (WPA)/budget allocation, working closely with the ECCSC SCO.
• Support the Division Director in ensuring that corporate priorities are incorporated into the country program, balancing selectivity for impact and country ownership.
4. Operational Quality Assurance:
• Monitor the pipeline and program deliverables, intervening as needed to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs keeping seamless communication with the ECCSC SCO and the Operations Analyst.
• Monitor and assess the performance of the country portfolio, in close coordination with the Operations Analyst who coordinates annual performance reviews and other progress reporting.
• Review project documents and advisory services and analytics (ASA) for consistency with country strategies, country priorities, and Bank policies.
• Participate in concept review and decision, mission kick-off and wrap-up meetings and provide strategic inputs to teams and the Division Director, as appropriate.
5. Internal Coordination
• Maintain close collaboration with IFC and MIGA colleagues with a view to developing one WBG development solutions that are responsive to client needs.
• Serve as the interface between the country office and headquarters, in close coordination with the ECCSC SCO, ensuring effective information sharing and workflow.
• Participate actively in the ECCSC Operations Team and ECCSC Leadership Team.
• Coordinate with Global Practices, regional and central units to align country program activities and resource allocation.
Note: This internal requisition is open to WB 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.
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., economics, management, business administration, social sciences, technical studies, or another field related to development) and at least 8 years of relevant experience.
• Prior country officer experience, particularly first-hand experience in drafting, evaluating and implementing of country engagement documents, is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the Bank’s operational policies, practices and procedures and a broad understanding of the links between macroeconomic and sectoral policies.
• Good political judgment and experience in working with senior government officials and external partners, and recognition by peers and management in handling sensitive matters.
• Strategic thinking and ability to weigh and advise on risk and opportunities.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a decentralized environment.
• Outstanding planning and organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines and ability to adapt to shifting priorities.
• Proven record in timely delivery of written /analytical outputs with high quality.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Georgian, written and spoken.
Competencies of Country & Operations Services (COS)
As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:
- Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
- Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
- Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.
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.
