E T Consultant - Security Specialist Colombia - req38584

The World Bank Group; Bogotá ciudad; On-site; COP 291,300,000 - 388,400,000; Full time

Job summary

The World Bank Group in Bogota, Colombia seeks a Security Specialist to support the Corporate Security Directorate (CSD) security program across Colombia. The role is advisory, providing risk management guidance and operational support to staff and missions, coordinating with CO management, and ensuring risk mitigation in line with WBG policies.

The position requires strong analytical and communication skills, fluency in English and Spanish, and willingness to travel, including to higher-risk or

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with at least five years of relevant professional experience.
• A bachelor’s degree combined with at least seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in security risk management or related security functions.
• Professional proficiency in English and Spanish.
• Willingness to travel throughout Colombia.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional security risk management advice and operational support to WBG staff and operations in Colombia.
• Coordinate with Country Office management and relevant WBG functions to ensure effective delivery of security services and risk mitigation.
• Maintain liaison with host-government authorities, the UN Security Management System, and other international partners.
• Support reporting and management of security incidents and coordination with GSOC and CSD subject-matter experts.
• Undertake other security-related duties consistent with responsibilities of the position.

Job description

E T Consultant - Security Specialist Colombia

Job #: req38584

Organization: World Bank

Sector: General Services

Grade: EC2

Term Duration: 0 years 11 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Bogota,Colombia

Required Language(s): English, Spanish

Closing Date: 10/21/2026 (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

The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, working with public and private sector partners to address development challenges and promote sustainable development.

The Corporate Security Directorate (CSD) is responsible for supporting the security of WBG personnel, operations, and assets worldwide through the delivery of security risk management advice, services, and capabilities. CSD works in partnership with WBG management and operational teams to enable informed decision-making and the effective management of security risks.

The WBG participates in the United Nations Security Management System and maintains working relationships with international financial institutions, diplomatic missions, host-government authorities, and other security partners as appropriate.

Position

The Security Specialist will be based in the World Bank Group Country Office in Bogotá, Colombia, and will support the delivery of the CSD security program throughout Colombia.

The Security Specialist will report to the CSD Manager in Washington, DC, through the Senior Security Specialist responsible for the Latin America and Caribbean Region. The Security Specialist will work closely with the WBG Heads of Office and other relevant stakeholders in Colombia, providing professional security risk management advice and operational support consistent with WBG security policies, standards, and the Framework of Accountability.

The position requires sound professional judgment, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to translate security risk information into practical advice that supports WBG operations and informed decision-making.

The Security Specialist may also be requested to provide occasional back-up support to other CSD personnel or WBG offices within the Latin America and Caribbean Region and, when required, other regions. This may include travel on short notice.

The nature of the role may occasionally require work outside normal working hours, including weekends and holidays, to support security incidents, emergencies, time-sensitive operational requirements, or other critical security needs.

Roles And Responsibilities

The Security Specialist provides professional security risk management advice and operational support to WBG management, staff, and operations in Colombia. The role is primarily advisory in nature, supporting management in understanding security risks, identifying appropriate mitigation measures, and making informed risk-based decisions, while coordinating the delivery of security services and operational support as required.

The Security Specialist works closely with Country Office management and relevant WBG functions, including Corporate Real Estate/Facilities, the Health and Safety Directorate (HSD), Business Continuity Management Unit (BCMU), and Information and Technology Solutions (ITS). The position also coordinates with CSD subject-matter experts and other internal specialists to ensure that advice reflects the appropriate technical expertise and that responsibilities remain aligned with established institutional mandates.

Security Risk Management and Advisory Support

• Monitor and assess the security environment in Colombia, working closely with the Regional Security Analysis Specialist, to identify developments that may affect WBG personnel, operations, facilities, and missions and provide timely, practical, and decision-relevant security advice.
• Contribute to the preparation, review, and maintenance of Security Risk Assessments and other security risk management products, in coordination with the Regional Security Analysis Specialist and relevant CSD subject-matter experts, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures consistent with WBG policies, standards, and the Framework of Accountability.
• Advise on security considerations affecting WBG personnel, facilities, operations, projects, events, and travel, including activities in higher-risk or remote locations.
• Maintain effective liaison with host-government authorities, the UN Security Management System, diplomatic and international organizations, and other relevant security partners.
• Support the reporting and management of security incidents and coordinate as appropriate with the Senior Security Specialist, GSOC, CSD subject-matter experts, and other relevant WBG functions.

Mission, Operational, and Protective Security Support

• Provide security advice and operational support to WBG staff and visiting missions throughout Colombia, including review of proposed activities, travel, routes, locations, and appropriate risk mitigation measures.
• Conduct security assessments and advances and coordinate security arrangements for higher-risk missions, senior official visits, conferences, meetings, and other WBG activities as required.
• Provide security briefings, advisories, alerts, and awareness activities to ensure personnel have relevant and timely information.
• Maintain situational awareness of WBG activities and provide additional monitoring or support when security conditions warrant.

Crisis Preparedness and Emergency Response

• Provide security advice and expertise to Country Office management and the Crisis Management Team in preparing for and responding to security incidents and crises.
• Support the security-related elements of contingency planning, exercises, relocation, evacuation, shelter-in-place, personnel accountability, and other preparedness arrangements, in coordination with BCMU, HSD, Facilities/Real Estate, and other responsible functions.
• Coordinate with GSOC, CSD subject-matter experts, and other relevant stakeholders during significant incidents and emergencies.

Physical Security, Watchkeeper, and Contract Management

• Assess physical and procedural security requirements for WBG premises and operations and provide security advice to Corporate Real Estate/Facilities and relevant CSD technical specialists regarding vulnerabilities, proposed measures, security systems, renovations, and new facilities.
• Manage and oversee the Colombia Watchkeeper program, including priorities, performance, workload, coverage, reporting, and coordination with GSOC and other stakeholders.
• Manage or support security-related contracts and service providers as assigned, including guard-force, Watchkeeper, protective-security, transportation, security systems, and other security services.
• Support procurement and contract administration, including scopes of work, technical requirements, performance monitoring, service reviews, invoice certification where applicable, and resolution of performance deficiencies.

Program Management and Coordination

• Maintain effective working relationships with Country Office management, operational teams, other WBG functions, CSD colleagues, and external security partners to support effective delivery of the Colombia security program.
• Maintain appropriate security program documentation, assessments, operational information, and reporting, and contribute to regional CSD planning, reviews, and initiatives.
• Identify emerging risks, capability gaps, resource requirements, and opportunities to strengthen the security program and provide recommendations to the Senior Security Specialist.
• Undertake other security-related duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position as assigned.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree with at least five years of relevant professional experience. A bachelor’s degree combined with at least seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree. A career-level diploma (at least three consecutive years of training) from a military or police institution, college, or academy, combined with at least seven years of relevant security experience, may exceptionally be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in security risk management, security program delivery, or related operational security functions, preferably within an international, diplomatic, development, or similarly complex organization.
• Strong knowledge of the security environment in Colombia and demonstrated ability to assess security risks and translate complex information into practical, proportionate, and decision-relevant advice.
• Experience supporting operations and missions in complex or higher-risk environments, including the development and implementation of appropriate risk mitigation measures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear security assessments, advisories, briefings, and recommendations for management and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across organizational and technical functions, build effective relationships in a multicultural environment, and engage appropriate subject‑matter expertise when required.
• Experience managing or overseeing security programs, service providers, contracts, or projects, including performance monitoring and basic procurement or resource‑management processes.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English and Spanish.
• Proficiency in standard Microsoft Office applications and other relevant information and communication tools.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Colombia, including to higher-risk or remote locations, sometimes on short notice.

WBG Culture Attributes

• Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Thoughtful risk‑taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
• Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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.

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