Senior Operations Officer

World Bank Group; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

An international financial institution in Singapore seeks a Senior Operations Officer to manage the Singapore Hub's operations and engage with government entities. The role involves office administration, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge program delivery. Ideal candidates possess an advanced degree with extensive experience in relevant fields, emphasizing strong communication and collaboration skills. The position requires leadership in managing diverse teams and driving innovation in operational excellence.

Benefits

Comprehensive retirement plan

Medical, life and disability insurance

Paid leave including parental leave

Reasonable accommodations for disabilities

Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience in World Bank operations or knowledge management.
• Experience in office administration, stakeholder engagement, and partnership negotiation.
• Ability to foster information flows and manage knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operations and administration of the office.
• Ensure effective communication with Singapore stakeholders.
• Lead development and delivery of knowledge programs.

Skills

Office administration

Stakeholder engagement

Knowledge-sharing initiatives

Interpersonal skills

Financial terminology

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree in finance, economics, or related field

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Senior Operations Officer

Job # : req34829

Organization : World Bank

Sector : Administration / Office Support

Grade : GG

Term Duration : 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type : International Recruitment

Location : Singapore

Required Language(s) : English

Closing Date : 11 / 24 / 2025 (MM / DD / YYYY) at 11 : 59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region

EAP is a large and diverse region ranging from the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific to Indonesia, The Philippines and China. Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction the EAP region faces significant development challenges. Growth and poverty reduction have been uneven across and within countries, institutional development needs strengthening and most countries are having to adapt to climate change. The Bank plays a significant role in infrastructure, water, agriculture, education, health and private sector development. Fragmentation in international trade and increasingly population aging are compounding the impact of the global economic slowdown. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing.

East Asia and the Pacific Region : World Bank Group Singapore is the EAP Regional Hub. It is one of the largest operational hubs co-locating staff from the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. The key objectives of the Singapore Hub are to increase operational efficiency for the EAP portfolio and to combine WBG-wide expertise with Singapore-based development knowledge to better deliver solutions to clients. Thematically the offices activities have traditionally focused on infrastructure, urban and sustainable development including investment finance and treasury services across IDA / IBRD, IFC and MIGA. The Hub acts as a driving force for innovation, knowledge sharing and private sector mobilization across the WBG.

Currently the Singapore office houses 300 staff from the World Bank Group with approximately 150 from the World Bank. The IBRD / IDA and IFC Regional Vice Presidents are based in the Hub.

On the IBRD / IDA side it hosts the Regional Practice Directors, regional staff and also some staff from Global Departments such as Infrastructure Finance, Climate Change and Treasury and Credit Risk.

The IFC side serves as a key regional hub for senior leadership covering Asia and the Pacific. It includes Regional Industry Directors, business managers, upstream managers and staff focusing on Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Services Finance and Industry, PPP Advisory, Treasury Syndications and the Asset Management Company (AMC).

MIGAs Regional Head of East Asia & Pacific is currently under recruitment and the Singapore Office also includes three MIGA staff.

A key role for the Hub is to leverage the Singapore ecosystem (government agencies, private sector and academia) to enhance staff and client capacity by drawing on Singapore's models of public sector efficiency, world‑class companies and top universities. This involves fostering partnerships with leading organizations to provide hands‑on learning opportunities, facilitating workshops and seminars with top industry professionals and creating cross‑learning platforms to exchange best practices. By doing so the Hub aims to build a robust knowledge network that benefits both staff and clients while continuously driving innovation and operational excellence.

The Singapore Office is headed by the Regional Hub Manager with a small front office which includes the Senior Operations Officer and an Operations Analyst. The Front Office is supported by a Senior Resource Management Officer, a Senior HR Business Partner and a Senior Counsel.

The expected start date for this position is July 1 2026.

DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Senior Operations Officer will be a key member of the World Bank Singapore Office team contributing to and facilitating the Hub's core activities, events and strategies. Responsibilities include :

• Office Administration and Management Support: Support the Singapore Hub Manager in overseeing the day‑to‑day operations and administration of the office. Strengthen the relationship and policy dialogue with the Singaporean government and key stakeholders and ensure compliance with funding agreements. Act as a representative for the Hub Manager in their absence ensuring continuity in leadership and operations.
• Engagement with Singapore Stakeholders: Ensure effective communication and engagement with Singapore stakeholders including government entities such as the Ministry of Finance, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Prime Ministers Office and others. Facilitate engagements with academic institutions and other stakeholders within Singapore to develop value‑added collaborative activities. This also includes negotiating the renewal of the World Bank Group and Singapore partnership agreements by June 2026.
• Fostering Information Flows: Develop, implement and manage systems and protocols to enhance information flow and connectivity between WBG Singapore‑based institutions, units, staff and the EAPSG Front Office team. This includes managing collaborative systems, organising staff briefings and coordinating staff events and management briefing materials.
• Knowledge Program Delivery: Lead and support the development and delivery of the WB Singapore Office knowledge program. This includes initiatives like the Asia Infrastructure Forum, Capacity Building Programs and other collaborative activities involving Singapore's expertise. Support the development and delivery of centres of excellence initiatives in Singapore such as the Singapore Water Centre and (proposed) Singapore Carbon Market Centre as well as engagements related to Energy and Digital.
• Support for Cross‑Unit Collaboration: Work with the Singapore Hub Manager to catalyse collaboration among World Bank IFC and MIGA units based in Singapore actively fostering synergies, joint initiatives and shared learning opportunities to enhance alignment in operations and knowledge‑sharing activities.
• Local Political, Social and Economic Analysis and Advisement: Provide ongoing briefs, updates, guidance and support on local political, social, economic and other relevant developments to management and visiting missions.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will possess the following competencies, qualifications and experience :

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g. finance, economics, international development, public administration) plus 10 years of relevant experience or a PhD plus 8 years of relevant experience in World Bank operations or knowledge management.
• Proven experience in office administration, stakeholder engagement and partnership negotiation specifically with government entities and stakeholders in a development context.
• Conversant in financial terminology. Understanding of financial and/or carbon markets would be a bonus.
• Demonstrated ability to foster information flows and manage knowledge‑sharing initiatives including the design and execution of knowledge exchange, learning and technical assistance programmes.
• Proven ability to work across units and catalyse collaboration among diverse teams fostering synergies and shared learning opportunities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to present complex information effectively to diverse audiences.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working across the WBG with experience from IFC and MIGA is a bonus.
• Experience providing political, social and economic updates and contextual information to senior management.

Required Competencies :

Core – Achieves results and identifies mission‑driven solutions for the client. Collaborates well across boundaries and brings differing ideas into the forefront. Develops innovative solutions with others. Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions. Recommends and takes decisive action when needed.

Integrative Skills – Integrating divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent project / program / strategy.

Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement – An ability to independently coordinate and engage with stakeholders from various parts of WBG including IFC and MIGA. Providing substantial inputs into and participating in the dialogue with external clients and stakeholders including governments, NGOs and CSOs and development partners.

Communication & Influencing Skills – Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organisations, academia and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers).

Operational Knowledge Sharing – An ability to design and consolidate core content of operational learning programs and to mentor junior colleagues in all aspects of operations.

Strategy formulation and policy and program design – Proficiency in playing a leading role and making substantive contributions to the strategy formulation process and related strategic products.

Team Leadership – Solid experience of being a team leader or core task team member on one or more strategic or operational tasks. Demonstrated talent in forming leading and making changes to team composition and delivering tasks on budget and high quality.

Note : 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; if they do their application will not be considered.

COS Competencies : 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.

Required Experience : Senior IC

Key Skills

Six Sigma, Lean, Management Experience, Process Improvement, Microsoft Outlook, Analysis Skills, Warehouse Management System, Operations Management, Kaizen, Leadership Experience, Supervising Experience, Retail Management

Employment Type : Full Time

Vacancy : 1