Jobs and Careers

Senior External Affairs Officer

Washington, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 10 Apr 2026

About the role

Senior External Affairs Officer

Job #: req36177 Organization: World Bank Sector: Communications Grade: GG Term Duration: 2 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 4/8/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank 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.

External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR)

The mission of External and Corporate Relations (ECR) 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. ECR 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. ECR also manages strategic communications for the World Bank’s Regions and Global Practices and leads the management of reputation risk.

ECR Communication & Marketing (ECRCM)

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 central execution role in shaping and delivering external communications for World Bank Group senior leadership, with a primary focus on senior leadership travel, high-level engagements, major institutional moments, and driving expansion into new media. Working in close partnership with the External Communications Manager, Director of Communications and Marketing, and president’s and MD’s offices, this role leads the planning, coordination, and delivery of integrated communications tied to leadership engagements and priority initiatives. S/he serves as a key connector across communications, operational, and regional teams—ensuring that media and messaging opportunities are aligned and executed to the highest standard.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership Engagement Communications:

• Lead planning and delivery of external communications for the World Bank Group President’s travel, high-level meetings, speeches, and major institutional moments in coordination with EXC and ECR.

• Translate leadership objectives into clear communications plans, deliverables, and timelines that support visibility, impact, and narrative coherence.

• Coordinate messaging, briefing materials, and content across media, digital, and stakeholder channels tied to leadership engagements.

• Ensure communications execution is tightly aligned with the President’s schedule, priorities, and strategic objectives.

Communications Planning and Delivery

• Lead and contribute to integrated co