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Job Description
Chief Counsel
| Job #: | req38749 |
| Organization: | World Bank |
| Sector: | Legal |
| Grade: | GH |
| Term Duration: | Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP) |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Washington, DC,United States; Vienna,Austria |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 10/30/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Note: This requisition holds two positions: Chief Counsel AFW/MENAAP based in Washington, DC; and Chief Counsel ECA based in Vienna, Austria.
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
VPU Position Context:
The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include development and measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data. In the context of the World Bank's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters. LEG provides legal services required by the World Bank Group and plays an active role in all the World Bank's activities. In addition, the Legal Vice Presidency helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the Institution’s Articles of Agreement, policies and procedures. Organizationally, the Legal Vice Presidency includes geographically based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank's lending operations, and Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate finance, administrative and institutional matters for the World Bank.
The Regional Operational Practice Groups, under the oversight of the Deputy General Counsel Operations, are led by Chief Counsels covering all of the 7 Regions. They are currently grouped in 3 practice groups based on volume of deliverables and geographic proximity. The 7 geographic Regions currently are: (i) East and Southern Africa (AFE); (ii) West and Central Africa (AFW); (iii) Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP); (iv) Europe and Central Asia (ECA); (v) Latin America and the Caribbean (LCR); (vi) East Asia Pacific (EAP) and (vii) South Asia Region (SAR).
Each Chief Counsel is responsible for leading LEG’s support to the World Bank’s operational programs in the Regions, collaborating with other WBG Practice Groups within LEG such as the Environment and International Law Unit (LEGEN), the Legal Operations Policy Unit (LEGOP), Legal Development Finance (LEGDF), Legal Corporate Finance (LEGFI), Legal Institutional Administration (LEGIA) and Regional Operations practice groups and staff, in providing advice on legal and policy issues in World Bank-financed operations. The Chief Counsels manage the staff (Counsels at various grades, Legal Operations Officers, Legal Analysts, Paralegals and A2D), and are responsible for setting annual objectives, distributing assignments, quality control and performance management. They are also an integral part of the Regional Leadership Teams headed by the respective Regional Vice Presidents.
The Chief Counsels will report directly to the Deputy General Counsel (DGC) Operations and serve as members of LEG's Management Team under the general supervision of the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel.
For more information visit our Legal Vice Presidency Website https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/wblegal
Responsibilities and Accountabilities
The Chief Counsels are expected to fulfill the following roles:
• Oversee the provision of legal advice, services, support and guidance to all World Bank operations in the areas under her/his purview.
• Set standards for and supervise the provision by staff of effective, efficient, timely and practical legal advice and services to World Bank operations, including the organization and management of staff with responsibility for acquiring, cultivating and maintaining a deep understanding of country and regional strategies, objectives and priorities in order to best provide legal support;
• Supporting, coaching, mentoring and guiding staff in their individual and collective (team) performance of their responsibilities, and overseeing the planning and performance of their responsibilities; including knowledge dissemination, knowledge-sharing, thought leadership and training across the regions served by staff in collaboration with IFC and MIGA staff, as appropriate;
• Working together with the DGCs and other LEG Chief Counsels and staff across LEG, to provide advice to the World Bank General Counsel and Senior Management as appropriate, on Policies, Directives, Procedures and Guidance – both generally and in their application in World Bank operations or as they affect the World Bank Group – from a legal perspective and from the practically useful, solutions-oriented perspectives gained from years of experience and judgment;
• Under the guidance of the DGC Operations and in coordination with others in LEG Management, providing intellectual and strategic leadership and advice to the World Bank Group General Counsel and the LEG Management team on all matters relevant to LEG functions within the World Bank Group, including matters relating to the responsibilities of LEG and matters relating to any support or advice that LEG may provide to others across the World Bank Group;
• Leading consultations and negotiations and representing LEG in the international community on operational matters as designated by the DGC Operations and/or the World Bank General Counsel;
• Ensure effective legal support to operational clients, as well as the integrity and accuracy of legal documentation to be sent to the Board or Regional Management for approval;
• Represent LEG in Senior Management meetings on operational matters in the absence of the DGC Operations;
• Fulfilling all of the above and leading the team by example with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset and approach and instilling that approach and values in others; and
• Such other or different responsibilities and functions as may be specified from time to time by the DGC Operations and/or the World Bank General Counsel.
Selection Criteria
• Professional qualifications must include JD, LL.M, SJD or equivalent and admission to the Bar (or equivalent);
• At least 12 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience;
• A thorough understanding of World Bank Group strategies and operational priorities and the roles of the legal function in advancing them.
• Expertise and knowledge of World Bank Group and International Financial Institutions preferred; in-depth knowledge, technical expertise and experience with World Bank operations will be a strong advantage as will experience working in a country office environment as well as experience working in more than one world region;
• Proven ability to provide leadership on a wide variety of World Bank operational matters combined with a record of intellectual leadership and accomplishments that demonstrated an ability to provide the Institution, LEG Management and internal and external clients with technically excellent, innovative, timely and practical advice and solutions to meet the needs of the World Bank’s strategic and operational priorities and particular transactions, and to resolve highly complex legal issues;
• Demonstrated strategic planning skills, in-depth understanding of legal and relevant World Bank operational and other policies and risks, and capacity to guide development of policies and strategies;
• Exceptional leadership skills, including leading transformative change, creative and innovative solutions to enhance efficiencies and effectiveness, and highly developed coaching, mentoring and advisory skills, as well as the ability to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and experience across a large, diverse and complex organization;
• Proven and consistent track record of integrity and outstanding interpersonal and people leadership skills, building and managing teams, achieving a mutually supportive team-oriented mindset across a large unit, and creating an enabling work environment that delivers results;
• Proven ability to effectively work with colleagues and integrate the work of multiple business units covering diverse activities; and
• Receptivity to feedback and constructive criticism; outstanding written and verbal communications skills.
Values, Leadership and Managerial Competencies:
• Demonstrated commitment to the World Bank Core Values and a proven track record of fostering a strong and healthy culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, teamwork, honesty, trust, openness, integrity, and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to be sensitive to issues around race, gender, ethnicity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire staff to perform and deliver for better results; help others achieve their fullest potential through coaching and mentorship and ensure that they are appropriately acknowledged for their accomplishments.
• Demonstrated commitment to the World Bank’s mission and a Bank-first attitude, and ability to work towards WBG's corporate targets for successful outcomes.
• A strong results-oriented mindset.
• Ability to take informed risks and make tough decisions in a timely and transparent manner resulting in transformative impact for clients.
• WBG Core Competencies for all staff: Client orientation; drive for results; teamwork & collaboration; knowledge, learning and communication; and business judgment and analytical decision-making.
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. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.
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
WBG Five Managerial 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.
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