Senior Operations Officer

Senior Operations Officer

Job #: req39325 Organization: World Bank Sector: Operations Grade: GG Term Duration: Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP) Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Rabat,Morocco Required Language(s): English and French Preferred Language(s): Arabic Closing Date: 11/27/2026 (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 has maintained a longstanding and active development partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco, one of the largest IBRD borrowers in the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MNAAP) region. The Morocco program is managed within the broader Maghreb and Malta Country Management Unit (CMU), which operates under the MNAAP Vice Presidency and covers Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Malta.

The World Bank Group's engagement in Morocco is guided by the FY2026-2035 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) which promotes a focused and jobs-centered program structured around three mutually reinforcing outcomes: (i) improved productivity and competitiveness of firms for job creation; (ii) inclusive, connected and resilient territories; and (iii) strengthened human capital. The CPF reflects close collaboration across IBRD, IFC, and MIGA to maximize development impact through a One World Bank Group approach.

Morocco's portfolio spans a broad range of sectors and instruments spanning infrastructure, financial inclusion, digital economy, education, health, social protection, agriculture, and water, and involves sustained policy dialogue with the Government at the highest levels, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, line ministries, and sector agencies.

The locally recruited Senior Operations Officer (SOO) is a critical member of the CMU team based in Rabat. The SOO draws on Morocco's institutional landscape, policy environment, and development priorities to serve as the primary in-country interface between the World Bank country office and the Moroccan government, local stakeholders, and development partners. The position works under the supervision of the Operations Manager (OM) and collaborates closely with Task Team Leaders across the portfolio. Under the supervision of the OM, support the CMU in the strategic oversight of the Morocco IBRD portfolio, with a strong focus on implementation performance, disbursement, achievement of development outcomes, timely restructuring and disciplined management of project closings and agreed actions of D-readiness.

While the position would be primarily focused on the Morocco World Bank program, there will be opportunities to broaden the scope of the day-to-day work to other countries in the CMU, and to expand the scope to a One World Bank Group approach strongly pursued by the CMU.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assist the OM in monitoring the development impact and implementation progress of the portfolio, draw lessons and resolve implementation issues. • Maintain an integrated view of the lending, pipeline and ASA portfolios; identify delivery risks, strategic gaps, duplication and opportunities for consolidation, sequencing and scale-up; and prepare concise, decision-oriented portfolio analytics and management briefings. • Track agreed actions and ensure timely escalation and follow-up with clients and Bank management, with clear line of sight to implementing the CPF as One WBG with measurable development impact. • Review ASA concepts, deliverables and other knowledge products on behalf of the CMU, ensuring analytical rigor, operational relevance, complementarity across Global Practices, and effective plans for dissemination, uptake and use. • As a core member of the Operations team, review and provide quality enhancement advice on all operations throughout the project cycle, ensuring alignment with CPF providing advisory support in all phases of operations. Facilitate resolution of cross-department and cross-sectorial problems. • Participate in operational missions and meetings and assist teams in resolution of difficult operational issues. • Work closely with the Operations and Implementation Support Teams to address key fiduciary and E&S issues that are generic to the portfolio. • Play a key role in quality enhancement, risk management and implementation issues, under the guidance of the OM. • Play a key role on behalf of the CMU management in the review of projects from the concept stage to final approval. Review of appraisal documentation prior to Board submission. • Advise the country teams on operational policies, instruments, and procedures and on complex operational issues. • Support the Division Director, the OM, CM and RRs in the preparation of work programs and budgets, and monitor budget execution, and the fulfilling of WPA agreement.

Country Strategy Formulation and Implementation

• Support the DD and OM in monitoring implementation of the CPF and related products as relevant. • Support the OM in managing relations with clients and partners, including monitoring trust funds and harmonization of development assistance/policy dialogue with multilateral and bilateral partners. • Assist with the preparation of briefs and presentations, including for high-level visiting missions, special events, conferences and IMF-WB Annual and Spring meetings; and oversee or assist with drafting or reviewing operational correspondence, including responses to official external queries. • Advise task teams on country context and strategy issues. • Support DD/OM in interactions with Government, development partners and stakeholders, as needed. • Prepare and/or contributes to background and policy papers and selected notes for internal and external audience (e.g., memos to senior management, Bank-IMF Annex). • Support to communication team and implement the country office communications, dissemination and outreach strategy, including internal and external websites.

Team Support and Junior Staff Development

• Provide day-to-day guidance, mentoring, and on-the-job coaching to members of the Morocco Operations Team and junior CMU staff based in the Rabat office. • Support the onboarding of new CMU staff and visiting mission teams, sharing institutional knowledge of Morocco-specific procedures, government protocols, and country office practices.

Selection Criteria

Minimum Requirements • Master's degree in economics, public policy, international development, public administration, finance, or a related field, with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. • Proven direct experience in Bank operations is required preferably with operational experience in a Vertical/GP team.

Technical and Operational Knowledge • Solid proven experience with the World Bank's operational policies, lending instruments, and country engagement processes, or equivalent experience in a comparable multilateral development institution. • Proven track record in portfolio coordination, government liaison, or operational program management in a development context. • Knowledge of World Bank fiduciary, environmental, and social standards at a level sufficient to provide CMU-level oversight guidance to task teams. • Direct operational experience with project teams as member of a Vertical/GP is an advantage. • Experience with CPF formulation and implementation is a strong advantage.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills • Excellent oral and written communication skills in French, including the ability to draft concise briefing notes, official correspondence in French, and policy summaries for senior management. • Knowledge of Arabic is a plus. • Professional proficiency in English is required for internal Bank communications, document review, and reporting. • Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills, with demonstrated ability to interact effectively and diplomatically with senior government officials and counterparts. • Ability to influence and coordinate across a matrixed organizational structure without formal authority.

Analytical and Organizational Skills • Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines across a large and diverse portfolio. • Analytical ability to synthesize operational, political economy, and country context information and present it clearly and concisely for management decision-making. • Attention to detail and commitment to quality in operational outputs, correspondence, and analytical products. Working Arrangements This is a locally recruited position based at the World Bank Country Office in Rabat, Morocco. The position does not include international mobility entitlements. The role involves regular in-country travel to project sites, government offices, and regional centers as needed. Occasional participation in regional or headquarters

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.

Apply now

Added 1 hour ago - Updated 1 hour ago - Source: worldbank.org