Communications and External Relations Officer

Communications and External Relations Officer

Description

The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It is 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 for the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Communications and External Relations (CER)
The mission of Communications and External Relations (CER) 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. CER 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. CER also manages strategic communications for the World Bank Group’s Regions and technical units and leads the management of reputation risk.

Regional Stakeholder Engagement in CER
The Regional Stakeholder Engagement team manages strategic communications across the seven regions of the World Bank Group, driving engagement across regions and country offices to align local efforts with our global strategy.
The work aims to build support and understanding for World Bank Group (WBG) priorities across a range of stakeholders; enhance and protect the reputation of the WBG as a leading development organization; support operational effectiveness and social accountability by sharing development progress, knowledge, and results.

Recognizing that economic and social contexts evolve rapidly, and that communications technologies have revolutionized the ways that information travels, we are building a team of dynamic and innovative professionals prepared to use innovative engagement strategies, traditional and digital tools, including social media and artificial intelligence to shape the debate on development priorities and tradeoffs.

Communications and External Relations
The Communications and External Relations Officer, a key member of the Latin America and the Caribbean Communications and External Relations team, will be based in the Jamaica Country Office and will work under the guidance of the Senior Communications and External Affairs Officer for the Caribbean. The position supports the design and delivery of stakeholder engagement, communications, advocacy, and reputational risk management activities that advance the World Bank Group's priorities across the countries of the Caribbean.

The position contributes to delivery across CER's four business lines: Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Business Marketing, Advocacy & Campaigns, and Risk & Issue Management. The role requires sound judgment, political awareness, strong communications skills, and the ability to build relationships, identify opportunities and risks, and deliver high-quality External Relations support.

Working closely with country and regional management, operational teams, and colleagues across IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA, the Communications and External Relations Officer helps advance a coordinated One World Bank Group approach to stakeholder engagement and communications across the Caribbean Country Management Unit (CMU).

Responsibilities
Under the guidance of the Senior Communications and External Affairs Office, the role includes the following responsibilities:

1.Stakeholder Engagement
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with government counterparts, development partners, private sector, media, academia, youth, and civil society to deepen understanding of the WBG’s role and value.
• Spearhead strategic partnerships that drive impact for our work.
• Map and maintain an active network of influencers and validators who can help communicate WBG priorities and results.
• Advise the operational teams on stakeholder engagement approaches that enhance ownership, transparency, and results.
• Support proactive two-way communications by gathering insights from the ground and feeding them into operational planning and narrative development.
• Lead or contribute to outreach programs and dialogues that promote open and informed discussion of reform challenges and opportunities.
• Manage media relations and broaden outreach opportunities with media based in the CMU. 

2.Strategic Business Marketing
• Showcase the WBG’s integrated offer by linking public policy reforms to private capital mobilization and knowledge services.
• Develop and implement communication strategies that highlight results, demonstrate the impact of WBG support, and help generate demand for future engagement.
• Position the CMU country program as part of a broader regional story of resilience, private-sector–led growth, and regional integration.
• Identify and promote success stories, case studies, and thought leadership products that illustrate how WBG support is transforming key sectors.
• Develop and disseminate results stories and visuals through WBG and partner digital platforms to reinforce credibility and relevance.

3. Advocacy and Campaigns
• Contribute to regional and global advocacy efforts by localizing messages and providing examples from the CMU.
• Lead or support the rollout of country-specific campaigns that mobilize client and partner networks around reforms or flagship programs.
• Design and deliver communications plans for major project or knowledge launches, ensuring consistent messaging across all channels and exercising selectivity.
• Draft and edit communications materials, including press releases, speeches, talking points, and social media content.
• Work with technical teams to simplify complex concepts and translate them into compelling, actionable narratives.

4. Risk and Issue Management
• Monitor political, social, and media developments to identify potential risks and opportunities for the WBG’s engagement.
• Provide timely analysis and recommendations to the operational teams and the CERLC manager and headquarters team on sensitive issues, reputational risks, political developments, and emerging narratives.
• Support the development of proactive communication and mitigation strategies for high-profile or sensitive projects.
• Coordinate with regional and corporate colleagues to ensure a unified and timely institutional response on issues of reputational significance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and operational teams on both risks and opportunities.

5. Corporate Coordination and Innovation
• Serve as an integral member of the regional communications network, contributing to regional priorities, campaigns, and storytelling initiatives.
• Ensure close collaboration with IFC and MIGA counterparts to present a unified WBG narrative and leverage cross-institutional opportunities.
• Champion innovative, data-driven communication approaches—short-form video, digital storytelling, influencer engagement, and visual explainers—to increase reach and impact.
• Serve as an integrated member of the WBG-wide Communication Network, actively engaging in professional development opportunities and supporting key corporate priorities. 

Selection Criteria

• We require a relevant mix of education and experience: Master’s degree with 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline (communication, journalism, public affairs, international affairs, or other related fields). 
• Experience working in an international environment and in-depth knowledge of international trends and political/economic issues related to development. 
• Knowledge of, and experience working with Caribbean government and/or public institutions, private sector, business associations, CSOs, think tanks and other key actors in CMU.
• An understanding of WBG operations; up-to-date knowledge of current development topics and issues, and ability to identify communications and reputation-related risks and opportunities in an international environment.
• Demonstrated political awareness and ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and to otherwise cultivate effective, productive client relationships and partnerships. Experience working with senior executives including experience of managing reputational risks and issues, messaging, stakeholder engagement, and media engagement; and ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources.
• Excellent English language skills and proficiency to write and edit complex communications products for purposeful structure, clarity of ideas, and logical, persuasive presentation, in an accessible way to different audiences. French language skills considered a plus.
• Demonstrated ability and the necessary personal organization skills to multitask, take initiative, personal ownership, and accountability to meet deadlines, work under pressure, and achieve agreed-upon results.
• Teamwork orientation with strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to working in a multicultural environment.

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.