The World Bank
Overview
Deputy General Counsel, Finance Job # req34460 | Organization: World Bank | Sector: Legal | Grade: GI | Term Duration: 4 years | Recruitment Type: International Recruitment | Location: Washington, DC, United States | Required Language(s): English | Preferred Language(s): Spanish, French | Closing Date: 10/17/2025 at 11:59pm UTC Description 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 client countries 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 seeks to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering 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 (SVP and GGC), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters. It also 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, development finance, administrative and institutional matters across the WBG. The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) – Finance oversees the Corporate Finance Practice Group (LEGFI), which provides legal support for market-facing capital markets and asset management activities, and the Development Finance Practice Group (LEGDF), which provides legal support for IDA and trust fund donor-facing financial and policy negotiations. The DGC Finance is the WBG legal focal point and counterpart to the Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasury, Chief Risk Officer, Finance and Accounting, and Development Finance Vice Presidencies. In this WBG-wide role, the DGC Finance will also collaborate closely with IFC Management and MIGAManagement for coordination, lessons learned, and consistency of legal strategies and approaches in cross-cutting finance matters. The DGC Finance will report directly to the SVP and GGC and will serve as a core member of the Legal Management Team. Duties & accountabilities Solutions and Results for Clients : The DGC provides seasoned legal advice to Bank officials across a broad spectrum of legal issues in finance, often involving questions of first impression. The DGC must be able to work independently and confidentially to analyze complex legal and financial issues, and to provide prompt, mature, credible, and reliable advice to Bank officials, including senior officials and Board Officials. The DGC must balance legal and organizational interests to enable the Bank to achieve outcomes while mitigating legal risk. The DGC should understand and balance financial and development objectives and assist teams to structure new initiatives and transactions for optimal, risk-adjusted outcomes. Board Committees : Under the supervision of the SVP and GGC, the DGC will act as counsel to the Audit and Budget Committees of the Board. The DGC must demonstrate strong analytical ability, a thorough understanding of the Bank’s institutional framework, and an ability to balance Management and Board responsibilities. The DGC will also provide ad hoc legal advice to Board Officials on issues that may arise, in a reliable and professional manner. Management Committees : The DGC will represent the SVP and GGC on the Finance and Risk Committee and will serve as LEG’s representative on the New Business Committee, Disclosure Committee, and Credit Risk Committee. The DGC will advise senior management on legal issues in new financial initiatives and transactions, and explain financial implications of complex legal arrangements to managers to ensure well-informed decisions with clear risk/reward understanding. Key Transactional Responsibilities The DGC will organize, manage, and mentor staff in LEGFI and LEGDF in the following core areas: Capital Markets: negotiate offering documents and handle all other legal aspects of bond issuance for IBRD and IDA (about $83.3 billion in FY26 via ~370 transactions), as well as for IFFIm and CCMM; manage relationships with external counsel for underwriters and lead due diligence for benchmark transactions; produce annual IBRD and IDA Information Statements for investors; guide legal and governance discussions with credit rating agencies and investors; negotiate related risk management and asset-liability hedging transactions. IDA Resource Mobilization and Implementation: advise on legal, governance, and policy issues for triennial IDA replenishments (most recently IDA21 up to $100 billion); collaborate with cross-cutting finance and operational teams on IDA financial policies, balance sheet optimization, and other IDA innovations. Asset Management: handle negotiations for investments by the World Bank pension and benefit plans (over $40 billion) and asset allocations across private equity, real estate, venture capital, and hedge funds; manage negotiations for liquidity investments by IBRD, IDA, and trust funds (including IFC and MIGA), as well as client funds managed by World Bank Treasury (over $200 billion in assets under management). Trust Funds and Financial Intermediary Funds: provide legal, policy, and governance advice for structuring and negotiating new trust funds and FIFs; provide ongoing advice on implementation issues. Innovative Finance: assist in structuring and negotiating new market-facing financing initiatives, working cross-functionally with finance, operations, and other institutions, focusing on private capital mobilization and originate-to-distribute initiatives. Financial Products and Services: advise Treasury, CRO, WFA, DFI, and LEG on existing and new financial products and services for IBRD and IDA clients, including terms embedded in loan products, customization of products, and development of new stand-alone products. Financial Reporting: advise on disclosure for IBRD and IDA financial reporting; interact with external auditors on governance, financial reporting, and regulatory issues; ensure prospectuses and financial reporting meet legal standards. WBG Coordination: engage with legal teams at IFC and MIGA on common issues and provide governance advice to optimize WBG financial capacity. Miscellaneous: advise on IBRD capital and financial capacity issues (including hybrid capital, guarantees, and enhanced callable capital); provide legal and governance support under Treasury’s Reserves Advisory and Management Partnership; advise on legal aspects of Preferred Creditor Status and debt issues. People Talent Management Model WBG leadership values and managerial behavior; reinforce these in the management team and staff. Contribute to and implement talent management, diversity, and inclusion plans. Drive technical excellence by fostering learning and innovation to attract and develop talent representing client diversity. Coordinate and support the legal management team in global staffing, deployment, learning and development, and talent and performance management. Knowledge Management Engage with Chief Counsels, other DGCs, and IFC/MIGA Management to foster knowledge generation and learning. Ensure timely flow, capture, codification, and dissemination of knowledge so clients receive high-quality support. Support coordination of cross-cutting research and dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge. Resource Management Manage the budget allocated for the finance units (LEGFI and LEGDF). Ensure accountability for delivering the work program with cost-effective use of resources and compliance with fiduciary and safeguard policies, ensuring timely delivery and quality of outputs. Ensure implementation of the risk management framework for legal. Selection Criteria Professional qualifications must include SJD, or the equivalent. At least 15 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience. Expertise and in-depth historical knowledge of World Bank Group. Strong understanding of governance structure, business models, and financial reporting of IBRD and IDA; ability to explain issues to underwriters’ counsel, dealers, and stakeholders. Proven leadership in a broad range of Bank financial matters with a track record of providing technically excellent, innovative, timely, and practical advice to senior management and clients. Exceptional leadership skills, including leading transformative change, with coaching and advisory capabilities; ability to transfer knowledge across a large, diverse organization. Proven ability to build and manage teams and create an enabling work environment that delivers results. Ability to work with colleagues and integrate work across business units; receptivity to feedback and constructive criticism; outstanding written and verbal communication in English required. Spanish and French preferred. Ability to generate consensus on divisive legal issues; diplomatic in negotiations; trusted by colleagues and stakeholders; capable of leading complex negotiations; ensure adherence to policies and procedures and enforce consequences for non-compliance. Mentoring and coaching: ability to mentor more junior staff and provide on-the-job development opportunities. WBG Culture Attributes Sense of urgency: Anticipate and respond quickly to stakeholder needs. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo to achieve impact. Empowerment and accountability: Act and hold others accountable for results. The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including retirement, medical, life and disability insurance, paid leave (including parental leave), and accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
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Deputy General Counsel, Finance Job # req34460 | Organization: World Bank | Sector: Legal | Grade: GI | Term Duration: 4 years | Recruitment Type: International Recruitment | Location: Washington, DC, United States | Required Language(s): English | Preferred Language(s): Spanish, French | Closing Date: 10/17/2025 at 11:59pm UTC Description 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 client countries 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 seeks to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering 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 (SVP and GGC), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters. It also 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, development finance, administrative and institutional matters across the WBG. The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) – Finance oversees the Corporate Finance Practice Group (LEGFI), which provides legal support for market-facing capital markets and asset management activities, and the Development Finance Practice Group (LEGDF), which provides legal support for IDA and trust fund donor-facing financial and policy negotiations. The DGC Finance is the WBG legal focal point and counterpart to the Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasury, Chief Risk Officer, Finance and Accounting, and Development Finance Vice Presidencies. In this WBG-wide role, the DGC Finance will also collaborate closely with IFC Management and MIGAManagement for coordination, lessons learned, and consistency of legal strategies and approaches in cross-cutting finance matters. The DGC Finance will report directly to the SVP and GGC and will serve as a core member of the Legal Management Team. Duties & accountabilities Solutions and Results for Clients : The DGC provides seasoned legal advice to Bank officials across a broad spectrum of legal issues in finance, often involving questions of first impression. The DGC must be able to work independently and confidentially to analyze complex legal and financial issues, and to provide prompt, mature, credible, and reliable advice to Bank officials, including senior officials and Board Officials. The DGC must balance legal and organizational interests to enable the Bank to achieve outcomes while mitigating legal risk. The DGC should understand and balance financial and development objectives and assist teams to structure new initiatives and transactions for optimal, risk-adjusted outcomes. Board Committees : Under the supervision of the SVP and GGC, the DGC will act as counsel to the Audit and Budget Committees of the Board. The DGC must demonstrate strong analytical ability, a thorough understanding of the Bank’s institutional framework, and an ability to balance Management and Board responsibilities. The DGC will also provide ad hoc legal advice to Board Officials on issues that may arise, in a reliable and professional manner. Management Committees : The DGC will represent the SVP and GGC on the Finance and Risk Committee and will serve as LEG’s representative on the New Business Committee, Disclosure Committee, and Credit Risk Committee. The DGC will advise senior management on legal issues in new financial initiatives and transactions, and explain financial implications of complex legal arrangements to managers to ensure well-informed decisions with clear risk/reward understanding. Key Transactional Responsibilities The DGC will organize, manage, and mentor staff in LEGFI and LEGDF in the following core areas: Capital Markets: negotiate offering documents and handle all other legal aspects of bond issuance for IBRD and IDA (about $83.3 billion in FY26 via ~370 transactions), as well as for IFFIm and CCMM; manage relationships with external counsel for underwriters and lead due diligence for benchmark transactions; produce annual IBRD and IDA Information Statements for investors; guide legal and governance discussions with credit rating agencies and investors; negotiate related risk management and asset-liability hedging transactions. IDA Resource Mobilization and Implementation: advise on legal, governance, and policy issues for triennial IDA replenishments (most recently IDA21 up to $100 billion); collaborate with cross-cutting finance and operational teams on IDA financial policies, balance sheet optimization, and other IDA innovations. Asset Management: handle negotiations for investments by the World Bank pension and benefit plans (over $40 billion) and asset allocations across private equity, real estate, venture capital, and hedge funds; manage negotiations for liquidity investments by IBRD, IDA, and trust funds (including IFC and MIGA), as well as client funds managed by World Bank Treasury (over $200 billion in assets under management). Trust Funds and Financial Intermediary Funds: provide legal, policy, and governance advice for structuring and negotiating new trust funds and FIFs; provide ongoing advice on implementation issues. Innovative Finance: assist in structuring and negotiating new market-facing financing initiatives, working cross-functionally with finance, operations, and other institutions, focusing on private capital mobilization and originate-to-distribute initiatives. Financial Products and Services: advise Treasury, CRO, WFA, DFI, and LEG on existing and new financial products and services for IBRD and IDA clients, including terms embedded in loan products, customization of products, and development of new stand-alone products. Financial Reporting: advise on disclosure for IBRD and IDA financial reporting; interact with external auditors on governance, financial reporting, and regulatory issues; ensure prospectuses and financial reporting meet legal standards. WBG Coordination: engage with legal teams at IFC and MIGA on common issues and provide governance advice to optimize WBG financial capacity. Miscellaneous: advise on IBRD capital and financial capacity issues (including hybrid capital, guarantees, and enhanced callable capital); provide legal and governance support under Treasury’s Reserves Advisory and Management Partnership; advise on legal aspects of Preferred Creditor Status and debt issues. People Talent Management Model WBG leadership values and managerial behavior; reinforce these in the management team and staff. Contribute to and implement talent management, diversity, and inclusion plans. Drive technical excellence by fostering learning and innovation to attract and develop talent representing client diversity. Coordinate and support the legal management team in global staffing, deployment, learning and development, and talent and performance management. Knowledge Management Engage with Chief Counsels, other DGCs, and IFC/MIGA Management to foster knowledge generation and learning. Ensure timely flow, capture, codification, and dissemination of knowledge so clients receive high-quality support. Support coordination of cross-cutting research and dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge. Resource Management Manage the budget allocated for the finance units (LEGFI and LEGDF). Ensure accountability for delivering the work program with cost-effective use of resources and compliance with fiduciary and safeguard policies, ensuring timely delivery and quality of outputs. Ensure implementation of the risk management framework for legal. Selection Criteria Professional qualifications must include SJD, or the equivalent. At least 15 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience. Expertise and in-depth historical knowledge of World Bank Group. Strong understanding of governance structure, business models, and financial reporting of IBRD and IDA; ability to explain issues to underwriters’ counsel, dealers, and stakeholders. Proven leadership in a broad range of Bank financial matters with a track record of providing technically excellent, innovative, timely, and practical advice to senior management and clients. Exceptional leadership skills, including leading transformative change, with coaching and advisory capabilities; ability to transfer knowledge across a large, diverse organization. Proven ability to build and manage teams and create an enabling work environment that delivers results. Ability to work with colleagues and integrate work across business units; receptivity to feedback and constructive criticism; outstanding written and verbal communication in English required. Spanish and French preferred. Ability to generate consensus on divisive legal issues; diplomatic in negotiations; trusted by colleagues and stakeholders; capable of leading complex negotiations; ensure adherence to policies and procedures and enforce consequences for non-compliance. Mentoring and coaching: ability to mentor more junior staff and provide on-the-job development opportunities. WBG Culture Attributes Sense of urgency: Anticipate and respond quickly to stakeholder needs. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo to achieve impact. Empowerment and accountability: Act and hold others accountable for results. The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including retirement, medical, life and disability insurance, paid leave (including parental leave), and accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
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