Director General, WBG Independent Accountability Mechanism

The Director General (DG) leads the World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism (WBG IAM), providing independent oversight and accountability for environmental and social risks in WBG-financed operations. The DG reports directly to the WBG Boards and is responsible for managing the IAM's dispute resolution, compliance, and advisory functions to ensure effective and credible accountability.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of the new WBG IAM policy and facilitate the transition from the current accountability system to the new WBG IAM.
• Lead change management to integrate WBG IAM operations while safeguarding independence and credibility.
• Ensure effective functioning of the IAM’s three arms: Dispute Resolution, Compliance, and Advisory.
• Oversee cases, maintain process integrity and quality control, establish internal procedures and guidelines.
• Direct complex, multi-disciplinary investigations ensuring impartial and thorough factfinding.
• Manage IAM’s day-to-day operations including planning, directing, organizing work program, budget, and staff performance.
• Present IAM budget requests to the Boards and ensure adherence to budgetary levels.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators to assess IAM effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
• Communicate with complainants and affected parties while managing retaliation risks and safeguarding confidential information.
• Maintain communication with relevant WBG departments and foster relationships with key stakeholders.
• Provide strategic leadership to the IAM team, oversee delivery of objectives, goals, guidelines, and work programs.
• Manage staff, foster a culture of integrity and inclusion, support professional development, and ensure compliance with administrative and workplace standards.
• Hire staff and consultants/independent contractors as needed, manage coordination across IAM functions, and approve administrative matters.
• Build and maintain a roster of independent experts as needed.
• Ensure integrity, quality, coherence, and accuracy of IAM reports, findings, recommendations, and other products.
• Represent IAM in public and private fora, oversee stakeholder outreach and guidance, and maintain IAM’s public information platforms.
• Meet regularly with Board Committee Chairs to keep Committees and Boards informed and prepare reports as needed.
• Ensure and safeguard independence from all stakeholders and maintain reporting line to the Boards.
• Coordinate transitional arrangements with CAO, DRS, and IPN, manage closure of current mechanisms, and launch the new integrated WBG IAM.

Requirements

• Minimum of 20 years of relevant professional experience.
• Educational background in economics, law, social or environmental sciences, or a related development field.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing or engaging on complex environmental and social (E&S) issues in large-scale projects, including resettlement, economic displacement, impacts on Indigenous Peoples, impacts on land and other natural assets, and impacts on tangible and intangible cultural resources.
• Experience managing complex institutional interfaces and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Proven ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams in a complex institutional setting.
• Experience engaging effectively with the WBG Boards, WBG Management, and a broad range of external stakeholders.
• Experience leading institutional change and system-building processes, including developing frameworks and operational systems.
• Demonstrated integrity, independence, and ability to perform duties free from undue influence from WBG Management, Board members, or other stakeholders.
• Strong ability to handle sensitive issues with impartiality, fairness, and sound judgment.
• Experience managing diverse and often conflicting stakeholder perspectives, including marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• Solid expertise in E&S compliance aligned with international standards and legal frameworks.
• Experience with investigations, dispute resolution, and institutional accountability and grievance mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience in dispute resolution approaches, including mediation, dialogue, assisted negotiation, and participatory processes.
• Substantial experience working across public and private sector contexts, including in developing countries and with international institutions.
• Strong understanding of development challenges and stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven leadership and management skills in leading large multicultural and multidisciplinary teams within complex organizations.
• Flexibility to adapt to evolving priorities and workloads.
• Demonstrated track record of leading an organizational office or team and managing institutional change and system-building processes.
• Understanding of and experience in international development and multilateral financial institutions and private sector financing are preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel to member countries, including remote areas.
• Demonstrated commitment to WBG Core Values and fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, teamwork, honesty, trust, openness, integrity, and accountability.

Skills

• Environmental and social compliance
• Dispute Settlement
• Institutional Accountability Mechanisms
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Stakeholder Management
• Multi-disciplinary Team Leadership
• Institutional Change Management
• System-building Processes
• Mediation and Dialogue Facilitation
• Investigation Management
• Economic Displacement Management
• Indigenous Peoples Impact Assessment
• Resettlement Management
• Legal Framework Compliance
• International Development Expertise
• Public and Private Sector Experience
• Complex Project Management
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• WBG Board Engagement
• Operational Frameworks

Languages

English