Lead Procurement Specialist

The Lead Procurement Specialist will provide technical procurement authority and strategic leadership to support the World Bank's program in the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and secondary support to China, Mongolia, and Korea. The role involves diagnosing procurement challenges, leading modernization and digital transformation initiatives, and fostering collaboration to improve project delivery and development outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical procurement authority and strategic problem-solver to help clients, task teams, and management address complex operational challenges and improve project delivery.
• Support operations, knowledge programs, and country policy engagement across the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, China, Mongolia, and the Republic of Korea under the PMB and CMK Country Management Units.
• Diagnose procurement and implementation constraints, identify root causes, evaluate risks and alternatives, and develop practical, fit-for-purpose solutions balancing fiduciary requirements with timely delivery.
• Support CMU and Regional Management in implementing the D-Ready agenda, Procurement Change Program, and related corporate transformation initiatives to improve project readiness, implementation performance, operational efficiency, portfolio quality, and client outcomes.
• Lead adoption of new business processes, operating models, digital tools, and performance-management approaches across PMB and CMK portfolios.
• Promote innovation, modernization, and digital transformation by identifying opportunities to improve processes, strengthen decision-making, enhance portfolio management, and generate measurable operational efficiencies.
• Foster an inclusive and high-performing team environment, encourage constructive challenge and continuous learning, promote knowledge sharing, and support adoption of new technologies and ways of working.
• Contribute to strategic leadership, operational performance, and modernization of procurement across the East Asia and Pacific Region as part of the EAP Procurement Management Team.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Law, Procurement, Finance, Business, Commerce) or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• At least twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in World Bank operational procurement, including leadership in applying the 2016 World Bank Procurement Framework in complex operations.
• Experience across multiple regions and/or a combination of regional and corporate assignments.
• Advanced knowledge of World Bank procurement policies, instruments, and operational processes throughout the project cycle, including the ability to address complex procurement issues.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing large and complex operational portfolios, including identifying systemic risks, prioritizing interventions, allocating resources effectively, and improving portfolio performance across multiple countries or sectors.
• Proven ability to provide strategic advice to senior management on operational priorities, fiduciary risk management, implementation effectiveness, organizational capability, and portfolio performance.
• Demonstrated ability to improve development outcomes through sound judgment, analytical rigor, practical problem solving, and effective use of data, market intelligence, digital tools, and implementation evidence.
• Demonstrated experience leading institutional change initiatives, business transformation programs, policy reforms, or organizational modernization efforts, while providing thought leadership and strategic direction in complex operational environments.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders, build consensus, and lead initiatives and organizational change across institutional and organizational boundaries.
• Demonstrated expertise in market analysis and early market engagement strategies to enhance competition, bidder participation, and procurement outcomes.
• Strong understanding of borrower procurement systems and public procurement reform, including sustainable, green, gender-responsive, and data-driven procurement approaches.
• Demonstrated experience supporting post-award contract management and facilitating effective transition from procurement to implementation in collaboration with TTL-led teams and implementing agencies.
• Strong record of introducing or scaling innovative procurement practices, digital solutions, analytics, or business process improvements that deliver measurable operational and development results.
• Demonstrated commitment to knowledge management, institutional learning, capacity building, and professional development.
• Strong partnership and relationship-management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cultures, disciplines, and organizations.
• Ability to balance operational delivery, fiduciary oversight, risk management, and innovation while maintaining effectiveness in complex and evolving operational environments.

Skills

• World Bank Procurement Framework
• Operational Procurement
• Procurement Policy Development
• Procurement Risk Management
• Portfolio Performance Support
• Strategic Procurement Advice
• Fiduciary Risk Management
• Market Analysis
• Early Market Engagement
• Procurement Reforms
• Sustainable Procurement
• Green procurement
• Gender Responsive Procurement
• Data-driven Procurement
• Contract Management
• Procurement to Implementation Transition
• Business Process Improvement
• Institutional Change Leadership
• Organizational Modernization
• Capacity Building
• Knowledge Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Intercultural Collaboration
• Digital Procurement Transformation

Languages

English