Senior Operations Assistant

Job #: req38260

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Operations

Grade: GD

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): Sinhalese or Tamil

Closing Date: 9/22/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; 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 to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

South Asia and Sri Lanka Context:

The South Asia Region comprises six countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) that range in size from India (with a population of over 1 billion) to Maldives (with 0.3 million people). The region has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. It was the second-fastest growing region in the world in the aftermath of the global crisis. This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. The percentage of people living below the poverty line fell in South Asia from 56% to 16% between 1981 and 2013. Still, the region remains home to a third of the world’s poorest, with 216 million people living below $1.9/day.

The South Asia Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar

The World Bank Group’s new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Sri Lanka sets out a clear roadmap to support Sri Lanka’s continued recovery and its ambition of achieving 7% growth. Anchored in the country’s development priorities, the CPF focuses on creating jobs through private sector-led growth, promoting reforms that improve the business climate, facilitate trade, and enhance competitiveness. It channels investment into sectors with strong potential to create jobs and attract private capital at scale, including ports and logistics, clean energy, export-oriented agriculture, and high-value tourism. The CPF deploys the full World Bank Group toolkit — financing, guarantees, and advisory services — to unlock private investment and expand opportunity. Targeted support will be provided to women and youth and to lagging regions, especially the Northern and Eastern provinces. The CPF also strengthens Sri Lanka’s resilience to future shocks that could reverse development gains and derail the path to sustainable growth.

This position is for a Senior Operations Assistant in the World Bank Sri Lanka Country Office. Mapped to the Country Management Unit (CMU), Sr. Operations Assistant will support Global Practices team/Country operations across the spectrum of activities supported by the World Bank in Sri Lanka. This is a Country Office position in Sri Lanka subject to local recruitment under the Sri Lanka Compensation Plan.

Reporting Lines: The Sr. Operations Assistant will report to the Sr. Operations Officer.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a strong overview of the Sri Lanka work program and portfolio, supporting the CMU in monitoring deliverables, project milestones, and key operational processes across the project cycle, including appraisal, negotiations, Board presentations, effectiveness, implementation, closing, and ICRs.
• Track operational workflows, deliverables, due dates, and pending actions across the portfolio; maintain up-to-date tracking tools and dashboards; and provide regular progress reports and portfolio data analysis to CMU management.
• Conduct analytical work in support of portfolio management, including synthesizing project performance data, identifying portfolio trends and risks, and preparing data visualizations, and input into country-level reporting products.
• Coordinate and monitor key milestones, action items, deadlines, and government processes across the portfolio, ensuring timely follow-up and supporting effective project implementation.
• Monitor the ASA portfolio across Global Practices operating in Sri Lanka, tracking deliverable schedules, budget utilization, and outputs, and supporting cross-GP coordination as needed.
• Support the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), including tracking progress against the CPF results framework, synthesizing lessons from portfolio performance, and contributing to Annual Business Development Plans, Performance and Learning Reviews (PLRs) and the Completion and Learning Review (CLR).
• Support D-Ready implementation by tracking progress against the D-Ready action plan, coordinating with government counterparts on follow-up actions and commitments, and liaising internally with relevant units notably the fiduciary team to ensure timely technical inputs and engagement with government on respective workstreams.
• Maintain briefing notes for the Sri Lanka portfolio, including country briefs, portfolio summaries, and reference materials to support CMU management, incoming staff, and visiting missions.
• Prepare and review operational documentation, aide-mémoires, management letters, and other official outputs, ensuring accuracy, appropriate formatting, and consistency with WBG standards.
• Support coordination across the WBG on joint portfolio matters and joint initiatives, as directed by CMU management.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Country Manager or Senior Operations Officer.

This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

Preference will be given to local talent, that is, applicants that are authorized to work in the duty station for any employer. Internal applicants may apply per existing guidelines.

• Minimum education/experience: Bachelor’s degree with 10 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, with extensive knowledge and understanding of World Bank Group administrative and operational procedures.
• Ability to process, handle, and communicate matters of a sensitive and confidential nature with a high degree of maturity and professional judgement.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to speak articulately and to write clearly and concisely in English for various audiences.
• Ability and willingness to work effectively with a diverse set of colleagues, cooperating seamlessly with the CMU management team.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior government officials, ministries, or official institutions, including the ability to manage protocol requirements, facilitate high-level meetings, and maintain productive relationships with a wide range of counterparts.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and time management skills with proven ability to work efficiently under pressure, manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet tight deadlines. Ability to shift focus at short notice to work on a wide range of assignments, remaining flexible and effective with a clear understanding of objectives to be achieved.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the World Bank project cycle, the WBG country engagement model and portfolio management processes, including experience supporting lending and ASA portfolios and familiarity with WBG operational policies and procedures.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills, including demonstrated ability to synthesize and analyze portfolio data, and prepare briefings, dashboards, and. or reports for management. Proficiency with data management tools and WBG portfolio systems (e.g., Operations Portal) is an advantage.

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.

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.