Division Director – Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

Division Director – Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

Job #:

req34951

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Operations

Grade:

GI

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Buenos Aires,Argentina

Required Language(s):

English, Spanish

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:

12/5/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world's greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit

VPU Context:

The World Bank Group serves 33 client countries in Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR).  Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state, and to varying degrees face three key challenges – low productivity and growth, low quality jobs and low resilience to shocks. The region is tackling these challenges with a strong WBG approach, underpinned by selectivity and complementarity between the value added of public and private arms, and in strong partnership with relevant regional development partners.

A. The challenge of low growth: After recovering lost output, the region is returning to pre-pandemic low growth and productivity scenario. After a solid post-pandemic rebound in economic activity (7.2% and 3.9% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively), GDP growth returned to the pre-pandemic low growth around 2.2% in 2023 and 2024, with a medium-term outlook of 2.5%. With an average Gini co-efficient of [0.52] LAC remains also one of the most unequal regions in the world. It is a region where the bottom 50% earn 27 times less than the top 10%. It also represents stark differences in opportunity, a child born today in the poorest 20% quintile in LAC will on average be 17 percentage points less productive than a child born in the richest 20%.

B. The challenge of quality jobs: the need for better quality jobs is paramount, with 6.2% unemployment rates, these low levels mask a deeper issue of job quality. Reflecting stagnating living standards, labor earnings have only grown by 1% or less per year in most countries over the past decade, and some 19% of workers in the region are earning incomes below the poverty line.

•Investing in foundational infrastructure critical to job creation, LAC needs to invest at least 3.1% of GDP in infrastructure investments per year, yet it only invests 2%, which is significantly lower than the world average of 5.4% of GDP. This underinvestment in physical infrastructure, including in key infrastructure sectors (including resilient transport, water, energy etc.) is holding back potential for better jobs. The region supports clients by supporting selective transformative infrastructure projects (e.g. urban mobility, regional transport and connectivity). On human infrastructure challenge, firms in the region continue to cite skills shortages (55% of firms in LAC vs 45% in MIC regions) as a key barrier to growth and job creation. A child born in LAC is expected to reach only 56 percent of their productive potential. Three out of four 15-year-olds fail basic math proficiency and cannot read adequately the soft side involves supporting clients revamp their education and health sectors. The region is supporting clients to revamp their education and health care sectors.

•The LAC region also needs to foster a predictable, business-enabling policy and regulatory environment. These include ensuring macro stability, eliminating restrictive business regulations in product and factor markets, and improving access to finance, especially long-term capital. Labor market regulations in LAC are noted to be on par with the most restrictive labor market regimes among OECD countries. Further, enforcement of competition policy needs to be supported due to high levels of market concentration in LAC markets: the 50 largest firms in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile have revenues greater than 30% of GDP. At 55% of GDP, domestic credit to the private sector remains much lower than EAP (178%).

•Private capital needs to be appropriately incentivized to support the provision of public goods and investments in key sectors, especially those that have the highest potential to enable and/or create better quality jobs. However, at only 19.8% of GDP, gross capital formation remains lowest among all regions (EAP is at 38% and South Asia at 30%). Private capital mobilization in the region is being held back by shallow capital markets, lack of long-term finance, high cost of capital, regulatory and institutional barriers (including in PPP frameworks). Based on country contexts, the WBG will support investments in productive clusters (energy/mining, value added manufacturing, agribusiness, tourism, etc) across the public-private spectrum.

C. The challenge of vulnerability to shocks: Building resilience of the countries to shocks, including natural disasters, through contingent financing and other innovative risk management platforms at country and regional levels is critical given the high exposure to climate–related disasters and natural hazards. Central America and the Caribbean have recurrent hurricanes that have impacts on GDP significantly higher than the regional average of 1.7%. Several countries are experiencing deep, long droughts, increasingly intense storms, and floods that disrupt economic activities and affect livelihoods, with impacts on the most vulnerable populations.

Unit Context:

The LC7 Country Management Unit (CMU) is responsible for Bank operations in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and is composed of a decentralized office in Buenos Aires, where the Division Director (DD) and the Operations Manager are based, and Country Offices in Asunción and Montevideo (WGB), each led by a Resident Representative (RR). The Buenos Aires office is large (around 85 staff) covering all aspects of the operational business from the field. The CMU oversees a wide range of Bank activities, including a number of operations and a diverse knowledge program. Given the setup of the CMU, extensive communication and coordination among virtual teams working in Buenos Aires, Asunción, and Montevideo is required. The three LC7 offices have around 140 staff combined, which includes both CMU staff, as well as those mapped to GPs and other units. LC7 has pioneered the Joint Country Representation initiative since July 2024 when Uruguay became a Joint Country Representation -now evolved into a vibrant WBG Country Office.

The LC7 portfolio is undergoing a shift towards a new business model, supporting new Country Partnership Frameworks in Argentina and Paraguay focused on private sector-led growth and job creation. Alongside these efforts, Uruguay has served as a context for the development of numerous innovative approaches within the Bank's regional engagement. With 36 projects totaling $10.57 billion, the IBRD's largest program in Latin America in volume, LC7 aligns its strategies to country needs while measuring impact through indicators like jobs, human capital protection, and private investment. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the World Bank approved over $3.7 billion dollars in loans, all directed toward results-oriented operations or policy development support. In this dynamic context, the Operations team is now expected to provide high-level guidance and support across a broad range of operational issues.

We aim to fill this position by January 2026. The selected candidate should be prepared to relocate to Buenos Aires around that time.

Duties and accountabilities:

The Division Director will be accountable for modeling WBG leadership values and managerial behavior, and ensuring that the unit delivers on its commitments. Accountability means being answerable for making strategic choices, managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives, external and internal resources, and compliance with WBG policies and procedures.

Business Management responsibilities:

•Serves as the Bank's focal point for communications with country authorities.

•Develops and leads the implementation of the Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), with special attention to selectivity and relevant analytical and financing interventions at the sub-regional, country, sectoral and program levels that produce practical, visible and sustainable development results.

•Leads the coordination and delivery of the Bank's dialogue, strategy and related work program in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in close coordination with the (RRs) for Paraguay, Uruguay, the Operations Manager and shared services team.

•Provides guidance, advice and support on political, social, economic and other relevant developments in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to country team members and others.

•Supports the development and monitors the implementation of high-quality work programs which must be based on the CPFs and are attuned to client demands and country contexts.

•Provides oversight on portfolio management (including trust funds) and quality issues, working with clients and the country team to provide timely and effective implementation support.

•Manages the day-to-day operations of the country offices in close coordination with the OM, RR and other corporate offices (e.g., GCS on security).

People/ Talent Management responsibilities:

•Leads and motivates the country team with a focus on continuing to motivate teams, beneficiary orientation, development outcomes, partnerships, cross-sectoral coordination, and problem-solving, and takes ownership for achieving and communicating these outcomes to operational staff, and management.

•Manages the CMU, models integrity and inclusion, and offers mentoring and development opportunities for staff.

Resource Management responsibilities:

•Ensures that deployment of CMU resources is consistent with relevant resource management rules, policies, and internal controls.

•Sets priorities and allocates budget within and across countries, in line with institutional priorities and a view to improving the impact beneficial to the Bank's activities.

•Ensures that CMU budget utilization is consistent with regional and corporate priorities.

Relationship Management responsibilities (Internal and External):

•Manages the complex political economy, demonstrating strategic patience with partners, interim administration officials, civil society and private sector. Exercises courageous and transformative leadership in dialogue.

•Works proactively with IFC and MIGA to leverage World Bank financial and technical support, including with the private sector.

•Appreciates the complexities and relevance of political economy considerations on the Bank's development efficiency in the region. Collaborates appropriately with other Directors, regional and sub-regional institutions, and partners to improve such efficiency.

Knowledge Management responsibilities:

•Embraces good corporate citizenship, including contributing to the development, implementation, and communication of corporate policies, strategies, and priorities (including ongoing reforms in investment lending, knowledge management, HR policies, and the "Global Bank").

•Champions corporate and regional management initiatives.

Security responsibilities:

•In accordance with the Framework of Accountability for the WBG Security Management System (WBG Directive), acts as Head of Security for the Duty Station and Duty Station Area responsible and accountable for resident Staff, business and benefit travelers, Registered Dependents and Bank Group property.

•Represents the Bank in the country-level UN Security Management System.

Selection Criteria

•PhD or Master's degree in economics or related field, with a minimum of 15 years of experience in positions of growing complexity and responsibility

•Recognized expert within WBG or among one or more of the following: academia, private sector actors and policymakers – and with a proven track record of applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results

•Experience and ability to engage with clients at the senior level and represent the Bank at high-level international fora

•Demonstrated thought leadership on (sector) through economic research and publication recognized by academic and policy community

•Substantive experience working in client countries of different regions and familiarity with the WBG services including deep technical knowledge and experience on (sector) policy

•Demonstrated in-depth experience working across practice and disciplinary boundaries, with different units of the WBG and with multiple partners both public and private in building collaborative alliances for results

•Extensive experience managing complex and large work programs, budgets, portfolio monitoring and supervision with proven results

•Fluency in oral and written Spanish is required.

•Proven ability to effectively implement complex change management initiatives

WBG Managerial Competencies

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.

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