Job Description

WBG Country Manager, Malaysia

Job #:
req37984 Organization:
World Bank Group Sector:
Operations Grade:
GH Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment Location:
Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia Required Language(s):
English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date:
8/19/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

The World Bank Group (WBG) is seeking a joint Country Manager based in Kuala Lumpur to represent IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA and to lead the One World Bank Group engagement with government, private sector clients, and key partners.

To address country development needs and global challenges with impact and at scale, IBRD/IDA, IFC and MIGA are increasingly working as One World Bank Group through purposeful collaboration, coordination, and deployment of our collective knowledge and services. Through this approach, we aim to streamline and simplify our country engagement, allowing countries to better leverage the comparative advantages of each WBG institution and access solutions that maximize the respective strengths of the public and private sectors. A critical role in delivering on this approach is the joint Country Manager role to represent the WBG in relationships with the government, private sector clients, and key partners and oversee the operations, investments, and programs of all WBG institutions in the country.

The WBG Country Manager reports to the relevant IBRD and IFC Division Directors and serves as a member of the respective regional management teams.

WBG Malaysia Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Finance Hub Country Analytical Work Program for 2026-2027 focuses on three themes of (i) Supporting Economic Growth; (ii) Promoting Sustainable and Islamic Finance; and (iii) Strengthening Governance.At the end of May 2026, IFC’s own account portfolio totaled US$760 million while IFC committed $1.6 billion including private capital mobilization during its FY26.

VPU Context:

EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth and job creation has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are already affected by climate change and need to build resilience to more frequent disasters. The Bank plays a significant advisory and financial role in improving living standards through sustained growth and job creation and is increasingly embedding global public goods in country programs. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing.

Malaysia is an important partner of WBG. The World Bank has partnered with Malaysia since its independence in 1957, providing development financing from the 1950s to the 1990s. Over time, this relationship shifted toward leveraging the World Bank’s global knowledge and research. The partnership now focuses on sharing Malaysia’s development experiences, conducting original economic research, and supporting national development priorities through global expertise. To strengthen the relationship, the World Bank Group established an office in Kuala Lumpur in 2015, at the invitation of the Malaysian government, financed by the Government of Malaysia through the Office Support Agreement (OSA). In 2023, at the request of the Government of Malaysia, IFC established a presence in Malaysia to support sustainable, private sector-led growth. The office in Malaysia is now led by a World Bank Group Country Manager, enabling streamlined access to the full suite of World Bank Group services and comprises 26 IBRD staff and 5 IFC staff.

For more information on East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap and on the IFC Asia Pacific VPU: https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/ifcap

Duties and Accountabilities

Business Management

•Leads the One World Bank Group engagement in Malaysia, acting as the main interlocutor with the Malaysian government, private sector and partners, as leading in all future program planning including a possible Country Partnership Framework.

•Leads the ongoing implementation of the Office Support Agreement (OSA) framework including planning for future program, preparation and execution of the annual, mid-year and ad hoc program reviews and reports to Government. Ensures highest quality annual reporting to the Malaysian authorities and coordinates annual review meeting of the OSA program and office activities.

•Leads development of annual work plans for the IBRD technical teams based in Kuala Lumpur Office and takes the accountability in the highest quality assurance of the program to meet the expectations of Ministry of Finance and Bank Negara Malaysia in timeliness, relevance and concreteness of analytical work and recommendations.

•Leads IFC activities and strategy in Malaysia, managing day to day country operations.

•Originates and delivers high impact investment and advisory engagements, coordinating closely with Regional Industry Departments to develop integrated pipelines, manages private sector client relationships, creates new market opportunities, grows the investment program, and ensures portfolio quality and performance.

•Recommends and promotes upstream market creation approaches and interventions for the country and engages in discussions on needed policy reforms and develops integrated WBG approaches to improve the enabling environment for private capital.

•Develops market knowledge to ensure that the WBG is working with the right sponsors and takes accountability for client vetting and integrity due diligence.

•Provides oversight of portfolio management and quality, working with clients and advising operational teams to address implementation and performance issues, and working to ensure high quality results on the ground.

Relationship Management

•Strategically engages with and manages senior-level relationships with the government, private sector clients and other key stakeholders.

•Represent the WBG with credibility, diplomacy, and strategic clarity.

•Fosters a culture of partnership and trust, whereby all internal and external parties appreciate the mutual benefits of working together.

Knowledge Management and Communications

•Cultivates an environment of openness that encourages innovation and rewards knowledge sharing and dissemination to drive impact.

•Supports country teams to apply global knowledge and consider the complex local political economy in the work program.

•Disseminates best practices and lessons learned and manages learning and knowledge flows, including full suite of WBG products and solutions.

•Leads on communicating the results of engagements internally and externally, in coordination with the communications team.

Country Team and Resource Management

•Manages the WBG country office team, including the recruitment, evaluation, and career development of designated staff, focusing on staff welfare and productivity.

•Oversees operations of the country office, including formulating and managing the country office budget and ensuring effective and efficient use of resources.

•Implements country office security and safety program covering WBG staff and dependents, property, programs, and information.

Selection Criteria

•Master’s degree or PhD in relevant field, including business, finance, economics, or a relevant field.

•Minimum of 12 years of professional experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility in an international context.

•Excellent understanding of the role, dynamics and interdependencies of the public and private sectors in achieving development goals at the country level.

•Strong political, diplomatic, and partnership skills; ability to develop and sustain close and effective senior-level working relationships with the government, private sector clients, and partners.

•Broad understanding of economic development progress and strategic orientation to link macro and sector strategies within a consistent development framework.

•Proven ability to lead a Country Office and integrate teams across WBG institutions. Experience in building and maintaining inclusive and collaborative workplace cultures that reflect the World Bank Group’s commitment to collaborative and joint operations.

•Exceptional communication and negotiation skills to serve as the voice of IBRD, IFC, and MIGA in interactions with external stakeholders, including governments, private sector entities, and international organizations.

•Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to speak persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely.

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.