Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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, please visit www.worldbank.org.
Infrastructure Vice Presidency (INF VPU)
The WBG Infrastructure Vice Presidency is responsible for getting the right public and private sector solutions for our operational teams and to our clients, and to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to enable and support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs; supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, policy environment, and private sector mobilization; focusing on agribusiness, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and tourism; and support and accelerate specific targets such as M300, Health 1.5bn, and SP 500. The VPU's objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.
For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure
Metals and Minerals Policy and Regulation Team (KIMPR)
The global mining sector continues to evolve rapidly. Urbanization, agriculture, digitalization, and a soaring need for energy could double the demand for critical minerals by 2040. For many countries, meeting this demand presents a significant opportunity to create jobs and growth. Mining can generate substantial government revenue through taxes, royalties, and state equity stakes that fund schools, clinics, infrastructure, and digital services. With the right policies and safeguards, mining can progress from a purely extractive industry to one that includes manufacturing and processing. This progress ensures that value and jobs stay local with a long-lasting impact.
KIMPR is embedded within the INF VPU's Metals and Minerals Department of the World Bank Group (M&M) within the Knowledge Bank (KB) global departments. Core mandate of the WBG M&M department is the implementation of the recently approved WBG Minerals & Metals Strategy (2025) poised to support the sector becoming an engine of growth and jobs through improving policies and governance, foundational infrastructure and private sector investments. Implementing the strategy the WBG lending in the sector is expected to grow substantially (from 3 billion in FY21-25 to 17 billion in FY26-30) and following the INF VPU's objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.
KIMPR a global unit of technical experts and responsible for the design and implementation of World Bank Group operations and knowledge activities in mining at both global and country levels and contributing to the WBG M&M Strategy implementation. KIMPR works closely with a multi-donor trust fund program the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) and KIMPR team manages global initiatives, including Coal Mines Closure - Just Transitions, and the Climate Smart Mining (CSM), and the Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement (RISE) program. Within the Metals and Minerals Team, KIMPR also works closely with the Metals and Minerals Solutions and Impact team (KIMSI), which is responsible for ensuring that the right mix of best practice, investment and advisory solutions are made available to our clients and WBG operational teams in the Metals and Minerals sectors.
The objective of the KIMPR Unit is to implement the WBG M&M strategy together with KIMSI; to provide technical advice and support cutting-edge policy, analytical work, and investment lending for government clients, often resulting in financing or advisory mandates to support developing countries transform their natural resource wealth into sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic development.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Metals and Minerals Policy and Regulation (KIMPR) of the World Bank Group seeks a Lead Mining Specialist, based in the World Bank Group's headquarters in Washington, DC, to be a key member of the unit's and department's wider leadership team in its efforts to implement the WBG M&M Strategy, including through country compacts. The Lead Mining Specialist will lead regional programs to support introduction and design of country compacts in coordination with KIMSI and country/region focused mining teams led by focal points as well as playing a leading role in building partnerships and coalitions of development partners and other stakeholders to advance the various EGPS supported programs in select regions. The work entails strategic, advisory, and operational work. The candidate is expected to provide support to KIMPR regional/thematic & compact teams in multiple WBG regions where KIMPR has ongoing or planned operations/programs and compacts.
The responsibilities of the selected candidate will include:
Technical Leadership and Operational Support
Lead complex operations and ensure that lending operations and ASA activities led by senior staff are well coordinated and contribute to the goals of the WBG M&M department & WBG M&M Strategy, including country compacts. Operations would likely include World Bank Group investment projects, development policy operations, technical assistance programs and ASA programs in the mining sector.
Through the role of the KB ADM, provide senior technical review and quality assurance for mining-related components of projects managed by other Global Practices (e.g., infrastructure, environment, governance).
Offer expert policy and technical advice to client governments on the full spectrum of mining sector policy and legislative reforms and/or specific topics, including value addition, ASM, mine closure and repurposing.
Lead or contribute to complex, multi-country analytical programs and research that inform the Bank's strategic positioning and service delivery in the mining sector.
Strategy and Thought Leadership
Lead the development of country compacts including leadership of contributions to sector strategy documents, global flagship reports, and corporate-level knowledge products; as well as the drafting and inputs for Senior Management briefings on M&M sector policy and strategic issues, analytical and advisory reports and other programs within the KIMPR portfolio.
Provide thought leadership on the nexus between mining and the global energy transition, digitalization, urbanization and agribusiness including supply chain resilience for critical and strategic minerals, responsible sourcing, and ASM.
Represent the World Bank Group at high-level international forums, conferences, and inter-agency bodies on mining sector development, governance, and sustainability.
Identify emerging policy challenges and opportunities in the global mineral economy and advise senior World Bank Group management accordingly.
Support the KIMPR Manager in implementing the WBG M&M Strategy, developing business, and policy dialogue including identifying the appropriate staff to deliver the KIMPR work program.
Policy Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement
Lead and sustain high-level policy dialogue with client government counterparts, including ministers, senior officials, and regulators on strategic mining sector issues and implementation of ongoing mining related program designs and reforms.
Engage proactively with private sector actors, civil society organizations and development partners on mining governance and sustainability issues.
Work in close collaboration with KIMSI, to ensure alignment with departmental priorities and the delivery of integrated, cross-cutting results delivering for more private sector participation in the sector globally.
Represent KIMPR/M&M department in dialogue with bilateral development agencies, multilateral institutions, and international industry bodies.
Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
Lead the development and dissemination of knowledge products, toolkits, and good practice guidelines for the mining sector, drawing on lessons from the Bank's operational experience.
Advise colleagues and clients on global best practices in the mining sector and keeping abreast of country/regional sector issues as well as contributing to global knowledge by introducing success and lessons learned in M&M sector issue (e.g. Minerals value chain development; ASM; Mine closure/Repurposing).
Mentor and coach mid-level and junior staff and extended term consultants within the unit and at department level, building team capacity in mining sector technical and operational skills.
Contribute to internal learning events, Communities of Practice, and cross-practice knowledge exchanges.
Support the development of training programs for client country counterparts in mining sector administration, regulation, and oversight.
Support the unit's analytical agenda on key thought leadership initiatives, including RISE, ASM, CSM and Transparency/Governance.