Senior Procurement Specialist, Manila

Senior Procurement Specialist Job #: req36941 Organization: World Bank Sector: Procurement Grade: GG Term Duration: 5 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Manila,Philippines Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 6/16/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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  .

Build a Career with Purpose at the World Bank Group Are you passionate about using your expertise to tackle complex development challenges and drive meaningful reform? The World Bank Group (WBG) is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Procurement Specialist to join its East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region, focusing mainly on Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei CMU (PMB). With 189 member countries and over 120 offices worldwide, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of development, financing and knowledge. We work with governments, the private sector, and civil society to create innovative, evidence-based solutions that promote sustainable development, shared prosperity, and the end of extreme poverty.
Why Join the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region? The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region has made strong progress in reducing poverty and expanding opportunity, yet important challenges remain, including uneven access to basic services, infrastructure gaps, and vulnerability to climate and disaster risks, and job creation.  In the Philippines, these challenges are heightened by the country’s archipelagic geography, which raises the cost and complexity of delivering services and infrastructure at scale. To learn more about the EAP region visit:  
World Bank Portfolio and Procurement Policy engagement in PMB. The World Bank’s portfolio in the Philippines, under the 2026–2031 Country Partnership Framework, combines large-scale IBRD financing with IFC and MIGA support to advance inclusive growth and resilience. It focuses on human capital, job creation, digital transformation, and climate resilience, delivered through investment and policy operations across key sectors. With an estimated envelope exceeding $20 billion, the portfolio is strongly infrastructure driven, with works contracts accounting for about 76 percent of planned procurement value. In Malaysia, engagement is more selective, emphasizing knowledge services and IFC-led private sector investments in productivity, innovation, digitalization, and green growth. In Brunei, the program is limited to advisory services supporting economic diversification and policy reforms. In parallel, the World Bank supports procurement policy reform in the Philippines, working with the Government Procurement Policy Board to modernize the legal framework and strengthen systems. Key reforms include beneficial ownership disclosure to prevent conflicts of interest, alongside efforts to enhance transparency, integrity, and competition. The Bank also promotes green procurement, expanded e procurement (PhilGEPS), and flexible approaches such as framework agreements, supporting more efficient, sustainable, and accountable procurement systems.
Prosperity Global Practice | East Asia and Pacific Region The Prosperity Global Practice—often referred to as the Prosperity Vertical—is a strategic pillar within the World Bank’s operational structure that aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, resilience, and good governance. It integrates global practices across procurement, public sector management, governance and anti-corruption, and financial management to help client countries build capable institutions and deliver impactful results.
EAP Procurement Team Overview The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) procurement team, comprising 38 staff, 6 ETCs and short-term consultants, operates through a decentralized structure based in seven country offices. The team supports 225 active World Bank-financed operations across the region, with a total commitment of $32 billion. 
Role Profile
We are seeking a high-performing and delivery-oriented procurement specialist capable of addressing the complexity of the Philippines portfolio. The role requires a shift from compliance-focused processing to portfolio-level results management, prioritizing high-impact contracts and linking procurement performance to disbursement outcomes. The position combines senior advisory support, hands-on portfolio delivery, and procurement modernization, with a strong focus on strengthening project implementation and country systems. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Advanced expertise in complex works procurement, including packaging strategies and market analysis
• Strong capability in process optimization and risk-based decision making to reduce delays and bottlenecks
• Proven experience in upstream planning and readiness, addressing weaknesses in preparation, budgeting, and STEP programming
• Strong commercial acumen, including proactive market engagement to enhance competition and reduce single-bid outcomes
• Solid contract management and payment monitoring skills to accelerate disbursement and improve implementation performance
• Ability to leverage data, dashboards, and AI-enabled tools to enhance transparency, quality, and decision making
• Strong risk management and integrity oversight, combined with stakeholder engagement and capacity-building skills to strengthen institutional performance
Job Duties and Responsibilities: 
The selected candidate will: • Serve as a senior procurement advisor and portfolio delivery lead for the PMB portfolio
• Provide expert advice on complex procurement issues across sectors and project teams
• Promote procurement modernization and innovation, including fit-for-purpose approaches and Procurement Change Program initiatives
• Support upstream engagement and procurement strategy development, ensuring market-informed and risk-based approaches
• Provide hands-on support to task teams and implementing agencies to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate procurement and contract implementation
• Maintain fiduciary oversight, ensuring timely reviews and appropriate follow-up on compliance
• Use data and digital tools to track performance, identify issues, and improve delivery
• Strengthen country procurement systems and capacity, building trusted relationships with government counterparts
Note: 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

Education and Experience
•   Master’s degree in a relevant field (engineering background preferred)
•   At least 8 years of relevant experience in procurement and contract management, ideally in middle-income country contexts
Core Competencies (proven experience/Knowledge)
•   Strong knowledge of World Bank procurement policies and practices
•   Proven experience in applying innovative approaches
•   Proven experience in providing enhanced implementation support.
•   Ability to translate principles into practical, fit-for-purpose solutions