Mediation Officer - World Bank Group

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of development assistance and global expertise for developing countries. It consists of five institutions that specialize in different aspects of development: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For additional information, please visit http://www.worldbank.org

ETHICS AND INTERNAL JUSTICE SERVICES VPU

The World Bank’s Ethics and Internal Justice Services Vice Presidency (EIJ VPU) is a newly created Vice Presidency within the World Bank Group (WBG) that brings together, under a single umbrella, the WBG’s approach to values, ethics and the resolution of workplace conflict. The EIJ VPU’s vision is to foster a values-based workplace culture and help staff uphold the WBG’s ethical standards.

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EIJ provides an integrated, empathetic and efficient approach to resolving workplace conflict, allowing staff to focus with urgency on the WBG’s mission. EIJ’s work covers each of the five WBG institutions.

The Vice Presidency Has Recently Been Organized As Follows

Ethics Advice and Early Interventions Department, which consists of:

• Advisory, Training & Values (ATV) – responsible for the Core Values and the Code of Ethics and associated rules; manages all training and outreach on behalf of the VPU; provides advice and guidance on the Code, with specific focus on conflicts of interest; and manages the Bank’s Declarations of Interest program;
• Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination (AHAD) – addresses reports of harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse and discrimination based on race and other identity characteristics; provides guidance to management on preventing and addressing such behaviors.
• Mediation and Formal Reviews Department, which consists of:
• Mediation Services (MEF) – offers a confidential conflict resolution process for staff to resolve workplace issues with the assistance of a neutral third-party. MEF also provides team building and team facilitation services;
• Peer Review Services (PRS) – provides an independent review by a panel of peers of managerial decisions, actions or inactions (not related to performance management) affecting a staff member;
• Performance Management Review (PMR) – provides an independent appellate review of performance management-related decisions; and
• Investigations (INV) – conducts independent fact-finding investigations of allegations of staff misconduct.
• Ombuds Services, which offers staff a confidential off the record, impartial and informal venue to discuss any workplace issues, and alerts management to systemic trends.
• Client Services, which consists of:
• EIJ Navigator – a centralized intake function to assist staff with their concerns by pairing them with the appropriate channel within the EIJ VPU to resolve their concerns efficiently and expediently.
• Respectful Workplace Advisors (RWAs) – comprising staff selected by their peers, RWAs act as a confidential sounding board for staff and a source of information about EIJ services.
• Core Services, which consists of:
• Front Office – providing day to day unit-based administrative support;
• Core Services – overseeing centralized administrative and resource management coordination across the VPU, and supporting cohesion through VPU-wide communications.

Title of the role

Mediation Officer

The Mediation and Formal Reviews Department is seeking to recruit a Mediation Officer to work with the Mediation Unit (MEF). The Mediation Officer will be based in Ghana and will report to the Manager, MEF.

Duties And Responsibilities

The main responsibility of the Mediation Officer is the prompt and efficient administration of mediation services. This includes, among other duties:

• Mediating and managing cases from intake to closure.
• Designing and delivering training (conflict resolution, communication).
• Facilitating group interventions and conducting team building activities.
• Preparing blogs, case summaries, and contributing to internal reports.
• Conducting outreach activities to raise awareness about MEF services.
• Providing analytical insight, conducting research, and providing professional support to the Manager.
• Identifying patterns and analyzing issues in the region, and contributing to WBG/ EIJ initiatives and activities.
• In the absence of, and when appointed by the Manager, representing the office and providing direction and guidance.
• Assisting with the management of the Mediation Roster.

Selection Criteria

It is envisaged that the Mediation Officer would preferably have a Masters’ degree or equivalent or higher in law, conflict resolution, organizational development, social science, or other related fields.

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The Successful Candidate Will Also Have

• Minimum five years’ experience in mediating workplace disputes (preferably in international organizations) including but not limited to interpersonal conflict, employment contract and ethical/respectful behaviors.
• Certificate of professional training as a mediator (40 hours minimum).
• Proven experience facilitating group interventions and or moderating team activities.
• Proven training skills and experience in developing and delivering training.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; fluency in proficiency in French would be desirable.
• Proven problem-solving skills and emotional acumen.
• Strong theoretical base in dispute resolution, combined with a broad grasp of relevant theory and best practices.
• Ability to translate theory of dispute resolution concepts into practical application in context of WBG work.
• Ability to participate productively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, to inspire trust and to demonstrate high personal integrity.
• Excellent and proven interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to promote and contribute to a collaborative team environment, build trust among colleagues, work effectively across disciplines and organizational boundaries including with senior officials, and effectively handle conflict.
• Additional certification (Behavioral Assessments, Conflict Management, Coaching, Organizational Consulting) desired.
• Knowledge and experience working in West Africa is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel as and where necessary.

VALUES COMPETENCIES

• Commitment to innovation: learning and adopting to find better ways of doing things.
• Highest personal integrity and sound judgment with demonstrated ability to handle confidential matters in a discreet and respectful manner.
• Respect and compassion for individuals and the WBG, its mission, objectives, and values.
• Commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, and sensitivity to the WBG’s distinctive demographic and cross-cultural context and influences.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and build good work relations and ability to listen patiently and empathetically without forming hasty judgments.

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GENERAL COMPETENCIES

• Independence: able to perform duties in an objective manner, with discretion towards sensitive or confidential information.
• Professional Maturity: demonstrates the ability to understand the importance of how behaviors and emotions can impact others and the success of the project or work.
• Deliver Results for Clients: develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how clients and/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable; shares new insights based on in-depth understanding of the client and recommends solutions for current and future needs of clients; holds self and team accountable for risk management and outcomes.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries: collaborates across organizational boundaries, internally and externally with a sense of mutuality and respect; consistently engage others in open dialogue, brings out any conflicting viewpoints and incorporates viewpoints into solutions, giving credit where credit is due; leverage expertise of all team members to ensure successful outcomes; make choices and set priorities with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.
• Lead and Innovate: encourages and works with others to identify, incubate, and implement relevant solutions; identify opportunities in changing circumstances and energize others to continuously improve, using intentional strategies to boost morale, team spirit, and productivity in context of WBG’s values and mission; help others to understand problems, client needs and the underlying context.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge: ensures systematic sharing of good practice and learning from lessons from across WBG, clients, and partners; is known across WBG in their subject area and is sought out by WBG colleagues to advise, peer review, or contribute to knowledge products of others; seeks mentoring opportunities with more experienced staff to deepen or strengthen professional knowledge and mentor junior staff; build networks across the WBG and as part of external professional groups/networks.