About

Countries

Data & Research

Learning

News

Projects & Operations

Publications

Topics

Home > Jobs > Employment Opportuni... > Professional/Technical

Job #	091872
Job Title	Investigator
Job Family	Corporate Governance/Ethics
Location	Washington, DC
Appointment	International Hire
Job Posted	23-Oct-2009
Closing Date	29-Nov-2009
Language Requirements	English [Essential]; Spanish [Essential]; Portuguese [Desired]
Appointment Type	See Job Description Below

Background / General description

As part of the World Bank Group, the Vice Presidency for Institutional Integrity (INT) shares in the Group’s overall mission of poverty reduction.  INT’s fundamental role within the Bank Group is to help detect and deter fraud and corruption in the use of the Group’s financial resources, so that those resources are used effectively to benefit the poor people that they are intended to benefit.  In contributing to the Bank Group’s overall mission, INT works closely with other change agents across the Group to:

Reduce the risk of fraud and corruption in Bank-supported projects.  This is achieved through (i) professionally identifying, investigating and resolving fraud and corruption issues affecting the Bank Group, (ii) sanctioning firms and individuals that have participated in fraud or corruption of Bank Group funds; and (iii), by drawing on its learning, assisting operational staff in proactively designing and implementing projects in ways that minimize the risk of fraud or corruption. 

Encourage the highest standards of personal honesty, integrity and ethical behavior among Bank Group staff, through investigating allegations of staff misconduct and undertaking outreach programs incorporating the lessons learned.

INT’s work contributes directly to achieving the poverty reduction mission of the Bank Group and to meeting the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.  Reducing fraud and corruption in Bank Group projects helps to ensure that Bank Group funds are used for their intended purposes: to alleviate poverty and to increase prosperity and stability in our borrowing countries.  Working with others in the international development institutions, INT’s principal goal is measurably to reduce the amount of development assistance funds lost to fraud, corruption and abuse and increase the quality and results of development efforts.  Since 1999, INT has investigated over 2,000 cases.  Results are reported in an annual integrity report that contains aggregated data, outcomes and generic descriptions of significant cases. To ensure its independence, INT’s Vice President (VP) reports directly to the President of the Bank Group. 

INT is currently pursuing a staffing initiative along multiple discipline and functional lines to support a sound and effective business strategy in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of INT and to meet mission-critical needs.

INT’s renewed business strategy focuses on seven key pillars of activity: (i) integrating investigative work more effectively into Bank Group operations to help ensure the integrity of Bank Group operations; (ii) helping to ensure integrity among Bank Group staff; (iii) higher proactivity; (iv) a stronger focus on prevention; (v) enforcement and deterrence; (vi) providing leadership and excellence in managing knowledge on fraud and corruption in Bank Group-supported operations; and (vii) effectively measuring INT’s impact to show that it can reduce the incidence of fraud and corruption in Bank Group operations.  

Within this staffing initiative, INT is seeking to recruit an experienced investigative professional who has a proven track record working in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region conducting fraud and corruption inquiries in a meticulous, thorough and fair way, and can adapt easily to working in a diverse and multi-cultural environment.  The position is based at Headquarters in Washington, D.C., but with a requirement for travel to countries in the region.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year renewable term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

The investigator’s duties and accountabilities will include, but are not limited to conducting preliminary inquiries and full investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption, and/or collusion involving Bank Group operations and Bank-financed projects and Bank-administered funds.  Investigators will: (i) review and assess complaints and allegations; formulate detailed investigation plans and strategies; conduct complainant, witness, and subject interviews; (ii) conduct investigative research, to include financial records, procurement documents and database searches; (iii) collect and organize relevant documentary and electronic information; (iv) analyze and assess all relevant information and prepare reports of investigative findings with full supporting documentation.  These tasks will be done to the highest standards of quality, thoroughness, accuracy, timeliness, and objectivity.

Participate in the fostering of an understanding of INT’s work with Bank Group staff and with relevant external partners (e.g. government officials, NGO officials, private sector representatives, other development banks, etc.).

Participate in the development and implementation of pro-active strategies for the prevention of fraud and corruption in the Bank Group, based on investigative findings and best practices.

Coach, mentor and supervise junior staff.

Prepare and deliver high quality and timely briefing material for senior management as required.

Participate in special initiatives/projects and undertake other ad hoc assignments.

Selection Criteria

Advanced university degree, or equivalent, in law, criminology/criminal justice, or another relevant field.  Professional training and/or certification by examination is desirable.

Substantial, relevant and progressively responsible investigative experience of at least 5 years, preferably but not limited to investigations of fraud, corruption and/or collusion in public and/or private sector environments.  Examples of such experience include prosecution/defense work involving white collar criminal or administrative investigations; forensic accounting and auditing, investigative journalism, and private sector (commercial) due diligence and/or fraud investigations.  Proven track record in conducting a diverse range of complex, internal, corporate or governmental investigations of fraud, corruption or collusion in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

Working experience in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region with a solid understanding of its political, economic and cultural environments.

Fluency in both oral and written Spanish and English is imperative.  Proficiency in Portuguese is desirable but not essential.

Comprehensive knowledge, skills and abilities involving investigative strategies, methodologies and techniques.  Proven conceptual, analytical and evaluation skills, with quantitative and qualitative data and the ability to provide technical and team leadership.  Demonstrated interviewing skills, including the ability to focus interviews, and to elicit critical information from uncooperative witnesses.

Excellent communications and presentation skills, both oral and written; proven ability to clearly and concisely prepare, present, discuss and defend issues, findings and recommendations at senior levels and to produce complex and compelling briefs, reports, papers, etc.

In-depth knowledge of standard World Bank Group applications (MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).

Demonstrated ability to communicate well on sensitive issues with staff and managers at senior levels, with particular emphasis on developing trust and demonstrating fairness.

Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a team/task force as a participant or team leader, and with senior officials internally and externally.

Sensitivity to Bank’s diverse demographics and cross cultural context and influences, and ability to build effective work relations with clients and colleagues.  Sensitivity to Bank’s diverse demographics and cross cultural context and influences, and ability to build effective work relations with clients and colleagues.

Established reputation for unimpeachable integrity, sound judgment, fairness and discretion in dealing internally and externally. Short listed candidates will be asked to supply references and be required to authorize background checks.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background.  Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Site Tools