World Bank Cybersecurity Opportunity

April 9, 2025

4 minutes read

World Bank Cybersecurity Opportunity

Are you an experienced cybersecurity professional ready to lead high-impact cyber incident response at one of the world’s most influential financial institutions? The World Bank Group is hiring a dynamic Information Security Officer – Critical Incident Management (GF level) to strengthen its cyber defense operations in Washington, DC.

Make a global impact with your cybersecurity skills at the World Bank. This 3-year local recruitment opportunity offers you the chance to protect critical systems, lead high-profile incident response operations, and collaborate across international teams—all while contributing to global development goals.

Background & Job Description: Protecting Global Development from Cyber Threats

The World Bank Group (WBG) is a global leader in international development, dedicated to reducing poverty and building shared prosperity through finance, data, and technical expertise. With 189 member countries and operations in more than 130 offices, the World Bank provides funding and solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

To support its digital infrastructure and protect its critical systems, the World Bank relies on the Information and Technology Solutions Vice Presidency (ITS). ITS delivers digital tools, platforms, and cybersecurity services to staff in over 150 global locations.

This mission-critical cybersecurity position sits within the Information Security and Risk Management (ITSSR) unit, led by the World Bank’s Chief Information Security Officer. The selected candidate will play a central role in defending the World Bank against cyber incidents, breaches, and third-party attacks, ensuring the integrity of its vast IT infrastructure.

This is a local recruitment position based in Washington, DC, open to candidates with valid work authorization in the United States. The contract is for three years with a GF grade level, offering a competitive salary and full World Bank Group benefits.

Key Responsibilities: Leading Global Cyber Incident Response

The Information Security Officer will be responsible for end-to-end cyber incident management—from detection and investigation to resolution and remediation.

Core duties include:

Lead the response to critical incidents, including data breaches, internal threats, and system compromises.
Coordinate with ITS teams, business units, and third parties to ensure a unified incident response approach.
Develop and refine incident response playbooks, procedures, and best practices.
Perform log retrieval and forensic analysis across servers, endpoints, and network infrastructure.
Monitor emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and external events to maintain a high level of situational awareness.
Run tabletop exercises and cyber response drills to identify gaps and enhance stakeholder preparedness.
Communicate findings and risks clearly through reports, dashboards, and presentations tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
Engage with global teams and maintain consistent messaging, timelines, and action plans during and after incident response events.
Continuously improve response mechanisms based on post-incident reviews and lessons learned.
World Bank Cybersecurity Opportunity

Qualifications: Education & Certification Requirements

To be considered for this role, applicants must meet the following educational qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.

Preferred Certifications:

Candidates holding relevant cybersecurity certifications will have an advantage. These include:

CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification)
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
Cloud certifications such as AWS Security, Azure Security, or Cloud Architect credentials
SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) certification

Experience Requirements: Who Should Apply

This opportunity is designed for cybersecurity professionals with at least 5 years of experience in high-stakes security operations. Ideal candidates will have:

Proven track record in cyber incident response, including response to major breaches or system compromises.
Experience conducting digital forensics across diverse infrastructure: endpoints, servers, networks, mobile, and applications.
Expertise in log analysis, data parsing, and forensic interpretation of large datasets.
Working knowledge of cloud security in multi-cloud environments.
Familiarity with network traffic analysis, hacking tools, and vulnerability exploitation techniques.
Strong understanding of Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) systems and security architecture.
Comfort working in Agile environments, including participating in stand-ups, sprints, and collaborative threat investigations.
Experience presenting cybersecurity topics at internal and external events, especially high-impact or crisis-related scenarios.

Additional Skills & Competencies

Beyond technical expertise, the ideal candidate must bring excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Key competencies include:

Client Understanding & Advising – Ability to analyze security issues from the client’s perspective and go beyond expectations.
Communication – Skilled in tailoring technical messages for different audiences.
Collaboration – Proven ability to work across cross-functional and multicultural teams.
Situational Awareness – Monitoring internal and external developments to anticipate evolving threats.
Business Acumen – Awareness of how technology decisions affect long-term organizational impact.
Learning Orientation – Openness to continuous learning in fast-evolving security domains.
Ownership & Accountability – Able to take initiative and meet deadlines under pressure.

About the ITS Security Unit (ITSSR)

The Information Security and Risk Management unit (ITSSR) plays a critical role within the World Bank’s global IT structure. Reporting directly to the Chief Information Security Officer, ITSSR is responsible for:

Developing and enforcing information security policies and standards
Coordinating enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy
Responding to security threats, vulnerabilities, and incidents
Conducting risk assessments and maintaining compliance
Ensuring alignment with the World Bank’s broader digital and risk mitigation goals

This role will sit in the Information Security Engineering and Operations (ITSIS) division of ITSSR, a team at the front lines of protecting WBG’s digital infrastructure from attacks.

Contract Duration: 3 years

Grade Level: GF
Application Deadline: April 25, 2025 (11:59 PM UT

Benefits:

Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance
Pension and retirement plans
Generous parental leave
Inclusive work culture and career development support
Flexible, agile work arrangements

Why Join the World Bank Cybersecurity Team?

Work on global-impact security incidents
Collaborate with multinational teams
Protect systems that underpin international finance and development
Use cutting-edge cyber defense tools
Enjoy career growth and training opportunities at a prestigious global institution

The World Bank is an equal opportunity employer. It encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds—including women, individuals with disabilities, and underrepresented communities—to apply.