Cloud and Data Center Specialist - req32049

Cloud and Data Center Specialist

Job #: req32049

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Digital Development

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s)

Closing Date: 3/13/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.

Digital Transformation Vice Presidency

The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency Was Established On July 1, 2024, And Guides The World Bank Group Efforts To Establish The Foundations Of a Digital Economy, Build And Enhance Digital And Data Infrastructure, Ensure Cybersecurity And Data Privacy For Institutions, Businesses, And Citizens, And Advance Digital Government Services. Digital Technologies, Including AI And Data, Present a Unique Opportunity To Accelerate Development. The Digital Transformation Vertical Has The Critical Mission Of Delivering On This Development Promise. The Digital Vice Presidency And Its Global And Regional Teams Support Client Countries In Building The Foundational And Cross-cutting Elements Of Digital Transformation Through Two Engagement Pillars, Six Business Lines, And Multiple Cross-cutting Areas

• Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network, affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online safety.
• Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services, and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital school, digital health, etc.).
  
  

Both pillars will be the channels through which the Vertical will support World Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills, climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and inclusion.

Cloud/Datacenters, AI & New Tech Unit

This unit will develop the World Bank's approach to Cloud and Datacenters, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and New/Emerging Technologies, including:

• Cloud Enabling Environment and Market Development: Creating a conducive policy and regulatory environment and supportive ecosystem to encourage investment in, as well as availability and adoption of datacenter and cloud infrastructure and services in emerging economies
• Development of Datacenter/Cloud Infrastructure: Supporting direct financing of datacenter or cloud infrastructure and services in emerging markets, including through PPPs, risk mitigation instruments and other strategies and approaches.
• Government Cloud: Identifying best practices and policies and supporting deployment of cloud solutions for Government
• AI Governance and Enabling Environment: Identifying key principles and approaches to AI related laws, policies, strategies and regulations in emerging markets, aiming to balance the opportunities of AI with mitigation of the risks; Identifying the key building blocks to support AI adoption and investment (infrastructure, institutions, capabilities, etc.)
• AI Use Cases for Development: Identifying and supporting adoption of relevant AI use cases across sectors
• Technology trends (AI, IoT, Quantum, VR, Blockchain, etc.): Tracking and distilling the latest technology trends, identifying relevant applications supporting development and supporting deployment across sectors
• Cross-Border Data Flows, Data Sovereignty and Data Classification Policy: Enabling cross border data flows with trust to enable cross border investment in data/cloud infrastructure and cross border provision and access to digital communications, commerce and services; Establishing data classification policy that respects data sovereignty while enabling access to public cloud solutions where appropriate
• Partnerships: Establishing knowledge partnerships and deepening collaboration with relevant industry, academia, civil society and development partners across cloud, AI and emerging tech; Ensuring internal coordination across teams working on areas of relevant intersection including broadband, cybersecurity, data protection and privacy, energy, sustainability and climate action, etc.)
  
  

The Unit engages through Regional VPUs and CMUs to support clients.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

As a Digital Transformation Specialist, you will proactively apply cloud and data centers expertise to drive the World Bank’s market-based approach to data hosting and cloud computing. This includes, but is not limited to:

Technical Expertise to Country Engagements

• Provide technical and strategic guidance to country teams in designing, preparing, supervising, and implementing World Bank projects, ensuring alignments with principles and best practices.
• Advise on regulatory and policy frameworks to help low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) adopt modernized data hosting arrangements and develop their cloud and data centers markets.
• Engage in policy dialogues with senior officials of client countries to address stated, unstated and emerging needs in cloud and data centers.
  
  

Global Knowledge and Thought Leadership

• Implement the analytical and knowledge program related to data centers and cloud in synergy with the Knowledge Bank approach.
• Develop analytical work and knowledge products to provide robust guidance on cloud adoption, deployment and market development, covering topics such as cloud-first policies, government cloud deployment, private capital mobilization (PCM) strategies and data center development.
• Build and manage partnerships with academia, cloud providers, development partners, and civil organizations to exchange insights and identify best practices in the sector .
  
  

Network and Partnerships

• Coordinate with WBG entities, including IFC and MIGA, to mobilize private capital and address the data center digital divide.
• Demonstrate World Bank knowledge and thought leadership on data centers and cloud to various audiences and represent the Bank in high-level meetings and conferences.
• Facilitate and coordinate webinar series, workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to engage stakeholders and disseminate best practices.
  
  

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in economics, digital development, technology policy, international development, or other related field, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills at the intersection of digital development, emerging technologies, digital skills and digital market development including the ability to simplify complex issues & think innovatively.
• Strong understanding of one or more of the following topics: technology regulation; data infrastructure investments; cloud computing for governments; cloud and data center market development dynamics.
• Operational experience working in and on contexts affected by FCV and a sound understanding of, and experience applying, key concepts related to FCV.
• Prior experience with World Bank corporate support and strategy, as well as country management, including the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, while delivering high quality outputs.
• Prior experience with World Bank operations—especially leading analytical work, supporting client dialogue, designing inclusive interventions, developing indicators, and supporting project implementation.
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in a clear, easily understandable, and effective manner.
• Driven, self-starter who can proactively solve problems constructively and effectively and with professionalism.
• High degree of discretion, ethics, tact and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong attention-to-detail, creative problem-solving, and coordination/logistics skills.
• Proven ability to function effectively as a team member of multi-disciplinary teams and resolve disagreements constructively.
• Working proficiency in English is essential. Fluency in other languages including French and Spanish is a plus.
  
  

Required Competencies

• Integrative Skills: Integrating divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent project/program/strategy.
• Internal and External Client Engagement: An ability to independently coordinate and engage with stakeholders from various parts of WBG, including IFC and MIGA, during the course of assisting team with operational design and implementation.
• Bank Instruments, Policies, and Procedures, and Ability to Proactively Apply Them: Solid operational experience, including as a TTL/co-TTL Bank lending and non-lending products. Solid knowledge of operational policies and procedures and ability to apply them in the different context, advise teams to resolve the bottlenecks, and find pragmatic operational solutions. An ability to exercise high standards in quality assurance of documents at different stages of project cycle. An ability to review and advice country products.
• Portfolio Management and Results Monitoring and Evaluation: An ability to independently monitor portfolio and pipeline and provide signals to management when the program goes off track. Preparing and leading country/GP portfolio reviews. An ability to monitor IBRD financing as well as IDA utilization. An ability to design, advice and implement results frameworks. Providing key inputs in business planning/MoU exercises.
• Operational Knowledge Sharing: An ability to design and consolidate core content of operational learning programs, and deliver presentations, trainings and BBLs on various topics. Mentoring junior colleagues in all aspects of operations.
  
  

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC , including our values and inspiring stories.