What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Specialist - Digital Transformation position at World Bank Group?
Job Details
Lead Specialist - Digital Transformation
Job #:
req32095
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Digital Development
Grade:
GH
Term Duration:
4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:
3/17/2025 (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
Digital Vice Presidency
The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and will guide 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 will have the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will 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.
Digital Economy Unit
The World Bank Group's engagement will focus on ICT Industry Development by supporting National ICT Promotion Plans and building IT jobs and startup ecosystems for youth. This includes providing digital infrastructure support and advancing smart energy through smart grids, smart cities with digital urban infrastructure, and e-mobility initiatives such as ITS, GIS, and autonomous driving. The engagement will also support the Digital Planet initiative, smart agriculture, smart water management, and green growth industry development, including emission tracking and carbon exchange. Efforts will be made to promote digital prosperity, fintech industry development, and digital trade policy and e-commerce industry promotions. Additionally, research, partnership initiatives, and event management will be integral to fostering innovation and collaboration.
The Unit will closely collaborate and coordinate with relevant Units of the Prosperity, People, Planet and Infrastructure Vertical to design and deliver its work program. The Unit will engage through Regional VPUs and CMUs to support clients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Lead Specialist will spearhead the technical work on digital transformation initiatives in the agriculture, water, and environment sectors. This role involves developing and implementing innovative digital solutions to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience with the higher-level of job creation. The Lead Specialist will collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and partners to drive impactful projects and ensure the successful integration of digital technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead the digital transformation work program for agriculture, water, and environment sectors; identify and prioritize key areas for digital innovation, AI and investment; and provide thought and cutting-edge leadership and technical expertise on emerging digital technologies and trends.
Technical Expertise: Lead the development and deployment of digital tools and platforms (e.g., IoT, AI, remote sensing, data analytics) to improve sector outcomes; provide technical guidance and support to project teams and partners; and conduct research and stay updated on the latest advancements in digital technologies.
Operational Engagement: Advice and support regional operational teams in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital transformation projects; support task teams for smart and efficient delivery of operations by enhancing pathways for clients to implement digital solutions in country systems; and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to align project goals and objectives.
Knowledge Management and Learning: Lead the VPU's knowledge management engagement in agriculture, water and environment by identifying digital transformation including AI priorities in regions/sub-regions and countries through designing global and thematic Analytical and Advisory Assistance (ASA); Identify strategic topics in the realm of digital transformation and design research methodologies to address policy relevant questions; lead teams that prepare and deliver global cutting edge-knowledge products; develop and deliver training programs and workshops to build digital capabilities through WBG Academy for clients; and mentor and support team members in their professional development
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in agriculture, water and environment or related fields, or other related field, with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Doctorate level is highly preferred.
Good understanding of World Bank's operations and project financing and how prior experience in advising clients to invest or implement digital transformation initiatives in client countries.
Strong publication record in digital transformation in the three sectors, in the form of completed co-authored research papers available as working papers, journal articles, book chapters, or other types of peer reviewed publications.
Strong analytical and conceptual skills in both academic and policy contexts.
Understanding of digital development issues in the context of low and middle-income countries.
Proven ability to translate complex technical subjects in an intuitively understandable way.
Strong organizational, research, and oral presentation skills.
Computer skills, proficiency with Stata, R, and knowledge of geospatial data, Python and geospatial analytical software. Experience with big data analytics is a plus.
Ability to ability to lead teams and mentor junior staff.
Ability to deliver results effectively under pressure and to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to and prioritize a variety of evolving tasks.
Working proficiency in English is essential. Fluency in other languages is a plus.
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.
Job #:
req32095
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Digital Development
Grade:
GH
Term Duration:
4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:
3/17/2025 (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
Digital Vice Presidency
The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and will guide 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 will have the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will 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.
Digital Economy Unit
The World Bank Group's engagement will focus on ICT Industry Development by supporting National ICT Promotion Plans and building IT jobs and startup ecosystems for youth. This includes providing digital infrastructure support and advancing smart energy through smart grids, smart cities with digital urban infrastructure, and e-mobility initiatives such as ITS, GIS, and autonomous driving. The engagement will also support the Digital Planet initiative, smart agriculture, smart water management, and green growth industry development, including emission tracking and carbon exchange. Efforts will be made to promote digital prosperity, fintech industry development, and digital trade policy and e-commerce industry promotions. Additionally, research, partnership initiatives, and event management will be integral to fostering innovation and collaboration.
The Unit will closely collaborate and coordinate with relevant Units of the Prosperity, People, Planet and Infrastructure Vertical to design and deliver its work program. The Unit will engage through Regional VPUs and CMUs to support clients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Lead Specialist will spearhead the technical work on digital transformation initiatives in the agriculture, water, and environment sectors. This role involves developing and implementing innovative digital solutions to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience with the higher-level of job creation. The Lead Specialist will collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and partners to drive impactful projects and ensure the successful integration of digital technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead the digital transformation work program for agriculture, water, and environment sectors; identify and prioritize key areas for digital innovation, AI and investment; and provide thought and cutting-edge leadership and technical expertise on emerging digital technologies and trends.
Technical Expertise: Lead the development and deployment of digital tools and platforms (e.g., IoT, AI, remote sensing, data analytics) to improve sector outcomes; provide technical guidance and support to project teams and partners; and conduct research and stay updated on the latest advancements in digital technologies.
Operational Engagement: Advice and support regional operational teams in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital transformation projects; support task teams for smart and efficient delivery of operations by enhancing pathways for clients to implement digital solutions in country systems; and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to align project goals and objectives.
Knowledge Management and Learning: Lead the VPU's knowledge management engagement in agriculture, water and environment by identifying digital transformation including AI priorities in regions/sub-regions and countries through designing global and thematic Analytical and Advisory Assistance (ASA); Identify strategic topics in the realm of digital transformation and design research methodologies to address policy relevant questions; lead teams that prepare and deliver global cutting edge-knowledge products; develop and deliver training programs and workshops to build digital capabilities through WBG Academy for clients; and mentor and support team members in their professional development
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in agriculture, water and environment or related fields, or other related field, with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Doctorate level is highly preferred.
Good understanding of World Bank's operations and project financing and how prior experience in advising clients to invest or implement digital transformation initiatives in client countries.
Strong publication record in digital transformation in the three sectors, in the form of completed co-authored research papers available as working papers, journal articles, book chapters, or other types of peer reviewed publications.
Strong analytical and conceptual skills in both academic and policy contexts.
Understanding of digital development issues in the context of low and middle-income countries.
Proven ability to translate complex technical subjects in an intuitively understandable way.
Strong organizational, research, and oral presentation skills.
Computer skills, proficiency with Stata, R, and knowledge of geospatial data, Python and geospatial analytical software. Experience with big data analytics is a plus.
Ability to ability to lead teams and mentor junior staff.
Ability to deliver results effectively under pressure and to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to and prioritize a variety of evolving tasks.
Working proficiency in English is essential. Fluency in other languages is a plus.
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.
Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.
