Senior Digital Specialist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, www.worldbank.org VPU Context: The South Asia Region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) is at a crucial stage of development. Rapid economic growth, driven by urbanization and demographic dividend, has brought down poverty rates, but severe forms of exclusion and disparities based on ethnicity, caste, and gender remain. Rapid growth has also come with congestion and pollution in cities. South Asia is also significantly affected by changes in temperature and extreme weather events. Additional challenges are that South Asia as a whole is underperforming in exports, has large informal sectors and low female labor force participation rates. All these challenges must be addressed to secure rapid economic growth in coming decades. Private sector led growth, focused on investments in infrastructure, energy, logistics, skills and cities are essential to generate the jobs needed to employ South Asia’s sizeable youth population. At the same time, the region needs to continue building human capital so that South Asia’s population is well equipped for the jobs of the future. The World Bank Group in South Asia: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar Digital Vice Presidency Digital technologies offer a unique opportunity to transform development through digital solutions. 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: • Building digital infrastructure and data platforms (including last mile connectivity, AI, cloud computing and digital public infrastructure) • Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity and data protection & privacy • Developing ICT sectors and supporting digital entrepreneurship, skills, and jobs • Implementing and digitalizing digital government services that improve accountability and transparency • Supporting the Vice presidencies of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of their clients, and in leveraging digital solutions, including building client sectoral digital capacity, defining sectoral specific AI strategies, and designing sectoral AI solutions • Coordinating the operationalization of the digital Global Challenge Program as well as cross-GP efforts of achieving the new Corporate Scorecard digital indicators. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digital The roles and responsibilities include but are not limited to: The Opportunity The World Bank Group’s (WBG) engagement on digital development is rapidly growing in the South Asia region (SAR) in response to increased client demand for knowledge, technical assistance, and financing. The overall SAR Digital agenda is aiming to enhance the speed, scale, and impact of the WBG’s support to enable countries to make the most of digital opportunities and address emerging challenges in an effective and agile manner. SAR Digital Unit is looking for a Senior Digital Development (DD) Specialist to be based in Washington DC. The position will report to the Practice Manager for Digital Development. More specifically, the roles and responsibilities are to: The Senior Digital Specialist, will be responsible for the following:

Requirements

Master's degree in telecommunications, engineering, law, economics, public policy or related field with a minimum of 8 years of experience in Digital Transformation / Digital Economy policy and regulation and/or ICT / Digital Economy project design and implementation, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience and successes in policy dialogue and operations related to broadband connectivity, digital public infrastructure, digital data, data protection, cybersecurity or digital inclusion and its intersection with one or more development outcomes in health, financial inclusion, social protection, education, and/or gender.
Good understanding of role of private sector on digital infrastructure and familiarity with structuring arrangements between public and private sector investors
Knowledge of digital technology and digitally enabled business model trends relevant to socio-economic development and.
Prior policy dialogue activities working with countries with limited capacity and influencing ICT sector reforms
Proven experience advising governments or regulatory agencies on priority sector reforms issues and regulatory interventions in broadband infrastructure (fixed and mobile), conducting dialogue with regulators, and ability to develop best practice on regulation.
Excellent conceptual skills, including ability to think strategically about the role of ICT / Digital Technologies in other sectors and (more generally) the economy, as well as interface between telecom policy and digital transformation
Excellent analytical and statistical skills, in data and evidence-based reforms, using metrics and indicators to determine numeric reform targets, take stock of developments over time, and use data driven results monitoring as an instrument to advance reforms. Combines a broad grasp of the relevant theory and principles and of involved practices and precedent.
Strong technical and operational skills as evidenced in a proven track record in the delivery of project operations within the Bank (investment project financing, development policy lending, multi-sector operations) or similar type of products for other entities.
Strong client engagement skills, taking responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or project success.
Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in appropriate language to clients, the international development community, academia, and internal working groups.
Excellent presentation skills, using charts, graphs and other data presentation techniques appropriately to communicate data, technical information, or complex concepts to non-specialists.
Strong drive for results, taking persona enthusiasm to stay abreast of new innovation
Ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results.
Strong business judgment and analytical decision making, analyzing facts and data to support sound and logical business decisions.
Proven ability to function effectively as a team member of multi-disciplinary teams, mentor staff, and resolve conflicts constructively.
Willingness and ability to travel.
Proficiency in English is essential

Responsibilities

Lead missions and supervise projects in the sector as a technical expert; interact with clients at the policy and senior management levels, organize and manage policy notes on digital development and policy evaluation in collaboration with sector agencies, development partners and other Global Practices.
Contribute to the design, preparation and supervision of World Bank Group financed digital development related investment and policy reform programs in client countries, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the country’s digital public infrastructure and digital government services, stimulating development of digital connectivity infrastructure through leveraging private sector investments with matching investments from the Bank, strengthening regulatory agencies, facilitating development of digital government IT infrastructure, platforms and services, and promoting development of digital skills and innovation.
Advise clients on strategies, best practices and design of programs to develop the foundations of their digital economies. This may include participating in complex technical assistance activities and providing just-in-time technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the ICT sector and wider digital economy as well as IT functions and digital services delivery within governments.
Participate in complex technical assistance activities and provide ad hoc technical and strategic expertise on the design of the overall policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the development of the digital economy in client countries
Develop innovative and practical approaches to solving difficult policy and operational issues for selected high priority telecommunications, ICT or digital economy related activities, notably around market opening and regulation.
Provide technical expertise and advice on a range of ICT policy and regulatory issues to promote competition, investment, innovation and job creation in the telecoms sector with the aim of boosting affordability, service quality and access to digital connectivity by citizens, businesses and governments and to stimulate the downstream development of value-added digital services.
Generate 'think pieces', 'best practice' papers and blog articles for web publication; handle complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues in the sectors; lead the development of proposals; lead the interface with member governments and agencies in resolving implementation issues. Prepare and supervise publication of best practice notes and reports on policy and regulation in the digital economy;
Provide technical expertise and advice on policy, institutional reform, project development and execution to support the digitization of public administration and public services delivery in client countries.
Liaise and provide guidance to colleagues working in other sectors (including agriculture, health, education, energy, financial services, transport, etc.) on how to leverage digital technologies to improve public service delivery and efficiency in the respective sectors and to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship and investment in those sectors by private sector actors.
Contribute to policy dialogue with senior officials of client countries, regional institutions and development partner agencies.
Work independently under general direction of unit manager, in collaboration with other team members, and guide and mentor junior staff
Represent the Digital Unit and the Bank at regulatory and other fora and events, as well as liaise in the above areas with key external and internal partners

Benefits

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.

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