Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Job #:

req20703

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Research & Quantitative Analysis

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:

1/17/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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, visit www.worldbank.org.

OPCS Context

Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) plays a pivotal role in achieving the WBG's mission. OPCS is at the center of the 'operations complex' and plays a critical role in supporting MDO, MDD and the President of the World Bank on all issues related to Operations. OPCS develops and oversees Bank operational policies and procedures for country engagement products, lending operations, advisory services and analytical support, financial management, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, as well as development outcome risk and results. It also serves as a link between the Operational units and the Board of Directors. OPCS provides advice and support to World Bank management and staff as well as hands-on assistance to help teams apply the Bank's policies, processes and risk management tools for our country clients.

Working in OPCS helps World Bank professionals gain broad exposure to strategic operations issues and develop a deeper understanding of the business of the Bank.

OPCS's 160 staff are organized in four departments:

• Operations Policy (OPSPO) consolidates the corporate support and oversight of country strategies and all financing and advisory instruments and manages the Operations Help Desk.
• Operations Standards, Procurement and Financial Management (OPSPF) is responsible for procurement, financial management, UN agencies and anti-corruption policies and support to operations.
• Operations Standards, Environment and Social (OPSES) is responsible for Environmental and Social Standards and Safeguard Policies, including support to operations, learning and training, knowledge management, reporting, interface with the Inspection Panel, and management of the Grievance Redress Service (GRS).
• Operations Strategy, Risk, Results and Learning (OPSRL) focuses on overall Bank strategy; risk management in operations; support to the country directors' and management communities; corporate-level results reporting; strengthening results and effectiveness throughout the institution; and operational learning. The OPSRL department is comprised of three units, each led by a Manager: i) Results (OPSRS), where this job is located; ii) Strategy, Risk and Country Operations (OPSSR); and (iii) Learning (OPSLR).

OPSRS encompasses four interlinked streams of work (i) it supports the OPSVP and the MDs to report on results spearheaded by Practice Groups and Regions, including through yearly Board updates on the WBGs Corporate Scorecards, and stewardship of the IDA Results Measurement System and policy commitments; (ii) it coordinates the overall engagement with the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), including by crafting corporate responses to independent evaluations and reporting annually on the Management Action Record; (iii) it works with task teams and other units in OPCS and across GPs and Regions to support operations through relevant advice and strengthen skills, guidance, and tools to enhance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) underpinning results reporting, hosting the Secretariat of the WBG Results Measurement and Evidence Stream (RMES); and (iv) it spearheads WBG efforts towards greater outcome orientation, including external coordination on results with other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

OPSRS is currently strengthening its capacity on data science / analytics to support different aspects of OPCS' work. This newly created position in OPSRS will play a pivotal role in the data science work of the Unit working along with other colleagues in the team and across various Practice Groups (PGs) and Regions of the World Bank. The data scientist will work with a team of others within OPSRS (and wider OPCS colleagues) who currently support the existing data architecture - and we expect to draw on additional short term consultants or others within the World Bank on projects as we upgrade the architecture and practices.

Note: This requisition is posted internally for WBG and IMF staff only. External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will be rejected.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and guide the team work on updating the overall data architecture for measuring results in the Bank, including the Corporate Scorecard and IDA Results Management System. In this effort, collaborate with Bank-wide colleagues to find opportunities for OPCS to better mine and analyze data. Determine and seek inputs on relevant data sources and systems from, among others, colleagues in OPCS, IEG, GPs and Regions, Development Economics (DEC), Information and Technology Solutions (ITS), and other groups.
• Review and provide guidance on the further strengthening the choice of indicators and associated measurement concerns, clarify the definitions of the indicators in liaison with relevant GPs, and review the data collection and data analytics systems currently in place for measuring results. Advise on methodological concerns and pursue ways in which OPCS could use both quantitative and qualitive data to inform on the Bank's work in measuring and reporting on results. Plan for and review the outputs from the analytic exercises to ensure the robustness of the reporting and that claims in reports on causal pathways on results are sound.
• Translate technical analyses in core areas of data science into recommendations for programs, policies, and strategies for social and economic development.
• Recommend options for improvements in data collection and analysis for operational work.
• Develop with relevant parts of the Bank adequate data protocols and processes to facilitate access to data in specific areas, including the climate change work of the Bank.
• Contribute to an overall data science work plan for OPSRL, including the design, operation, quality assurance and oversight of data management system using innovative technology. Endeavor to open up and increase the use of advances in technology and analytic tools within the team. This will include making recommendations on staffing needs - including senior and other short term consultants - to service identified data science needs.
• Help develop and implement a plan for use of new technology, including machine learning, to further strengthen the work of OPSRS - including using technology to identify key issues on an ongoing basis in the areas of results, M&E systems, lesson learning etc. from the WB operations portal, Project Appraisal Documents (PADs), project Implementation Support Reviews (ISRs), Implementation Completion Reports (ICRs) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) evaluations. These will help directly inform the operational effectiveness of the Bank's work.
• Draft tenders and contracts for external contractors hired to strengthen the data science work of the Unit.
• Work collaboratively with other colleagues in OPSRS and other parts of OPCS and contribute to ongoing work and priorities.
• Communicate both orally and in written form with clarity and confidence with a wide array of OPCS and Bank-wide colleagues - including management and staff - on data science topics. Quick responses will often be expected.
• Any other assignment as may be required by the Manager.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in relevant field (i.e., Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Public Administration, etc.) with a focus on data science and analytics (and research methods), with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience with data analysis, and/or data mining, text analytics, machine learning and big data processing techniques.
• Excellent programming/coding skills related to data collection, data management and statistical software (e.g., STATA, R, Python, SQL).
• Outstanding quantitative modeling and statistical analysis skills.
• Expertise in research methods, including evaluation approaches used within the World Bank Group. Solid methodological grounding in matters of indicator development, measurement, supporting data evidence (sources, collection, analysis, etc.), and reporting (including dashboards, etc.).
• Strategic sense and demonstrated experience in ensuring the operational relevance of analytical and/or research work.
• Solid understanding of some of the technical work streams of the WB. Experience in climate work will be an added advantage.
• Ability to develop partnerships and effective working relationships across institutional boundaries.
• Drive, proven sense of initiative, results orientation, flexibility, leadership qualities, as well as effective teamwork skills.
• Ability to work flexibly, creatively and to multitask as the need arises.
• A high degree of self-motivation, positive attitude, and drive.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

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.