Lead Economist

Lead Economist

Job #:
req19531

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Social Protection

Grade:
GH

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):
Arabic, French

Closing Date:
11/15/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice (SPJ GP)

The WBG is the largest provider of development finance and solutions for social protection, labor and jobs, working with high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries to develop country-tailored solutions for specific social protection and labor challenges. These range from increasing the efficiency with which social resources are spent, including well-designed social safety net and pension programs; to integrating social protection systems, including management information systems; and improving employment outcomes, especially of vulnerable groups, through employability programs and associated labor policy reforms.

The Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice delivers analytical and operational approaches and evidence-based solutions to help countries supporting individuals and families to manage social risks, cope with chronic and transitional poverty, and access better livelihoods and jobs.

These include:

• Advisory, analytical and operational services on the strategic level, to develop national social protection, jobs, and labor strategies, identifying reform priorities across the entire SPJ spectrum and supporting the implementation of related action plans.
• Advisory, analytical and operational services on the sectoral level, like social expenditure reviews and the development of integrated social protection delivery systems (outreach, application assessment, beneficiary registration, benefit payment, beneficiary management, monitoring and evaluation, grievance redress mechanisms).
• Advisory, analytical and operational services on the program level, to support reforms of social safety nets, disability programs, labor programs and policies, pension programs, as well as cross-cutting issues like gender and climate change.

HMNSP, the regional SPJ unit for the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA), manages operations and analytical work across the region. HMNSP is seeking to hire a Lead Economist to support operational and analytical work program across the region. The selected candidate will be a core member of the HMNSP team as well as specific country teams.

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.

Duties and Accountabilities

The successful candidate will be a member of the HMNSP team and report to the HMNSP Practice Manager. The position will involve frequent interaction with government counterparts and other units within the World Bank to contribute to multi-sectoral tasks as per business requirements.

The Lead Economist is accountable for performing the assigned responsibilities, modeling the behaviors, and maintaining the competencies in his or her capacity as a member of the SPJ Global Practice and Human Development team. Accountability means being answerable for achieving results of Bank SP operations, managing quality of dialogue and outputs, risks and institutional initiatives, mentoring junior staff, and operating in compliance with Bank policies and procedures.

The specific responsibilities are as follows:

• Lead the operationalization of the new MENA vision that is articulated in the flagship report under preparation: Future of the Social Protection in MENA" which is also aligned with recently launched SPJ global strategy "SPJ Compass". Support the country SPJ team with the implementation of the strategic priorities and as as well as SPJ's contributions to other engagements and priorities in the region, e.g. climate change and resilience, subsidy reforms etc. This will include a lead role in the dialogue with internal and external clients and building a strategic partnership with Government and Development partners in supporting the vision.
• Provide expert advice to task teams on the key priorities of the regions, e.g., subsidy reforms, economic inclusion, social protection financing, linkage between different social protection instruments (i.e., social assistance, social insurance and employment/skills) and other analyses that are essential for development of sustainable social protection systems.
• A leadership role of the HMNSP program and pipeline operations. This may include leading policy and program dialogue and managing relationships with the Government and key stakeholders; coordinating with development policy and other operations for enhanced social protection outcomes; managing contributions to other engagements led by other GPs that can spring from the SPJ engagement (including digital payments, financial inclusion, and disaster risk financing); and creating a comprehensive research agenda around the impact and efficacy of the SPJ program.
• Contribute to cross-sectoral operational and analytic agenda to support the regional program. The task will require hands on work and coordination with the country management units, Chief Economist's office as well as other practices (e.g. poverty, EFI) working closely with the HD PLs and Teams.
• Lead the strategic support to selected analytical tasks by providing the relevant expertise and maintaining quality assurance. Respond to government and development partners requests for enhanced Bank's support to address project implementation and operational issues, analytical and knowledge products, and help timely delivery of requested support.
• Provide operational and analytical support, oversight, and mentorship as needed, to other team members as may be delegated by the Practice Manager. This may include support to other SPJ programs in the region as needed including regional ASA.
• Advise project/country teams how to integrate corporate/regional priorities into specific project/strategy bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives for effective solutions. Ensure that the project team considers corporate commitments (e.g., MFD, climate, gender) in its approach.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in in economics, social science, public policy or other relevant area.
• 12 years of relevant professional experience. Experience in two regions, a corporate assignment or similar experience that builds global expertise and client facing skills. (25% of cross support for another Region to be counted for GP staff, commensurate corporate experience to count for CM/OM/OA/C.
• Strong operational and development experience and track record, including experience in more than one world region and leading complex operations. Excellent leadership and supervisory skills with established track record managing multi-location and virtual teams.
• Hands-on experience with World Bank operations as demonstrated through TTL-ship of different lending instruments ranging from policy to investment and results financing. Track record of conducting effective policy dialogue with country counterparts in complex and challenging situations.
• Experience in leading analytical and technical assistance activities.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English, Arabic and/or French language skills are 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.