Lead Economist

Lead Economist

Job #:

req22927

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Economics

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Russian

Closing Date:

6/19/2023 (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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

THE ROLE OF THE GLOBAL PRACTICE FOR MACROECONOMICS, TRADE and INVESTMENT (MTI) IN THE WBG

The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice comprised of some 450 staff, with almost half working in country offices around the world. MTI houses the Bank's country economists together with trade economists and specialists, debt and macro modeling experts, and fiscal experts. MTI offers integrated solutions to macroeconomic and structural reform programs. In doing so, MTI staff work closely with other GPs. MTI staff help to shape and lead knowledge and learning related activities across a range of thematic areas, including but not limited to: (a) macroeconomics; (b) fiscal policy; (c) growth; (d) economic management in resource rich environments; (e) macroeconomic modelling & statistics; (f) trade and regional integration.

THE EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA REGION (ECA)

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. Many parts of the region continue to struggle with multiple structural weaknesses, including high public debt burdens, tight fiscal space, low investment, lack of contestable markets, and financial sector vulnerabilities. Across the region the World Bank supports reforms and investments focusing on private sector led growth and job creation; boosting human capital and skills, and inclusion; advancing the green transition; and building and strengthening institutions. The overall objective is to support countries' transition toward green, resilient and inclusive development models. Key areas of focus include enabling markets by enhancing competition and reducing the role of SOEs; supporting productivity growth and innovation; preparing people for the changing nature of jobs and managing demographic transitions; strengthening green competitiveness and green finance; adopting measures towards climate mitigation and adaptation; improving the effectiveness social protection programs; and strengthening macro-fiscal management, and transparency and state effectiveness.

Across ECA, multiple instruments, including Development Policy Financing, Investment Financing (DPO), and Advisory Services and Analytics, are used to engage on this reform agenda. Knowledge activities are also quite robust given the sophistication of many regional clients, and include Country Economic Memorandums, Public Finance Reviews, Regular Economic Reports, Country Climate and Development Reports, and Systematic Country Diagnostics. ECA also effectively provides Reimbursable Advisory Services to many clients in the region generating knowledge that is transferred throughout the Bank.

Given the scale of these challenges and momentum, there is a pressing need to scale up integrated technical advice that helps countries combine progress on macroeconomic, fiscal, social and climate objectives. We are seeking an outstanding Lead Economist to work on regional and country-specific macro-economic analytics and country operations in ECA East, covering the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, and Turkey.

Roles & Responsibilities

You will lead a rich and exciting work program supporting the ECA East MTI team on the preparation of transformative and innovative DPO and high-profile analytical work and contribute to the regional macro monitoring with a view of providing policy advice across the region. You will play a critical role in coordinate also with internal and external stakeholders. You will also support the ECA East MTI PM on some key functions.

In particular, you would:

- Provide intellectual and technical leadership on macroeconomic, fiscal, trade policy and growth issues, including related to climate change;

- Lead the development state-of-the-art approaches in applied economic analysis and in pioneering their implementation in operations and analytical work;

- Lead and contribute to a broad range of analytical and operational tasks, notably to help shape Country Economic Memoranda, Public Expenditure Reviews, and Development Policy Operations;

- Actively initiative dialogue and build working-relationships with key government counterparts and development partners to ensure a high impact of analytical work and operations;

- Play a central role in business development;

- Coordinate and provide key inputs to the bi-annual Macro-Poverty Outlooks for ECA East in close collaboration with MTI country economists;

- Support the Practice Manager in maintaining high quality of operations and analytical work and coaching junior staff and provide inputs on corporate briefs and due diligence on macroeconomic issues;

- Facilitate knowledge flow with the broader MTI GP.

Selection Criteria

- Minimum of a Masters' degree in Economics with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience (a completed PhD is equivalent to 3 years of relevant professional experience), including a track record of delivery of high quality analytical and advisory services.

- Strong analytical skills in macroeconomic, fiscal, trade policy and growth analysis, including related to climate change. Mastery of modern macroeconomic modelling techniques is a plus;

- Proven track record in delivering high quality and technically sophisticated analytical work and high-impact DPOs;

- Sound knowledge of WBG lending tools and procedures;

- Integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader development framework;

- Strong oral and written communication skills in English, including the ability to present complex analysis to non-specialist audiences; knowledge of Russian is desirable.

- Strong client-orientation and diplomatic skills combined with candor and courage of opinion;

- Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, and teamwork qualities, and ability to work effectively across sectors/GPs;

- Entrepreneurial capabilities that can be deployed in identifying and securing new business opportunities;

- Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet deadlines;

- High energy and demonstrated interest in achieving impact through analytical work and technical assistance for demanding and sophisticated clients.

This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.