Vertical Chief Economist, Infrastructure

Vertical Chief Economist, Infrastructure

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide.

We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative changes around the globe. For more information, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) is the World Bank’s central reservoir of fresh insights into the most pressing challenges of development. It is led by the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, who advises the President and senior managers, serves as the community leader for the WBG’s economists, and helps to keep the institution in the forefront of thinking about development policy.

DEC constitutes one of the world’s largest teams of economists focused on policy solutions for developing economies.

The Chief Economist for Infrastructure serves as the principal economic adviser within the vertical, reporting directly to the WBG Chief Economist and DEC Senior Vice President, while maintaining a dotted reporting line to the WBG Infrastructure Vice President. S/he will be accountable for:

• Coordinating DEC Research, Markets, Data, Indicators and Impact Group services for the vertical.
• Working with vertical departments and WBG academies to improve economic analysis.
• Collaborating with vertical departments to scale and replicate successful public and private initiatives and adoption of efficient regulations.
• Ensure the alignment of the DEC research program with vertical and regional policy priorities.

The vertical chief economist office will be staffed to intermediate knowledge flows between DEC and the vertical, both by bringing the best of DEC’s services and products to support the Vertical and ensuring the alignment of DEC’s research, markets, and impact programs with the policy priorities of the Vertical.

The WBG Infrastructure Vice Presidency Unit (Infrastructure VPU) provides public and private solutions to operational teams and clients across the WBG to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs by: (i) supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, (ii) policy environment, and (iii) enabling and mobilizing private sector capital.

With 60 years of experience, the WBG is poised to support the sector becoming an engine of growth and jobs through improving policies and governance, foundational infrastructure and private sector investments. The WBG lending in the sector is expected to grow substantially. The Infrastructure VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.

While managing a small team of 4-5 staff in the Vertical Chief Economist Office, the Vertical Chief Economist will also assist the DEC Research Director in supervising the policy research program for the vertical. The Vertical Chief Economist will draw on staff across DEC to advance research, development data, and development impact in the vertical.

• Advise the Vertical Vice President and leadership team on economic risks and opportunities, drawing on DEC work programs and operational experience.
• Lead and manage a small team within the Vertical Chief Economist Office, staffed to facilitate work on development data (e.g. Data
  360), development impact (Learn Adapt and Scale LEADS), and policy indicators (Regulatory Efficiency).
• Provide quality control and oversight of analytical work in the Vertical.
• Lead…