Practice Manager - Digital Economy and Digital Society | Washington D.C., DC, USA

Practice Manager - Digital Economy and Digital Society Job #: req30413 Organization: World Bank Sector: Digital Development Grade: GH Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 12/5/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org .Digital Transformation Vice PresidencyThe Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and will guide World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Transformation Vertical will have the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. 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 two engagement pillars, six business lines, and multiple cross-cutting areas:• Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network, affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online safety.• Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services, and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital school, digital health, etc.).• Both pillars will be the channels through which the Vertical will support World Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills, climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and inclusion.Digital Economy and Digital Society UnitThis unit will develop the World Bank 's approach to the following areas:• Digital Economy: With a focus on national ICT strategies, ICT governance as well as ICT Industry Development by supporting National ICT Promotion Plans and building IT jobs and startup ecosystems. This includes providing support to the development of smart infrastructure through smart grids, smart cities with digital urban management, and e-mobility initiatives such as ITS, GIS, and autonomous driving. The engagement will also support the Digital Planet initiatives, smart agriculture, smart water management, and green growth industry development, including emission tracking and carbon exchange. Efforts will be made to promote digital prosperity, such as fintech industry development, and digital trade and e-commerce.• Digital Society: With a focus on supporting the development of digital education content and establishment of EdTech industries, promoting digital skills and literacy for the elderly, farmers, and people with disabilities, and supporting public policy reform and medical service architecture in digital health. This will also encompass social protection, and provide special tasks for FCV incidents and natural disasters.The Unit will closely collaborate and coordinate with relevant Units of the Prosperity, People, Planet and Infrastructure Verticals and across the World Bank Group to design and deliver its work program. The Unit will engage through Regional VPUs and CMUs to support clients.Job Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Practice Manager (PM) will be responsible for 15-20 staff and report to the Global Director for Digital Use. The PM will work closely -with the Regional Managers/Directors and support their work to advance digital transformation in client countries including mobilizing cutting-edge experts both externally and internally. PM will ensure that frontlines teams are support through the Regional Managers by making available state of the art knowledge to clients including facilitating cross-regional and institutional learning to find client driven solutions. The PM will collaborate with IFC and MIGA to support and as needed co-create solutions with the public and private sector to advance digital economy and digital society in client countries. PM will work alongside the other PMs to provide coherent and consistent advice to internal and external clients. The PM will be a member of the Departmental Management Team, and as needed will be invited to join the Vertical (VPU) Leadership Team. It is expected that the Digital Society functions will be spun off as a separate Unit in the medium-term. Until then, a Program Manager, reporting to the PM, will manage the Digital Society topics and teams.More specifically, the PM is responsible for the following areas:Solutions and Results to Clients:• Leads her/his team to deliver the key strategic priorities and specific activities, including managing the quality of work program and deliverables including lending and ASA, working closely with other PMs and Regional PMs.• Draws on global thought leadership and implementation know-how to ensure high impact solutions; provides focused, evidence-based and just-in-time analytical insights to clients with a view to inform better decision making.• Builds and maintains a balanced portfolio of innovative, cost-effective, and demand-driven products and services.• Works in partnership with other PMs in the Vertical and the Regions as well as with other GPs, IFC, MIGA to find tailored digital solutions to complex development challenges.• Accountable for delivering high-quality and timely results.• Create partnerships with other donors working in the digital space as well as private sector and technology leaders as well as academic institutions.People/Talent Management:• Models exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behaviors and reinforces these qualities in own team and staff.• Drives and inspires technical excellence within the team and the Vertical by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients.• Supports the Vertical management in developing and implementing appropriate strategies for global staffing, deployment, talent, and performance management.• Manages Unit staff and agrees on respective responsibilities and work programs.• Mentors staff and ensuring they remain well connected with the rest of the team.• Attract new talent to match the growth and changing nature of the agenda.Knowledge Management and Partnerships:• Responds to global, regional, and national challenges and opportunities in the broader Digital Transformation area. Ensures that the Vertical is at the forefront of the development debate and contributes to the global dialogue.• Contributes to international fora• Develops close partnerships with private sector including Big Tech and Start Ups, donor agencies, international organizations, academia/think tanks, and other development partners active in digital.• Strengthens the analytical base of the unit's work and fosters partnership with leading global institutions and experts, ensures timely flow and capture of knowledge and expertise so that clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge they need, when and where they need it.• Promotes innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning.• Instills a culture of evidence-based, yet client-tailored engagement for highest development impact.Resource Management:• Manages within available budget constraints, restructures unit as needed and establishes funding priorities.• In consultation with relevant stakeholders within the WBG, decides on the best use of internal and external resources for maximum client and developmental impact.• Is accountable for delivering the agreed upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal controls and policies and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the GP's outputs.Selection Criteria• Master's or PhD degree in digital technology/sciences, public policy, private sector development, economics, laws, technology, or another relevant field.• 12+ years of relevant experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.• Excellent and proven technical skills in GovTech and thorough understanding of country systems as they relate to public administration, public finance management, procurement, and audit practices.• Excellent leadership and supervisory skills with established track record in managing multi-cultural and virtual teams including solid managerial and influencing skills are at a premium for this position.• Technical knowledge and experience in one or more of the DD areas described above is desirable.• Demonstrated in-depth experience and track record of results and successfully working across practices, disciplinary and institutional boundaries.• Ability to influence dialogue and policy on digital infrastructure and its use in other sectors without direct control or authority.• Strong sense of strategy, including ability to prioritize and exit activities and engagements, track record in streamlining and rationalizing product offerings.• Good partnership experience, including involving multiple stakeholders - both public and private - in building collaborative alliances for results.• Experience in applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results.• Strong written and oral communication skills with proven experience in dealing with the media, external stakeholder, and expert groups.WBG Managerial Competencies: https://bit.ly/2kDjXkrThe 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.