Data Scientist

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 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.

Office of the Senior Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships

The Senior Managing Director’s (SMD) key mandate includes overseeing the Bank’s knowledge and partnership programs and ensuring that the Bank’s analytical work continues to address the pressing development challenges facing client countries and global partners. The office is responsible for the Evolution Roadmap, G20 and G7 engagements, the implementation of the Knowledge Compact, as well as the replenishment of IDA, the Bank’s concessional lending arm for the poorest countries. It provides strategic guidance on the WB’s global knowledge and IDA corporate commitments; oversees key partnerships with shareholders, development agencies, other multilateral development banks (MDBs) and academia; helps shape and drive the Bank’s strategic directions; and through the Trust Fund portfolio in Global Practices, mobilizes support and financial resources across the international community to bring concessionally to our work.

Building on the progress of past efforts, the WBG Knowledge Compact for Action aims to empower clients, public and private, by systematically making the latest knowledge available to respond more effectively to increasingly complex development challenges. This includes knowledge embedded in policy advice, expertise, and know-how, including from financing operations, as well as the latest research, data and tools to formulate robust development policies and programs. The Compact will deliver this knowledge to clients under the four pillars of enhanced products, partnerships, learning and systems. To advance the knowledge agenda, the practice groups will be organized into five vertical vice presidencies aligned with the new mission (People, Prosperity, Planet, Infrastructure and Digital). In addition, three new departments are being created to enhance coordination, integration and outcome orientation across the WBG.

• The Outcomes team will generate metrics, aggregate results and monitor in real-time how and where the Bank is driving development outcomes, and identifying cross-cutting thematic areas that require additional efforts and resources.
• The Innovation team will drive forward-thinking innovative approaches and engage in new frontiers to address the most complex development challenges.
• The Knowledge and Learning team will foster systematic and consistent curation and use of knowledge and development know-how to develop client and staff capacity and deliver tailored, world class development solutions to clients.

VPU Context:

The Department for Outcomes will provide the strategic vision and direction for an effective outcome orientation across the WBG, including thought leadership on approaches to development impact measurement, proposing revisions and updates to outcome indicators and methodologies as needed, coordinating the development of outcome targets and their implications in our knowledge, operations, and financing. It will also oversee the development and implementation of metrics and systems to evaluate outcomes on cross-cutting themes such as climate, jobs, private sector capital mobilization, women and youth and the monitoring of these areas in the Corporate Scorecard, in collaboration with MDO, IFC and MIGA. In addition, the Department will convene both external and internal parties and other MDBs regarding outcome metrics, building external and internal capacity, and acting as the secretariat for external advisory groups like the Job Council.

This department will be responsible for generating metrics, aggregating results, and monitoring in real-time how and where we are driving development outcomes, and where we need to place greater focus and additional resources. As this is a new department, the internal structure is not yet finalized.

The Department for Outcomes is looking for a Data Scientist with strong data analytics and research skills combined with knowledge on development operations and a passion for evidence-based data and analytical activities.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Work creatively to help update the overall data architecture for measuring outcomes across the WBG, including using new technologies. In this effort, collaborate with WBG-wide colleagues to find opportunities for the institution 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), IFC and MIGA and other groups.
• Help develop and implement a plan for use of new technology, including machine learning, to further strengthen outcome measurement – including using technology to identify key issues on an ongoing basis in the areas of outcome measurement, target setting, lessons learning, from the WB operational systems and reports, 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 WBG’s work.
• Undertake data collection, data entry and quality assurance for cross cutting issues, such as Jobs, Private Capital Facilitation, Climate Change, Gender, and Youth. Research and explore of outcomes indicators to be included in corporate reporting for the cross-cutting areas. This includes project document review, literature review, and production of write-ups of findings.
• Develop innovative ways to present outcomes data that communicates a persuasive and impactful message and supports the identification of strategic issues that require managerial attention.
• Undertake data cleaning, collection, and exploratory data analysis (EDA) on result indicators through Power BI and, when required, manual review of result frameworks of PADs, ISRs and ICRs for quality assurance purposes.
• Conduct independent data cleaning, exploratory data analysis (EDA), analytical and visualization support for other activities, presentations, and assigned tasks, including drafting of reports and methodology notes of analytics conducted. Moreover, provide analytics related to improving the data architecture for measuring results in the World Bank.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s or PHD (preferred) 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.
• In-depth knowledge and skill in mathematical and quantitative reasoning; use of advanced computer languages and software; basic statistical concepts, practice, and theory; data management and curation; data description and visualization; data modeling and assessment; and workflow and reproducibility
• Superior integrative thinking skills and ability to support project teams in developing an integrated point of view around development challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to seek out, collate and synthesize inputs from across sectoral and thematic boundaries.
• Outstanding to tailor communication style to meet audience needs and delivers information effectively in support of team or workgroup.
• Excellent programming/coding skills related to data collection, data management and statistical software (e.g., STATA, R, Python, SQL,).
• Solid understanding of research methods, including evaluation approaches used in MDBs, solid methodological grounding in matters of indicator development, measurement, supporting data evidence (sources, collection, analysis, etc.), and reporting (including dashboards, etc.).
• 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.