Lead Economist/Education Spec

Background

Over the past decade, the World Bank allocated an average of just under one-fifth of its education lending in low- and middle-income countries to tertiary education. But this demand for resources and analytical and technical work is rising. The demand for tertiary education—from specialization programs and polytechnic training to diploma programs and graduate education—is expanding rapidly across the developing world. In seeking to meet this demand, low- and middle-income countries alike are engaging in efforts to increase the availability of tertiary education to growing numbers of secondary school graduates, ensure the quality and relevance of that education so that graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors demanded in the domestic and global economies, and find ways to make tertiary education affordable to low-income students. As a development partner, the World Bank assists countries to respond to this growing demand by providing technical leadership and operational knowledge in areas such as private and public provision, financing mechanisms, student grants and loans schemes, scholarships and other compensatory programs, system-wide governance and quality assurance.

The World Bank's Human Development Network is the professional alliance of staff working on development issues related to education, health, nutrition, population, and social protection and labor. The HD Network enables the World Bank to build a global knowledge base of effective policies, programs and interventions in these areas, improve the use of that knowledge base to provide the best advice, technical assistance, and operational support to countries, and renew and strengthen the professional skills and knowhow of its staff to develop and deploy this knowledge and knowhow in service of its clients.

The Human Development Network's education policy unit (HDNED) is the education hub of this network, supporting the Bank's country and regional programs, analytical and operational activities, and staff capacity development. HDNED also serves as the secretariat for the World Bank's Education Sector Board, the governing body for the education sector in the Bank, which is led by the Bank's Education Director. HDNED responds to the growing international and institutional attention to education as an instrument for social and economic development. The HDNED work program is guided by the new Education Sector Strategy 2020.

Duties and Accountabilities
In the context of the Bank's focus on countries' educational progress and education's link to growth and productivity, we are seeking to fill the position of Lead Economist/Education Specialist (Tertiary Education) with a professional who can provide professional and technical leadership on topics related to tertiary education in the developing world, including governance and financing issues, organizational and management issues, quality assurance, approaches to ensure equity, pedagogical excellence and research. In addition to providing high-quality institution-wide technical leadership, s/he will be expected to be able to guide and support the Bank's operational work and policy dialogue on tertiary education reform issues in the context of development. S/he will help build and maintain the quality of the Bank's partnerships around tertiary education, with partner countries, donors, external researchers, and the development community at large. S/he will work closely with the World Bank's Education Director and HDNED's Sector Manager.

Specific Responsibilities:

In support of HDNED's role in coordinating the World Bank's work on tertiary education reform, the Lead Economist/Education Specialist will have the following responsibilities:

• Lead and undertake high-quality analytical work on issues and policies related to tertiary education in developing countries and emerging economies, including the development of the tertiary education component of the World Bank's flagship program, System Assessment and Benchmarking for Education Results;
• Support the efforts of Bank country staff in conducting policy dialogue and operational activities related to tertiary education, including through peer reviews, participation in quality assurance work, technical advice and guidance to lending operations, and interactions with government officials, donor partners and other education leaders;
• Lead and nurture the World Bank's community of practice around higher education (COREHEG), including by developing and implementing knowledge-sharing activities around tertiary education and by ensuring that this community of practice continues to innovate and thrive;
• Help design and deliver learning and mentoring programs to strengthen the technical competencies of Bank staff working on tertiary education;
• Advise management, especially the Education Sector Board, on strategic staffing for the Bank's work on tertiary education.


Criteria
• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in education policy, economics or social sciences;
• Strong intellectual leadership, analytical ability and publication record related to the tertiary education issues and policy;
• Up-to-date knowledge and solid understanding of broad development issues, including those related to the link between tertiary education and growth and productivity;
• Significant experience and demonstrated ability to conduct effective policy dialogue with government officials, development partners, and leaders of tertiary education institutions;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English essential;
• Fluency in French or Spanish desirable;
• Minimum of 15 years relevant professional experience, especially with extensive experience working on issues related to education in developing countries;
• Knowledge of the World Bank, its mission, and the project lending cycle desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams as well as to work effectively in teams, especially in a complex, multi-cultural environment;
• Highest personal integrity and sound judgment.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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