Economist

The World Bank
Washington, DC - United States
S: Competitive

Background / General description:

World Bank. Innovation and partnership bond the five institutions of the World Bank Group (WBG): the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data.

DECPG. The Development Prospects Group (DECPG) provides timely analysis of global economic and financial developments, and their impact on the member countries of the WBG. Internally, it informs and helps define policy positions of the WBG and provides technical support for WBG operations. Externally, DECPG is expected to influence global policy debates on major macroeconomic and development issues. In fulfilling this objective, DECPG leads the WBG's monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting work in global macroeconomics. It produces topical and policy-oriented analytical work, including the semi-annual WBG corporate flagship Global Economic Prospects report and the Commodity Markets Outlook report. In addition, DECPG produces a wide range of analytical studies that appear as working papers, policy notes, and research publications in scientific journals, conference volumes, and book chapters.

Economist (GF) Position. The Development Prospects Group (DECPG) is looking for an Economist with excellent analytical and writing skills to work and contribute to its main tasks and product lines:

• Contribute to high-quality research on topical issues that are of immediate concern to policy makers in emerging market and developing economies.
• Implement cutting-edge modelling methods, including time series and panel econometrics and/or general equilibrium modelling to explore a wide range of policy related topics.
• Provide inputs to macroeconomic forecasting and scenario analysis of global economic trends.
• Contribute to analytical chapters to DECPG's products, including major analytical reports on topical issues and the Global Economic Prospects report, one of three WBG corporate flagship reports.
• Prepare inputs in an easily accessible format for a wide range of readers, and on tight deadlines in close cooperation with colleagues in a highly-skilled team.

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.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.


Duties and Accountabilities:

Under the direction of the DECPG Management Team, the Economist will work closely with DECPG staff in the following areas:

• Implement cutting-edge time series econometric analysis on a wide range of topics and work closely with the team to strengthen DECPG's time-series econometric analysis.
• Improve the modeling tools for forecasting and scenario analysis of macroeconomic prospects at global and country levels.
• Work closely with a team of talented economists and external experts to produce analytical contributions to DECPG's reports (analytical report and the Global Economic Prospects report) and for regular briefings to Senior Management.
• Provide analytical support and advisory services to other teams in DECPG, the Bank's regions and global practices; and build networking relationships with major academic institutions, think tanks, and policy forums through active participation in conferences and seminars and joint work on research projects related to its mission.


Selection Criteria:

• Master's degree with 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience (Ph.D. strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated record of strong analytical skills, especially in time-series econometrics.
• Good all-round economist with a record of monitoring the global economy and an eye for policy implications of economic analysis and modelling applications.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues in a multi-cultural team.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Competencies
• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills—Possesses a record of working with economic data to conduct economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs.
• Research Temperament/Intellectual Curiosity—Has demonstrated an aptitude for interpreting analysis in the context of global economy monitoring.
• Written and Verbal Communication—Delivers information effectively, including an ability to identify topical policy issues and articulate policy analysis. Experience as policy economist.
• Deliver Results for Clients—Proactively addresses clients' stated and unstated needs.

Job summary