Senior Economist

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

Background / General description:

The Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management Global Practice (MFM GP) is seeking to recruit an outstanding Senior Economist to work in MFM's West Africa team (GMF08).

MFM comprises about 304 staff working across more than 100 countries. The Practice houses the Bank's country economists as well as professional staff with expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, growth, and statistics. About fifty percent of MFM professional staff is decentralized to the field working very closely with the Country Management Units (CMUs) and in proximity to clients. MFM is responsible for delivering timely policy advice to support the following lines of work: (i) designing macro-fiscal frameworks that are aligned with the goals of reducing extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity and grounded in economic, social and environmental sustainability; (ii) fiscal and debt policy sustainability; (iii) growth analytics, and policies to start, sustain and boost growth; and (iv) analyzing the impact of external shocks on growth and the government fiscal position. MFM professionals most often work across sectors helping carry out key integrative functions. In this context they are responsible for the preparation and delivery of Development Policy Operations using both IDA and IBRD resources and lead or participate in the preparation of ASA, Technical Assistance and integrative outputs such as Strategic Country Diagnostics, Country Economic Memorandums and cross sector Public Expenditure Reviews. An important additional element of engagement in macroeconomic and fiscal policies is carried through work on debt management supported by the Debt Management Facility. Knowledge and learning is a central part of MFM with work focused on 5 thematic areas: (a) macroeconomics; (b) fiscal policy; (c) growth; (d) economic management in resource rich environments; and (e) macroeconomic modelling & statistics.

The GMF08 unit covers MFM work in 14 countries within the Africa Region, namely the Senegal (AFCF1), Côte d'Ivoire (AFCF2), and Mali (AFCW3) CMUs. The work program for the Senior Economist includes leadership of development policy operations, economic and sector works, including regular thematic reports and economic updates, systematic country diagnostics and intensive policy dialogue with the Government and development partners, including the IMF. The position includes country economist duties for Burkina Faso and Togo, but the work program may also cover other countries as needed. The Senior Economist will work closely with the country team including the Program Leader and the local Economist. The Senior Economist will be an integral part of the global MFM Global Practice, and will report to the GMF08 Practice Manager. The position is based Washington, DC.

The West Africa region is a high visibility area for the World Bank and other major partners and stakeholders. The selected candidate will be expected to provide leadership on the economic policy issues in one or two West African countries and to help strengthening policy efforts to reduce extreme poverty and assure shared growth. S/he will also be expected to ensure that different parts of the country economic program are coherently integrated, while creating a collegial team environment and effective cross-GP collaboration for delivering the best results to the clients.

The main issues in the countries include macro-management in fragile resource dependent economies, long-term development issues, economic diversification, public investment management, expenditure efficiencies, domestic resource mobilization and regional integration.

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:

• Lead the policy reform dialogue with Government authorities and development partners;
• Lead the preparation of Development Policy Operations, Systematic Country Diagnosis, and of Economic and Sector Work;
• Lead IDA's engagement with the country on its overall policy reform program;
• Represent the Bank in its relationship with the IMF on the macroeconomic framework for the country as well as in the preparation of joint World Bank-IMF debt sustainability analyses;
• Advise the Government on formulation and implementation of poverty strategies in consultation with the Poverty Economist assigned by the Poverty Global Practice;
• Lead within the country team relevant process tasks such as the annual Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) exercise, macroeconomic monitoring; and contribute to Systematic Country Diagnostic analysis and Country Strategies;
• Work with the resident local economist and the program leader, participate in the dialogue with development partners on improved harmonization procedures to reduce transactions costs.

Selection Criteria:

In addition to the Bank-wide criteria listed below, the successful candidate for this position should have demonstrated superior technical skills, a capacity to operate successfully across sectors and with other development partners, and first-rate interpersonal skills. The incumbent must be able to interact effectively with senior members of the government, senior officials of donor governments, across Bank GPs, and with Bank senior management.

Other selection criteria include:

i) Minimum of a Master's degree in economics (PhD preferred), with eight years of experience.

ii) Strong technical skills on macro-fiscal and growth issues and a proven track record in delivering high quality and technically sophisticated analytical work.

iii) Strong operational and policy dialogue skills, as evidenced by a proven track record in delivering high quality Development Policy Operations.

iv) Strong integrative skills in order to support the CMU in articulating its strategic thinking on economic growth and poverty reduction and to articulate a coherent policy dialogue with the authorities.

v) Proven sense of initiative, results orientation, team work and leadership qualities, and ability to work effectively across sectors/GPs.

vi) Strong communication skills, including the ability to speak persuasively and to present ideas clearly and concisely with senior authorities.

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 confidentiality.

Competencies:

• General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses Cross-country knowledge in economic specialty and demonstrates ability to link the macro, institutional, and micro-level behaviors; able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools.

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.

• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.

• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.

• Macroeconomic Skills and Country Economics Experience - Able to translate technical analyses of macroeconomic, debt, trade, fiscal policy, and growth linkages into policy recommendations and cross-country lessons.

• Written and Verbal Communication - Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers)

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.

• Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.

• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront.

• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.

• Make Smart Decisions – Recommends and takes decisive action.

Job summary