Senior Economist
Washington DC, United States
JOB DETAIL
Description
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
The Economic and Market Research Department (CER) focuses on operationally relevant research on firms and private sector development in emerging and low-income developing economies. This includes overseeing country private sector diagnostics, working to identify the most impactful business opportunities, creating a series of reports, undertaking research for peer-reviewed journals, organizing conferences with academia, and providing analytical input to guide IFC’s strategy.
The Department seeks to recruit a Senior Economist to contribute to and lead work on the new Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD 2.0), including its underlying sector analysis. The CPSD 2.0 is a core diagnostic of the World Bank Group, prepared jointly with staff of the World Bank. It identifies, at the country level, sectors or sub-sectors with unrealized private investment potential and makes concrete and operationally relevant recommendations to alleviate constraints that hold back private investment that might otherwise result in economic growth and job creation.
The position is based at IFC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Duties and Accountabilities
Reporting to the unit manager, the candidate will support the central unit for Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) by (i) contributing to oversight, methodological guidance and development, and quality control for CPSDs and (ii) leading individual CPSDs or sectoral work which will require engaging independently and proactively in analysis and tasks requiring the interpretation of complex or imperfect sets of information. The successful candidate will also conduct substantive empirical, analytical work, particularly at the level of economic sectors and subsectors, demonstrating good command of the economics of a particular economic sector and key drivers of sector growth, productivity, profitability, and efficiency, and present analysis in concise and clear written formats.
Selection Criteria
The candidate should have a deep and nuanced understanding of key drivers of and approaches to fostering private sector-led economic growth in emerging markets/developing countries and key tools to create and promote efficient private markets. They will participate in developing and producing the new generation of Country Private Sector Diagnostics, including by undertaking related analysis of sector potential for private investment, growth, and job creation.
The successful candidate should:
• Have a PhD or master’s degree in economics, Finance, or a closely related field and at least ten years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrate sound judgment in understanding and advising on the interface between public policy and private sector development in emerging markets and developing economies.
• Have a deep understanding of key tools to create and promote efficient markets in emerging markets and developing economies.
• Demonstrate a strong command of the economics and key drivers of sector growth, productivity, profitability, and efficiency, as well as the impact of global sector trends on market opportunities and risks. Expertise in private sector-led growth in the energy, agri-business, or manufacturing sectors is particularly welcome.
• Have a solid track record of sound and politically astute judgment in formulating advice and recommendations to governments on policy and regulatory issues related to private sector development.
• Have extensive experience working across World Bank Group institutional boundaries in support of economic and regulatory policy reform that supports private sector development.
• Produce analytical studies on sectoral matters, including for external publication.
• Possess a good understanding of, and experience with, the Bank Group’s Country Engagement model.
• Apply in-depth knowledge of the private sector in complex and/or difficult countries to influence collaboration efforts with the WBG, including country diagnostics and partnership frameworks.
• Lead diverse and multidisciplinary teams in designing and using research frameworks and tools to assess the impact of policy reform on investment and job creation.
• Have a track record of published analytical work and reports in the area of economics or economic policy.
• Guide, advise, mentor, and coach others to develop and broaden their scope of skills & knowledge in the Economic stream.
• Clearly and concisely communicate in writing complex and technical concepts and policy advice for use by non-technical policymakers.
• Advise IFC/WB operations on actions required to help unlock private sector development and market creation.
S/he should be able to use this knowledge to lead and contribute substantively to country private sector diagnostics, policy notes, strategies on private sector development, and improving the enabling environment for private sector development.
The selected candidate will be offered a three-year fixed-term appointment, renewable at the World Bank Group’s discretion.
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.
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