Job: Lead Economist

Location: Washington
Deadline: Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Background / General description:

The Public Sector Evaluations department of the Independent Evaluation Group at the World Bank Group (IEGPS) is seeking a seasoned Lead Economist (macroeconomics). Under the direction of the IEGPS Manager in charge of PREM/FPD themes, the successful candidate will play a principal role in shaping and delivering IEGPS's work program in macroeconomics, growth/ fiscal policy analysis and in linking this work with clients in the Bank Group, colleagues in IEG and external partners.

The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) is the organizational unit in the World Bank Group providing evaluation and feedback on the development effectiveness of Bank Group activities in client countries. IEG is independent of Bank Group management and reports directly to the Board of Executive Directors, with day-to-day oversight by the Board's Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE).

The role and visibility of IEG has grown in recent years and is expected to expand further as the Bank Group, and the broader development community, continue to stress the importance of development effectiveness, evaluation, and monitoring for results especially in the context of the new global poverty reduction targets. The management of IEG is committed to ensuring the highest level of quality, relevance, professionalism, and integrity in IEG's evaluation activities and to attracting top-quality staff to that end.

IEG's Public Sector Evaluation Department is responsible for the Bank's Independent Evaluation Group's work on macroeconomic and sector evaluations of World Bank related projects and themes. Its PREM/FPD team reviews Bank Group operational and policy work on macroeconomic management and growth, fiscal policy, public economic management, trade, financial sector and debt issues. Its work encompasses both large thematic evaluations related to these areas, as well as the undertaking of reviews at the project level of bank operations in these areas. IEG is also piloting systems for the evaluation of Bank AAA products.

The work programs for Lead Economists in the unit typically involve a high level of responsibility and visibility in the Bank, as they are expected to: lead evaluations in one or more of the above thematic business lines/clusters; build teams of staff and consultants to undertake such evaluations and mentor junior staff; represent IEG in views communicated to the Bank's Board on core strategic issues, facilitate knowledge sharing with and among IEG economists during the preparation of evaluations; and interact with senior government officials and other development partners in the process of undertaking and disseminating IEG evaluations. The Lead Economist supports the Sector Manager through responsibility for large scale thematic evaluations as well as for pipeline and work program management, delivery, quality assurance for IEGPS tasks in the business line/cluster that he/she leads.

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:

The Lead Economist will divide her/his time between development of large scale thematic

evaluations and towards the monitoring and supervision of IEG's basic evaluative building blocks, primarily evaluation and review of development policy operations and investment lending. This work will require collaboration across departmental boundaries with colleagues in IEG's Country and Corporate Department working on country evaluations, and with IEG's Private Sector Department responsible for private sector aspects of development, including as it relates to the financial sector. The key objectives of the Lead Economist functions are to:

• Lead IEGPS's macroeconomic and growth cluster
• Advise the group manager on program directions and priorities
• Contribute to building the IEGPS task teams and facilitate strategic orientation of IEGPS's work program in the areas of macroeconomics, fiscal policy and public finance, trade and finance, drawing on synergies and complementarities among the other IEG business lines and other IEG departments as part of the 'integrated business lines' concept;
• Lead large thematic evaluations;
• Liaise with the Bank's operational departments and Sector Board(s)
• Help build teamwork among IEG staff and strengthen the strategic alignment among IEG units working across the World Bank Group;
• Coach and mentor junior staff and support quality assurance for IEGPS Products; this includes:
• peer reviewing and providing cross-regional knowledge in their area of expertise and serve as a technical adviser who may be called upon to participate in a broad range of evaluative tasks.
• Overseeing the PREM sector project evaluations, acting as cluster leader, principal evaluator, or panel reviewer for ICRRs and PPARs (project level reviews and assessments).
  The Lead Economist will report to the IEGPS Sector Manager in charge of PREM/FPD themes, with the Director IEGPS as his/her Reviewing Manager.

Selection Criteria:

The position requires a motivated and seasoned economist with strong analytical and interpersonal skills, significant leadership experience in operational and analytic support to the client drawing on diverse teams, and a commitment to the agenda reflected in IEG's strategic vision (see IEG Work Program and Budget FY14 and Indicative Plan FY15-16).

The incumbent shall have:

• Master's degree in economics (preferably Ph.D.) with at least 10 years of relevant experience;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in conducting policy dialogue on at least two of the following areas: macroeconomics, fiscal and debt sustainability-related issues, trade policy, and the financial sector.
• Coordinated work with senior World Bank Group staff and management, the Bank's Board and also, senior government officials, the private sector, donor representatives and civil society;
• Prior work experience in a relevant area of policy, whether in the World Bank Group or another agency;
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, with preference for candidates with demonstrated experience in application of these methods;
• Ability to gain the trust and respect of Bank counterparts, while maintaining objectivity and clear focus on the Bank's mission; establishing links with networks and relevant partners;
• Ability to enhance the quality of Bank products through precise evaluative findings grounded in clear analysis, leading to constructive feedback, encouraging innovation and risk taking;
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and the ability to plan and undertake large and complex evaluations;
• Proven ability to lead as well as work in teams, to mentor staff, to inspire staff commitment to technical excellence and teamwork, and to resolve conflicts constructively;
• Ability to juggle numerous competing demands and priorities, respond quickly to management requests, and set priorities for self and others;
• Demonstrated ability to work across sectors, networks and ability to conduct business with the Bank's Management and Board of Executive Directors, senior management and with colleagues in other parts of the Bank Group;
• Strong commitment to knowledge sharing, including an ability to encourage innovation in an open team-based environment and a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with peers at all levels;
• Good organizational skills to plan, execute, and manage multi-dimensional work programs and evaluations, including ability to influence and resolve differences across institutional boundaries.
  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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