Job: Senior Knowledge Management Officer

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Closing Date: Friday, 29 November 2013

Background / General description:

Regional Context

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region presents a dramatic illustration of the global dynamics, opportunities and risks of the 21st century. After making the fastest progress in growth and poverty reduction of any region around the world in the last fifteen years, some countries in the region - such as Mongolia - are poised to become middle-income, and some are preparing to join the small group of high income countries. Such a rapid transformation is leading to the largest shift in rural-to-urban population in human history, generating rising inequality within and across countries, leaving individuals and regions behind in the dash for prosperity. Meanwhile, the uncertainty in the advanced economies clouds the prospects for countries across the region which are being forced to adjust to changed growth and development prospects while addressing evolving impacts on macroeconomic stability, employment and poverty.

EAP comprises of more than 20 countries, including China, several MICs, LICs, and fragile states (EAP has the second highest number of fragile states amongst all the Bank regions). The Region is characterized by generally rapid growth, both sophisticated and low capacity borrowers, and some highly dynamic sectors. At the same time, EAP countries are faced with weak governance environments. The Bank's program in EAP is multi-faceted and has grown rapidly in recent years: lending in FY12 will have exceeded $8 billion; the portfolio consists of nearly 300 operations for about $30 billion; and the TF program is significant (with a portfolio of about $4.3 billion). EAP consists of about 800 staff with 20% in Washington and 80% based in the country offices in the six CMUs.

Network Context

The Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) Network is the professional alliance of staff throughout the Bank that work on Public Sector Governance; Economic Policy and Trade, Poverty Reduction, and Gender. Within these thematic areas, the main PREM Network Anchor objectives are to: build and apply global knowledge; renew and strengthen staff skills; foster innovative and strategic thinking; and improve the quality of products and services to client countries and partners.

Country and Unit Context

The World Bank's Indonesia program is one of its largest in the world with activities that include an active program of engagement with central economic ministries, community driven development, education and infrastructure. Lending is currently around US$2 billion a year distributed over a broad mix of program, sector and investment loans. In addition there are a large number of Trust Funds to support work in a range of sectors including education, investment, poverty and social protection. To support the Government policy agenda the mission also has a very large program of analytical and advisory activities (AAA) that is integrated into lending and technical assistance activities.

The World Bank is helping to strengthen national efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability by supporting the Government of Indonesia in making informed and evidence-based policy and program decisions. Support is channeled through the Partnership for Knowledge-based Poverty Reduction in three ways: i) providing poverty analytics and building analytical capacity to inform poverty and social protection policies, programs and strategies; ii) supporting the government in the design, implementation and evaluation of key poverty and social protection programs; and, iii) improving the quality and accessibility of data required for poverty analysis and policymaking. A multi-donor trust fund has been established to provide technical assistance and policy advice, carry out analytical work, and provide grants to nongovernment think tanks and research institutions.

Under this program, the World Bank has undertaken flagship research projects that are at the cutting edge of global knowledge on poverty and social protection. Through intensive engagement with government partners, analytical findings are used to inform policy choices. Previous research projects, as an example, have been used by the Government of Indonesia to reform and re-design its social protection systems. At the same time, the team also conducts 'rapid response' analysis to respond to immediate and pressing requests from government partners.

The program of work also has a strong focus on strengthening local institutions that contribute to evidence-based policymaking. The team works closely with analytical units in government agencies to improve their technical skills. At the same time, the team is turning more attention to strengthening local research institutes and think tanks so that they can provide independent and high quality analytical and assessment services to inform and monitor national poverty policy-making and program design. Capacity building and broader outreach activities will be a major focus of the team's agenda in the upcoming years.

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:

Job Description

The World Bank is seeking a Senior Knowledge Management Officer to support the Partnership for Knowledge-based Poverty Reduction in Indonesia. In this position, he/she will:

(i) lead in the design and delivery of knowledge management (KM) and outreach activities, and;

(ii) lead in the development and implementation of partnership and capacity building strategies to build local analytical capacities.

The Senior Knowledge Management Officer will work as part of the Poverty Cluster, within the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) team in the World Bank Office in Jakarta, and will report to the Poverty and Social Protection Cluster Lead. In this position, he/she will manage budget allocated for capacity building and outreach projects and provide daily supervision of Knowledge Management Analysts. The individual will also be a key member of the Poverty and Social Protection Cluster's leadership team.

The Senior Knowledge Management Officer will engage with teams across the Bank, senior officials from the Government of Indonesia, development partners and a range of civil society stakeholders. He/she will be an active member of the senior team responsible for developing and shaping the program's engagement strategy in order to improve the uptake of policy recommendations that emerge from research and technical advisory inputs generated by the team.

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

A. Knowledge Management and Outreach

• Develop team strategies for knowledge management and outreach activities to engage a broad range of stakeholders in evidence-based policy dialogue on issues related to poverty reduction, social protection, inequality and shared prosperity, and labor.

• Develop and manage systems and mechanisms that facilitate the sharing of global knowledge on issues related to poverty reduction, social protection, shared prosperity, and labor - including helping Indonesia clients' access global knowledge, as well as sharing knowledge generated in Indonesia to a broader global audience.

• Facilitate in accessing and connecting to relevant global practices, and supports the team's active participation in global practices.

• Provide leadership in the Bank's engagement with Government of Indonesia clients in identifying knowledge needs and gaps, and developing program responses.

• Participate in the development, implementation and delivery of knowledge products to ensure that they are relevant for client policy needs, high quality, and tailored for targeted audiences.

• Lead in implementation of knowledge management and outreach activities, including the development of effective tools and venues for data and knowledge storage and sharing.

• Supervise a team of Knowledge Management Analysts and consultants who will support the program's KM and outreach activities.

B. Partnership and Capacity Building

• Develop team strategies for building analytical and knowledge management capacities with government and non-government partners.

• Oversee the development, updating and utilization of a Theory of Change approach to program planning and oversight for knowledge generation, capacity building and outreach.

• Develop and maintain knowledge management and capacity building M&E systems designed to support continuous program improvements, track progress, and assess program influence in affecting policy and practice changes.

• Lead on the implementation of capacity building strategies, including the design of analytical skills training curricula and course delivery.

• Manage partnerships for the joint implementation of research activities with local think tanks and university-based research centers.

• Build and manage (granting and non-granting) partnerships with local think tanks and university-based research centers to improve their analytical capacity, knowledge sharing, and participation in policy dialogue with relevant stakeholders.

• Lead in managing the engagement with clients and development partners that are active in knowledge sector reform and supporting or delivering analytical capacity building programs.

• Other tasks as requested by the Team Leader.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in public policy, knowledge management, or related sector (development economics, political science, sociology) with at least 8 years of experience in areas related to poverty reduction, knowledge management, capacity building, and/or analytical research projects.

• Demonstrated experience in developing strategies and tailored monitoring and evaluation frameworks appropriate for knowledge-based programs.

• Strong, practical experience in research and technical assistance activities that focus on topics related to poverty reduction, social protection, inequality and shared prosperity and/or labor.

• Experience in developing and managing partnerships with non-government organizations, think tanks and/or university-based research centers to build institutional and analytical capacities.

• Experience in program development, preferably employing a Theory of Change approach, and in the development and implementation of an evidence-based monitoring and evaluation framework.

• Strong organizational skills and program management experience.

• Client-focused with an ability to provide prompt and high-quality responses.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills in English; basic level of Bahasa Indonesia is desirable.

• Knowledge of the political economy and institutional context in Indonesia is desirable.

Specialized Competencies

• Knowledge Strategy, Leadership and Implementation - Is able to independently identify and assess opportunities to incorporate KM into a broader range of business processes which bring advantage to organization and/or its clients.

• Culture Change, Community Building and Collaboration - Has solid understanding of, and interest in, theory of organizational change, applies it in organizational environment and in KM activities.

• Knowledge Assessment, Content Management and Evaluation - Has ability to create and promote the right conditions for knowledge to be created and used.

• Knowledge Architecture, Technology and Tools - Demonstrates broad understanding of and keeps up to date with newest technologies and applications relevant to KM.

• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.

• Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.

• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.

• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.

• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

• Sector Dialogue - IL - Able to conduct a dialogue with the client on familiar topics, with a narrow scope, based on a solid understanding of the sector.

• ESW/TA Policy, Strategic and Technical Analysis for Country/Sector Issues - Participates fully in the production of quality AAA work and policy papers, leveraging relevant analytical tools and a grasp of issues surrounding policy and sector reform.

• Superior knowledge and understanding of the relationships between the Unit, other Bank units and external clients.

General Competencies

• Knowledge and experience in developing relationships with professional societies, NGOs and country clients.

• Proven ability to write concise reports and deliver effective oral presentations.

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a team or task force as participant or team leader, and with senior staff and managers in the unit and elsewhere in the Bank Group.

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.

More Info and Application