Job: Senior Private Sector Development Specialist

Location: Vienna, Austria
Closing Date: Thursday, 21 November 2013

Background / General description:

The World Bank Group's Investment Climate Department (CIC) assists governments of developing countries and transition economies in reforming their business environments at economy-wide as well as industry/sector level. The department collaborates extensively with other teams across the World Bank Group in the design and delivery of advisory services and other operational work related to investment climate reform, and develops IC knowledge products for staff and clients.

Serving as the global backbone of the Bank Group's investment climate (IC) activities; CIC:

(i) anchors the Investment Climate Business Line (one of IFC's four Advisory Services Business Lines), and handles the global dimension of its work;

(ii) anchors the Investment Climate Global Practice of the Bank's Financial and Private Sector Development Network;

(iii) implements MIGA's technical assistance mandate, and

(iv) manages the multi-donor Facility for Investment Climate Advisory Services, a global funding and partnership platform for IC reform. In addition, CIC also manages the following programs for IFC:

(v) the Health in Africa initiative (in collaboration with AFTHD),

(vi) the Water Resources Group (in collaboration with SDN and other WBG units),

(vii) a new program on private participation in infrastructure (in collaboration with C3P and other WBG units),

(vii) and the coordination function for IFC's work on fragile and conflict-affected countries (jointly with CTGDR, and in collaboration with OPSFN and MIGEP).

CIC is organized into four main units, reflecting four global service or product lines: Business Regulation, International Trade and Investment, Investment Climate for Industry (CICIN), and Private Participation in Infrastructure and Social Sectors, as well as a unit dedicated to Africa (CIC is co-managing IFC's IC work program in Sub-Saharan Africa), an Operational Support unit, and a unit supporting FPD's Global IC Practice.

About the Position

The International Trade & Investment service line's work on Business Taxation starts from a unique lens which treats tax as a key pillar of a country's investment climate that affects investor decisions. This approach positions tax reform as an investment enhancing, growth-oriented tool and focuses on establishing an environment conducive to long-term revenue generation and good governance. The CICTI global tax program offers technical assistance designed to help developing countries:

(i) Enhance country competitiveness and investment potential by fostering a transparent and predictable tax system that is equally applied to all;

(ii) Widen participation in the tax system at all levels, with particular focus on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises;

(iii) Enhance the ability to raise revenues in the long run through more effective tax administration and tax base expansion;

(iv) Promote good governance through transparent systems, procedures, and effective audit; and

(v) Assist countries in adopting internationally-accepted norms and standards, especially with regards to tax transparency. Composed of seven specialists (based in DC, Vienna and Istanbul), the Business Taxation team interacts closely with other WBG colleagues and partners to ensure a coordinated approach to delivering services that meet client needs.

The Vienna ('office') was established in 2007, and works in coordination with regional IFC advisory, WB country offices and global teams. The Office is part of the CICTI unit and focuses on the delivery of advisory services in the investment policy, trade logistics and business taxation products. It has a strong track record in supporting government clients in the ECA and MENA regions in their efforts to improve their business environment and target and attract foreign investment.

The Office has a unique global mandate and is located close to three diverse regions: ECA, MENA and Africa. The principle tasks of the Office are:

Investment Climate Project Implementation and Support: design, support and provision of quality assurance in the implementation of IC advisory services in client countries and regions focused on ECA and MENA in areas of tax, trade and investment policy.

Innovation and Knowledge Management: global product development and knowledge management for investment climate work, piloting products, and innovative approaches and tools for CIC's technical assistance work, and,

Client Outreach and Learning: sharing knowledge with our clients and partners.

The Sr. PSD Specialist will lead the program's research and knowledge management work as well as guide the core tax program's implementation globally on all domestic tax issues covered by CICTI (SME taxation, tax process simplification, investment incentives, enterprise formalization, tax compliance cost surveys and sector specific taxation strategies).

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 2 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Lead CICTI's knowledge management agenda in Business Taxation, with an emphasis on identifying and preparing lessons learned that can guide the tax product's strategic orientation. The Sr. PSD Specialist will contribute extensively to the Business Taxation Program's research agenda, helping to develop operational guidance on '˜good practices' to improve tax policies (for example, writing research papers, good practice case studies and policy notes, organizing knowledge sharing events and knowledge management (KM), representing the program in conferences, etc.)

• Contribute to the development of a KM materials based on project experience and needs. Conduct field appropriate research and KM work to strengthen the Business Taxation product in terms of responsiveness to demand and innovation. This will include extracting and sharing lessons learned across similar country programs.
• Lead the Business Taxation Program's work on small business taxation policy design (goals, system design) and administration assistance.
• Support projects of the Business Taxation Program including scoping, diagnostic and solution design, and implementation support. The Sr. PSD Specialist will be a lead reference for quality assurance and guide/support WBG staff in CIC, the regional IC projects and outside the unit, providing specific guidance on program direction, outputs, and quality control.
• Facilitate collaboration between the Business Taxation program and World Bank lending activities on tax administration reform (in particular technical assistance lending managed by global practices which contain tax components); and support cooperation with other multilateral and bilateral donor agencies working on tax policy and tax administration reform (including through leading the IFC/WBG participation in the International Tax Dialogue).
• Coordinate with various units within the WBG working on Business Taxation issues.
• Undertake initiatives to share project information and develop product experience across IFC AS projects in ECA region and throughout IFC IC Advisory Services.
• Help manage relations with development partners, support the organization of the regional tax practitioners network in EMENA.
• Advise on major projects, from the design to the implementation phase.
• Evaluate budgets and staffing plans for projects.
• Work independently on the most complex problems in the field of specialization, consistently applying creativity and independent judgment.
• Work with the Head of the CIC Vienna Office (CICVO) and other CICVO staff to develop cross cutting projects and collaborative activities to be piloted by CICVO.
  Reporting and Duration of Assignment
  The duration of the Sr. PSD Specialists assignment will be for 2 years initially, with the possibility of renewal for a further period to be decided at the time of renewal. The Sr. PSD Specialist will report to the Manager of CICTI, the GPS for Business Taxation and the Head of the Vienna office.
  Outputs will include action plans per thematic area, technical assistance to advisory projects, policy research papers, sensitization and dissemination conferences.

Selection Criteria:

• Completed doctoral studies, or at least a Master's degree (in law and/or economics, or related field) with a focus on business taxation, and more than 15 years of relevant experience (or relevant combination of studies and work experience).
• Good knowledge of investment climate and private sector development issues. Technical knowledge of tax policy and administration, and extensive experience designing and implementing reform programs in the area of taxation are strongly preferred.
• Experience in advising governments on measures to improve the regulatory environment. Good understanding of political economy of reforms. Work experience in conflict-affected countries is an advantage.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with track record of being able to conduct independent research with high quality results.
• Strong writing and communication skills and the ability to form linkages with strategically and operationally relevant outside agencies that leverage greater influence, funding, or impact.
• Previous experience with the World Bank's institutional and operational procedures is highly desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills in English and French. Good working knowledge of other languages is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regularly
• Additional competencies:
• Operational Project Management - Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies, as well as of Bank instruments and processes related to project preparation & implementation, resource management, and stakeholder communications.
• Leadership (IFC) - Promotes Team Effectiveness and Innovates
• 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.
• Operational Project Management - Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies, as well as of Bank instruments and processes related to project preparation & implementation, resource management, and stakeholder communications.
• Leadership (IFC) - Promotes Team Effectiveness and Innovates
• 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.
  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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