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Job Details
Lead Digital Specialist - Digital Government
Job #:
req32509
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Digital Development
Grade:
GH
Term Duration:
4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic
Closing Date:
4/10/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit
Digital Transformation Vice Presidency
The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and guides World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Transformation Vertical has the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams supports client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through two engagement pillars, six business lines, and multiple cross-cutting areas:
Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network, affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online safety.
Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services, and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital school, digital health, etc.).
Both pillars are the channels through which this presidency supports World Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills, climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and inclusion.
Digital Government Unit
This unit develops the World Bank's approach to the following areas:
Digital Public Infrastructure: Furthering the development and adoption of safe and inclusive digital public infrastructure (DPI) to underpin digital services across the public and private sector. This includes providing support on the development of overall DPI strategies, building specific systems according to DPI principles, and integrating DPIs into high-impact services across sectors. Under the Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitalizing Government-to-Person Payments (G2Px) Initiatives, this workstream focuses on a core set of DPIs-digital identity and civil registration, trust services such as e-signatures, and data sharing and governance-and DPI use cases related to G2Px payments. The unit also serves as the anchor for the World Bank Group's new Global DPI Program, which works across 13 departments and institutions and unites the work of ID4D, G2Px, and Project FASTT in the Finance, Competitive, and Innovation Department.
Digital Public Services: Promoting the transformation of public services in the digital age through an integrated approach to service delivery and key enablers of digital government. This includes supporting the development of multi-channel access points such as mobile applications and single sign-on; building integrated service layers for interoperability; strengthening leadership and policy for whole-of government digitalization; supporting digital capacity and change management for public sector agencies; promoting digital-ready policy and regulations; integrating service-design methods; and collecting performance data to strengthen feedback loops for service improvements.
The Unit closely collaborates and coordinates with relevant Units of the Prosperity, People, Planet, and Infrastructure Verticals, the Development Economics Group, and across the World Bank Group to design and deliver its work program. The Unit will engage through Regional Vice-Presidential Units and County Management Units to support clients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Lead Digital Government Specialist will be responsible for providing strategic direction and thought leadership on good practice development and adoption of digital public infrastructure (DPI) and digital public services (DPS) across the economy.
This role will, together with regions and verticals, support World Bank client countries to design and implement DPI and DPS, and to integrate these building blocks into high-impact public- and private-sector services to transform service delivery. To support client engagement, the specialist will lead the overall strategy and service offering for the Digital Government Unit, including the development of knowledge products, data, tools, training materials, and technical assistance to ensure that DPI and DPS are inclusive, accessible, user-centric, privacy-protecting by design, interoperable, sustainable, and secure.
The role will support complex digital transformation projects that foster collaboration between government, the private sector, service providers, and other key stakeholders, to enable DPI and DPS to meet the needs of the digital economy and the public. It requires strong collaboration across the World Bank Group, including working closely with sector departments (such as those leading on health, social protection, education, financial services, agriculture, institutions, etc.) to support the development and adoption of DPI and DPS. It also involves developing and managing partnerships with external actors working in the digital government space, including donors; regional development banks; UN agencies and other international organizations; the private sector; civil society groups; academia; and more.
This position requires strong expertise in digital technologies and governance frameworks related to DPI, DPS, and broader digital government, as well as a proven ability to manage high-level partnerships and drive innovation. The Lead Specialist will work closely with the regions, the verticals, IFC and MIGA.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership : The Lead Digital Government Specialist will, together with the regions and verticals, lead support for the design and execution of digital public infrastructure (DPI) and digital public services (DPS) across the economy. This includes advising senior officials on best practices in digital service delivery and the development of interoperable, scalable, and secure digital systems that facilitate seamless government-to-person (G2P), government-to-business (G2B) and government-to-government (G2G) interactions, as well as private sector services and innovation. Through input to the technical design and policy frameworks for DPS/DPI and their adoption across sectors, the Lead Specialist will ensure that digital solutions are data-driven, inclusive, user-centric, sustainable, and aligned with regulatory and security standards and principles for data protection and governance. Collaborating with regional and vertical teams, they will lead on the strategic direction to clients, helping them navigate complex digital challenges and accelerate progress toward sustainable digital government.
Technical Expertise : The Lead Specialist will support and advise teams to build and utilize common DPI and DPS building blocks-including digital identity, civil registration, e-signatures, data sharing, e-government applications, single-sign-on, interoperability frameworks, government enterprise architecture, data classification and cloud migration strategies etc.-to streamline government services, improve their inclusivity and user-centricity, and provide a platform for innovation across the public and private sectors. Deep expertise on these topics and their applications across sectors (e.g., in health, social protection, financial services, agriculture, tax administration, education, trade) in a developing country context will be instrumental in supporting the good practice design (simplified digitally enabled back-end processes, user-centricity...), implementation, and adoption of such systems to effectively transform service delivery across the government and the economy. By leading efforts to strengthen evidence around DPI/DPS, the Lead Specialist will improve the global knowledge base and help clients make informed decisions that drive measurable improvements in digital service delivery.
Operational Engagement : Working closely with verticals, regions and as requested with government clients, private sector partners, and development organizations, the Lead Specialist will provide hands-on support in implementing digital government solutions tailored to diverse national and regional contexts. They will collaborate with the verticals and regions to ensure that DPI/DPS efforts are integrated into the portfolio. Through strong engagement with government ministries, they will continuously contribute to the assessment and refinement of digital government initiatives to be implemented by the regions, to meet evolving client needs. The Lead Specialist will cultivate and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, including government ministries (in conjunction with the regions), private sector companies and innovators, international organizations, civil society, and academia to ensure incorporation of emerging technologies, norms, standards, and partnership opportunities into country operations.
Knowledge Management and Learning : The Lead Specialist will architect the overall knowledge and learning strategy for the Digital Government Unit, including the development of knowledge products, data and research programs, toolkits, case studies, and other analytical resources to support evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and the adoption of good practices for DPI/DPS across regions. They will lead the development of training and capacity-building programs, workshops, and peer-exchange initiatives to equip public sector personnel with the skills required to manage and sustain digital transformation and DPI/DPS initiatives. Work with the knowledge academy/hubs, innovation group, verticals, practice managers, county and regional directors, they will ensure that best practices and lessons learned are widely disseminated. The Lead Specialist will help foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, ensuring that DPI/DPS initiatives remain relevant, effective, and impactful for client governments and stakeholders. They will represent the World Bank Group at international fora, influencing global digital government conversations, frameworks, norms, and standards, and be a core member of the Digital community of practice, fostering continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration within the World Bank Group and broader digital development ecosystem.
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in Public Administration, Digital Innovation, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. PhD is preferred.
Minimum of 12 years of experience in digital services, e-government, digital identity, data sharing, or related fields, with demonstrated success in both public and private sector environments. Experience leading high-impact, multi-stakeholder digital transformation initiatives in a developing country context is essential.
Strong background in digital government and DPI approaches, technology solutions, and relevant legal and regulatory frameworks (e.g., data protection, data governance, electronic transactions, etc.).
Demonstrated experience in leading, designing, and optimizing complex digital government projects.
Extensive experience in stakeholder management, with a proven track record of building and sustaining partnerships with governments, development agencies, and private sector entities working in the DPI/DPS space.
Strong analytical skills including experience with designing and implementing research and data collection projects (e.g., datasets, surveys, qualitative studies, impact evaluations) in developing countries and ability to oversee data and research agenda.
Superior written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to policymakers and non-technical audiences.
Ability to think strategically and easily connect the dots across a range of topics to develop a coherent approach to digital government vis--vis other Digital workstreams and sector departments.
Excellent interpersonal skills, proven team orientation and the ability to work effectively and independently across institutional boundaries.
Relevant certifications in digital government, project management (e.g., PMP, Agile, PRINCE2), or emerging technologies (e.g., cloud computing, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity) provide a competitive edge.
Fluency in multiple languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic) is preferred.
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.
Job #:
req32509
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Digital Development
Grade:
GH
Term Duration:
4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic
Closing Date:
4/10/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit
Digital Transformation Vice Presidency
The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and guides World Bank Group efforts to establish the foundations of a digital economy, build and enhance digital and data infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity and data privacy for institutions, businesses, and citizens, and advance digital government services. Digital technologies, including AI and data, present a unique opportunity to accelerate development. The Digital Transformation Vertical has the critical mission of delivering on this development promise. The Digital Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams supports client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation through two engagement pillars, six business lines, and multiple cross-cutting areas:
Digital Core: Building digital infrastructure through broadband network, affordable devices; Enhancing data infrastructure including data centers, cloud solutions and data governance; Enabling AI and cutting-edge technology applications; and Protecting institutions, businesses, and citizens through cybersecurity, data protection & privacy, trust services as well as online safety.
Digital Use: Supporting the Regions and the Verticals of People, Prosperity, Planet, and Infrastructure in the digitalization efforts of clients through Digital Government (digital public infrastructure, digital government services, and digital literacy and training), Digital Economy (national ICT planning, ICT industry and jobs, and smart infra and industry) and Digital Society (digital school, digital health, etc.).
Both pillars are the channels through which this presidency supports World Bank achieving its objectives in cross-cutting areas like jobs and skills, climate and green, fragility, conflict and violence, and gender and inclusion.
Digital Government Unit
This unit develops the World Bank's approach to the following areas:
Digital Public Infrastructure: Furthering the development and adoption of safe and inclusive digital public infrastructure (DPI) to underpin digital services across the public and private sector. This includes providing support on the development of overall DPI strategies, building specific systems according to DPI principles, and integrating DPIs into high-impact services across sectors. Under the Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitalizing Government-to-Person Payments (G2Px) Initiatives, this workstream focuses on a core set of DPIs-digital identity and civil registration, trust services such as e-signatures, and data sharing and governance-and DPI use cases related to G2Px payments. The unit also serves as the anchor for the World Bank Group's new Global DPI Program, which works across 13 departments and institutions and unites the work of ID4D, G2Px, and Project FASTT in the Finance, Competitive, and Innovation Department.
Digital Public Services: Promoting the transformation of public services in the digital age through an integrated approach to service delivery and key enablers of digital government. This includes supporting the development of multi-channel access points such as mobile applications and single sign-on; building integrated service layers for interoperability; strengthening leadership and policy for whole-of government digitalization; supporting digital capacity and change management for public sector agencies; promoting digital-ready policy and regulations; integrating service-design methods; and collecting performance data to strengthen feedback loops for service improvements.
The Unit closely collaborates and coordinates with relevant Units of the Prosperity, People, Planet, and Infrastructure Verticals, the Development Economics Group, and across the World Bank Group to design and deliver its work program. The Unit will engage through Regional Vice-Presidential Units and County Management Units to support clients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Lead Digital Government Specialist will be responsible for providing strategic direction and thought leadership on good practice development and adoption of digital public infrastructure (DPI) and digital public services (DPS) across the economy.
This role will, together with regions and verticals, support World Bank client countries to design and implement DPI and DPS, and to integrate these building blocks into high-impact public- and private-sector services to transform service delivery. To support client engagement, the specialist will lead the overall strategy and service offering for the Digital Government Unit, including the development of knowledge products, data, tools, training materials, and technical assistance to ensure that DPI and DPS are inclusive, accessible, user-centric, privacy-protecting by design, interoperable, sustainable, and secure.
The role will support complex digital transformation projects that foster collaboration between government, the private sector, service providers, and other key stakeholders, to enable DPI and DPS to meet the needs of the digital economy and the public. It requires strong collaboration across the World Bank Group, including working closely with sector departments (such as those leading on health, social protection, education, financial services, agriculture, institutions, etc.) to support the development and adoption of DPI and DPS. It also involves developing and managing partnerships with external actors working in the digital government space, including donors; regional development banks; UN agencies and other international organizations; the private sector; civil society groups; academia; and more.
This position requires strong expertise in digital technologies and governance frameworks related to DPI, DPS, and broader digital government, as well as a proven ability to manage high-level partnerships and drive innovation. The Lead Specialist will work closely with the regions, the verticals, IFC and MIGA.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership : The Lead Digital Government Specialist will, together with the regions and verticals, lead support for the design and execution of digital public infrastructure (DPI) and digital public services (DPS) across the economy. This includes advising senior officials on best practices in digital service delivery and the development of interoperable, scalable, and secure digital systems that facilitate seamless government-to-person (G2P), government-to-business (G2B) and government-to-government (G2G) interactions, as well as private sector services and innovation. Through input to the technical design and policy frameworks for DPS/DPI and their adoption across sectors, the Lead Specialist will ensure that digital solutions are data-driven, inclusive, user-centric, sustainable, and aligned with regulatory and security standards and principles for data protection and governance. Collaborating with regional and vertical teams, they will lead on the strategic direction to clients, helping them navigate complex digital challenges and accelerate progress toward sustainable digital government.
Technical Expertise : The Lead Specialist will support and advise teams to build and utilize common DPI and DPS building blocks-including digital identity, civil registration, e-signatures, data sharing, e-government applications, single-sign-on, interoperability frameworks, government enterprise architecture, data classification and cloud migration strategies etc.-to streamline government services, improve their inclusivity and user-centricity, and provide a platform for innovation across the public and private sectors. Deep expertise on these topics and their applications across sectors (e.g., in health, social protection, financial services, agriculture, tax administration, education, trade) in a developing country context will be instrumental in supporting the good practice design (simplified digitally enabled back-end processes, user-centricity...), implementation, and adoption of such systems to effectively transform service delivery across the government and the economy. By leading efforts to strengthen evidence around DPI/DPS, the Lead Specialist will improve the global knowledge base and help clients make informed decisions that drive measurable improvements in digital service delivery.
Operational Engagement : Working closely with verticals, regions and as requested with government clients, private sector partners, and development organizations, the Lead Specialist will provide hands-on support in implementing digital government solutions tailored to diverse national and regional contexts. They will collaborate with the verticals and regions to ensure that DPI/DPS efforts are integrated into the portfolio. Through strong engagement with government ministries, they will continuously contribute to the assessment and refinement of digital government initiatives to be implemented by the regions, to meet evolving client needs. The Lead Specialist will cultivate and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, including government ministries (in conjunction with the regions), private sector companies and innovators, international organizations, civil society, and academia to ensure incorporation of emerging technologies, norms, standards, and partnership opportunities into country operations.
Knowledge Management and Learning : The Lead Specialist will architect the overall knowledge and learning strategy for the Digital Government Unit, including the development of knowledge products, data and research programs, toolkits, case studies, and other analytical resources to support evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and the adoption of good practices for DPI/DPS across regions. They will lead the development of training and capacity-building programs, workshops, and peer-exchange initiatives to equip public sector personnel with the skills required to manage and sustain digital transformation and DPI/DPS initiatives. Work with the knowledge academy/hubs, innovation group, verticals, practice managers, county and regional directors, they will ensure that best practices and lessons learned are widely disseminated. The Lead Specialist will help foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, ensuring that DPI/DPS initiatives remain relevant, effective, and impactful for client governments and stakeholders. They will represent the World Bank Group at international fora, influencing global digital government conversations, frameworks, norms, and standards, and be a core member of the Digital community of practice, fostering continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration within the World Bank Group and broader digital development ecosystem.
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in Public Administration, Digital Innovation, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. PhD is preferred.
Minimum of 12 years of experience in digital services, e-government, digital identity, data sharing, or related fields, with demonstrated success in both public and private sector environments. Experience leading high-impact, multi-stakeholder digital transformation initiatives in a developing country context is essential.
Strong background in digital government and DPI approaches, technology solutions, and relevant legal and regulatory frameworks (e.g., data protection, data governance, electronic transactions, etc.).
Demonstrated experience in leading, designing, and optimizing complex digital government projects.
Extensive experience in stakeholder management, with a proven track record of building and sustaining partnerships with governments, development agencies, and private sector entities working in the DPI/DPS space.
Strong analytical skills including experience with designing and implementing research and data collection projects (e.g., datasets, surveys, qualitative studies, impact evaluations) in developing countries and ability to oversee data and research agenda.
Superior written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to policymakers and non-technical audiences.
Ability to think strategically and easily connect the dots across a range of topics to develop a coherent approach to digital government vis--vis other Digital workstreams and sector departments.
Excellent interpersonal skills, proven team orientation and the ability to work effectively and independently across institutional boundaries.
Relevant certifications in digital government, project management (e.g., PMP, Agile, PRINCE2), or emerging technologies (e.g., cloud computing, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity) provide a competitive edge.
Fluency in multiple languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic) is preferred.
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.
Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.