Lead Digital Specialist โ Digital Safeguard Job #: req33022 Organization: World Bank Sector: Digital Development Grade: GH Term Duration:ย 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 5/8/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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ย 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 โ 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 creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.
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 support 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:
โข 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.
โข 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.).ย
Both pillars are the channels through which the Vertical 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.ย
Digital Safeguards
This unit develops the World Bank 's approach to digital safeguards that include:ย
โข Cybersecurity: through robust cybersecurity policies and institutions; the establishment and operation of Cybersecurity Emergency Response Teams (CERT); cybersecurity in critical/high-risk sectors.ย
โข Data Protection and Privacy: through policy guidance and governance, alongside the implementation of Privacy Enhanced Technologies.ย
โข Trust services and content safety: Technologies, practices, and processes that help establish trust, security, and reliability in digital interactions, communications, and transactions; and detect harmful user-generated and AI-generated content in applications and services.ย
โข Development of Safeguard Industries, ensuring that industries are equipped with the necessary tools for Cyber Protection, Authentication, Privacy and Content Safety.ย
โข Additionally, private partnerships are leveraged to enhance the overall cybersecurity posture and resilience of the digital safeguards institutions.ย
The Unit engages through Regional VPUs and CMUs to support clients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Digital Core Department is looking for a Lead Digital Specialist to be the Global Lead of the Cybersecurity team, reporting to the Practice Manager of the Digital Safeguards unit, to shape the strategy and work program, scale up thought leadership and global engagement on this agenda, support knowledge generation, sharing and adoption of best practices in our client engagements, and build a cohesive and high performing business line team.ย Key elements will include, but are not limited to the following areas:
โข Defining and executing a strategic vision: Help develop the cybersecurity BLโs strategic vision and translate it into a forward-looking, evidence-based, practical, and relevant product offering and program of country engagement, global engagement, and knowledge.
โข Developing and curating global knowledge and thought leadership: Lead and/or contribute to cutting-edge analytical and knowledge products, research projects, and data collection efforts designed to increase global evidence and knowledge, ensuring the cybersecurity BL and DD Global Practice are at the forefront of this development agenda.
โข Supporting client engagement: Provide and/or coordinate deployment of cybersecurity policy, technical and operational expertise in support of a range of client engagements including technical assistance and policy dialogue as well as design and implementation of cybersecurity investment programs.
โข Supporting the Bankโs approach to mitigating cyber risks across its investment program:ย Supporting rollout and continuous updates to the Bankโs framework and toolkit for managing cyber risk across its sector investments, working with other Global Practices.
โข Communicating and sharing knowledge: Effectively communicate the BLโs knowledge, thought leadership and the World Bankโs engagement program on cybersecurity to various audiences, including key internal and external stakeholders, clients, beneficiaries, general public, internal and external partners; Effectively represent the BL in national, regional, and global fora.
โข Building partnerships: Foster and build partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including with developing country governments, development partners (e.g., bilateral donors, foundations, UN agencies), private sector companies and foundations, academic institutions and think tanks.ย
โข Building and leading a team: Help build an effective BL team including support for identifying and attracting talent, helping structure a work program and team assignments, mentoring and coaching BL affiliated staff and consultants.
Selection Criteria
โข Masterโs or PhD degree in digital technology/computer sciences, public policy, private sector development, economics, laws, technology, or another relevant field.ย
โข 12+ years of relevant experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.ย
โข Excellent and proven technical knowledge and experiences in cybersecurity.ย
โข Excellent leadership skills and supervisory experiences.
โข Demonstrated in-depth experience and track record of results and successfully working across practices, disciplinary and institutional boundaries.
โข Ability to influence dialogue and policy on digital infrastructure and its use in other sectors without direct control or authority.
โข Strong sense of strategy, including ability to prioritize and exit activities and engagements, track record in streamlining and rationalizing product offerings.ย
โข Good partnership experience, including involving multiple stakeholders โ both public and private โ in building collaborative alliances for results.
โข Experience in applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results.ย
โข Strong written and oral communication skills with proven experience in dealing with the media, external stakeholder, and expert groups.
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 theย World Bankย andย IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.