The World Bank Senior Private Sector Development Specialist

Background / General
description:

The Competitive Industries and Innovation Program The developing world needs to create at least 350 million jobs in the next decade, especially for women and youth, just to keep pace with the working-age population. Africa will need 11 million new jobs each year, as its working-age population expands by 30%.  South Asia will see a 20% increase, requiring 14 million new jobs each year.  The vast majority of those jobs will have to come from the private sector. An approach is needed that will go beyond the macroeconomic reform agenda to identify and address the real microeconomic barriers to the growth of industries with high economic and social benefits. In response to this challenge, the FPD Network of the World Bank Group (WBG) and a number of donors have launched the Competitive Industries and Innovation Program (CIIP).  This is a 5-year global program with a target funding of $100mn with the objective to boost industry competitiveness to create jobs and income opportunities at scale.   CIIP will provide direct funding to World Bank teams to help them develop targeted, multi-year structural reform initiatives to systematically address critical market failures that stifle industry competitiveness and innovation and achieve significant private sector growth.  Operationally, CIIP projects will be implemented under the guidance of the WB Country Director and relevant Sector Director. FPD’s Competitive Industries and Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Global Practices will assist in this process, including helping in the design of the specific CIIP intervention, leading multi sectorial teams.  At the technical level, the day-to-day operations and guidance of the CIIP will be the responsibility of the Chief Technical Specialist for Competitive Industries who will officially head the entire Program, reporting to the FPD VP. CIIP interventions require multi-sector expertise and on the ground presence, as well as collaboration across the WBG. CIIP and Technology extension/commercialization Technology extension schemes and other initiatives to support technology transfer and the creation and new ventures are potential instruments for improving the competitiveness and growth of industries. FPD is currently experiencing increasing demand from client countries to enhance competitiveness through such instruments. It is expected that CIIP will help finance and develop several projects associated with this theme.   To enable these activities, a Senior Specialist is needed, with practical experience in the development and implementation of programs supporting technology extension, technology transfer, and creation of new ventures. Previous work experience in the private sector would be desirable.

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 Senior Private Sector Specialist/Economist will report to the Service Line Manager of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FIEEI), and will work closely with the Chief, Technical Specialist, Head, CIIP.
In most of its activities, the Senior Specialist would be paired with regional TTLs. There is no specific region of focus. He/she will:
1. Design and implement WB financed projects to support the competitiveness and growth of industries through technology extension, technology transfer and the creation and growth of new ventures, utilizing state-of-the-art knowledge and experience on the subject matter.
2. Formulate and co-lead task teams of consultants and Bank staff to deliver such technical assistance and policy advice.
3. Ensure WB investments resulting from analytical work are tightly linked to the CIIP analytical work and are technically sound
4. Interact and partner with a wide variety of multi-sectoral staff and Managers in the World Bank Group, partner organizations, and external consultants.
5. Contribute to quality enhancement of the CIIP portfolio.

Selection Criteria:

• Advanced degree in economics, business, technology policy or related discipline; minimum 8 years of relevant work experience. • Fluency in English is essential, and capacity in other widely-used languages (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish) is desired. • At least eight years of relevant professional experience, working with the design and implementation of programs supporting technical extension, technology transfer and the creation and growth of new ventures,  to support the competitiveness  and growth of industries, with demonstrated success and positive outcomes in those engagements; reflections on failures as well as successes. Some work experience in the private sector would be desirable. • Cutting edge analytic techniques and to be creative and think laterally about methodologies. • Experience in more than one region of work, in order to bring global knowledge. • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Candidates should demonstrate excellence in the following qualitative characteristics: • Ability to deliver on time and in quality, through high standards, good organization and/or soft skills. • Ability to recognize and learn from failure as well as success • Ability to work with, and in some cases manage and lead, diverse team members and clients. • Knowledge of developing country conditions and challenges related to executing a zones and / or parks agenda, plus ideas to overcome those constraints. • Ability to coach, mentor, and develop junior staff on their team and on the client’s team.

To see full Job Description please visit www.worldbank.org/careers .

Interested candidates are invited to apply to vacancy #130464 on www.worldbank.org/careers.    

This vacancy closes on 11 Mar 2013.  Only online applications submitted through our careers site will be admitted. 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