Senior Digital Specialist, Service Design & Products โ Digital Government Job #: req33580 Organization: World Bank Sector: Digital Development Grade: GG Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 7/7/2025 (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 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 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:ย
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 this Vice 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. ย
Digital Government Unitย
The World Bankโs Digital Government helps countries build high-impact, user-centric services at scale. This includes leveraging expertise in digital public infrastructure (DPI) and service delivery to support digitalization across sectors and unlock benefits for people, businesses, and governments. The Digital Government unit is also home to the cross-department Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitalizing Government-to-Person-Payments (G2Px) programs, and the new World Bank Group Global DPI Program.ย
The Digital Government unit provides holistic support for digital services with a focus on (1) digital service building blocks, including DPI systems (digital identity, trust services, and data sharing) and integrated architecture for digital public services, (2) enablers, including leadership and policy, service design, and capacity building, and (3) adoption of digital services across sectors, including a focus on digital G2P payments, social protection, financial inclusion, health, agriculture, and womenโs economic empowerment.ย
As part of the Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency, the Digital Government Unit contributes to the World Bankโs broader mission of enabling digital economies and societies through two pillars: Digital Foundations (e.g., data infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity) and DPI and Services (e.g., digital government, digital economy, digital society). The program is also aligned with cross-cutting priorities such as gender, climate, and FCV contexts.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Governments across the world, increasingly invest in upgrading and or designing and implementing, end-to-end, user-centric and user- and data-driven, AI-powered, inclusive, secure and resilient digital services to enhance public sector efficiency, accessibility, and effectiveness.ย
To this end, the Senior Digital Specialist โ Service Design & Products will play a key role in advising and supporting countries design and implement whole-of-the government service delivery frameworks, roadmaps and interventions, in alignment with countriesโ specific needs and contexts, DPI and proven good practices and emerging innovative approaches in digital government and service transformation and delivery. The role will focus on advising and working closely with WB teams and client countries to scope, design and implement practical, effective and future fit digital service delivery initiatives by leveraging human-centered design principles, emerging and proven architectures, and technology-driven innovation.ย
We are seeking for a Senior Digital - Service Design & Products Specialist to lead the designย of digital strategies, solutions, and implementation roadmaps, and development of innovative, scalable, data- and user-centric digital services and products frameworks in the domain of digital government services. The leadership would involve the โhow toโ advisory, in alignment with DPI and digital government international good practices, clientsโ needs and priorities focused on the delivery at scale across multiple regions and development/capability levels.ย
The primary objective of Senior Digital Specialist โ Service Design & Products is to advise on design and oversee the development of digital government strategies, policies, roadmaps/blueprints, scalable, digital services delivery framework and practical approaches, technology roadmaps and approaches to support our clients implement digital service delivery at scale. This role will support World Bank client countries through a โwholesale approachโ in aligning their digital service delivery initiatives with DPI principles, ensure that countriesโ digital government infrastructure, platforms and services are fit-for-purpose, scalable, secure, resilient and future ready. The role requires innovative thinking to address specific challenges, leverage jurisdiction/country capabilities, and utilize digital technology options for scalable and iterative implementation of DPI and digital government services.ย
Key Responsibilities:ย
The work program of the Senior Digital Specialist -Service Design & Products will focus on:
Strategic Leadership and Innovationย
โข Provide technical assistance to client countries receiving World Bank and support design and implement digital government and digital services blueprints and roadmaps to enable data- and user-driven and integrated service delivery.
โข Advise and support with development of the DPI and digital public services strategies, policy and institutional design, design and transformation blueprint/s, technology & architecture guidance, frameworks, service standards, approaches and tools (and other templates and โhow toโ advisory) to support with digital service design and implementation.
โข Advise on using the AI in each and every step in designing the frameworks and how-to advisory, as well as when providing specific guidance.ย
โข Advise on emerging trends and practices, global proven practices, to be considered, explored and piloted with to support clients design future fit public service delivery (AI-powered digital services).
โข Advise on designing, implementing and improving the data lifecycle, from data capture/collection, management and protection, improving and maintaining the data quality, data sharing, to the use of data for designing and implementing AI for DPI and digital government services.ย ย
โข Advise on the design and implementation strategies by fostering partnerships of governments, academia, and the private sector, focusing on capacity and innovation opportunities.ย ย
Public Services Design & Transformation
โข Ensure the design and implementation strategies are guided by objectives and desired outcomes for individuals and businesses, and digitalization of transformed, streamlined and simplified procedures.
โข Advise and support clients digital teams design, orchestrate and build digital service transformation, digitalization and delivery pathways, in alignment with countriesโ needs, priorities and digital government institutional and implementation architectures.
โข Advise and provide guidance to clientsโ digital teams on defining, designing and architecting digital services products, in alignment with countriesโ needs, priority problems to be solves, existing digital government infrastructure and services platforms, proven and emerging good practice on digital public service delivery.
โข Advise on relevant policy and legislative improvements and procedures streamlining for DPI and digital public services, i.e., to make policies and legislation digital-ready (rules easy to automate, use of DPI, re-use of data, allowing innovations and continuous improvements).
โข Advise and support clientsโ digital teams with the implementation of solution/service backlogs and service design sprints to help clients define and align on digital public services priorities, implementation roadmaps and architectures.
โข ย Advise and support clients digital teams with applying data- and human-centered design principles to map user journeys, identify service gaps and co-create innovative solutions in collaboration with users, public and private sector partners.ย
โข Advise and support clients digital teams develop service prototypes to inform/guide the development of digital services.
โข Advise and support clients digital teams design and develop services that span multiple government agencies/departments and create a unified citizen and business identity and context management.
โข Support creation of consistent experiences across web, in-person, mobile and other delivery channels for a seamless omnichannel experience.
โข Support development of service bundles based on life events (birth, death, moving, employment, business and investment entry, expansion, etc).
โข Advise and support clients digital teams to design and implement AI-powered personalized services using predictive analytics and behavioral data, and voice-based service interfaces.ย
โข Advise clients digital teams on design and implementation options of proven architectures for service delivery, ensuring interoperability, scalability, and security.ย
ย
Public Services Products & Prototypingย ย
โข Advise and embrace the Service Design Lab approach in partnership with the private sector to advice and support clients to ideate, design and โstressโ test prototypes of digital services products.
โข Advise and support countries design and implement Service Design & Products Labs to accelerate agile experimentation, learning, and scale of innovative public services through collaboration with digital government practitioners, technology experts, domain/sector experts, private sector and startup ecosystem, and academia.
โข Advise clientsโ digital teams on fit-for-purpose architecture designs, technology stacks and platforms and tools for digitals service delivery, aiming at the reuse of data and digital service modules (forms management, messaging/notifications, workflow management, etc), yet answering specifics of domains and sectors.
โข Advise clients on how to design digital services products that are scalable, interoperable and fully aligned with the whole-of-the government digital architectures and enabling platforms (DPI).
โข Advise clients ideate, design, prototype and scale end-to-end service delivery, factoring proven and emerging technologies.
The Specialist will collaborate with the Vice Presidencies and the regionsโ cross-functional teams, and provide technical expertise to strengthen digital infrastructure, including digital literacy programs and access to essential services. Additionally, the specialist will work closely with key stakeholders to foster partnerships, support capacity-building initiatives, and ensure the sustainability and scalability of digital solutions, driving long-term impact and fostering inclusive growth.ย
With respect to expected outputs, the senior specialist will deliver on key global analytical work, design technical assistance for the teams and governments, and as requested by the Vice Presidencies and regions, convene teams to discuss and design solutions that are tailored to specific environments.ย ย
Operational Engagement
The specialist will lead efforts to ensure that digital government initiatives are effectively integrated into broader development programs with collaboration across the World Bankโs Vice Presidencies, regional teams, and external stakeholders. As members of project teams led by the regions and or the Vice Presidencies, the specialist will work closely with government ministries, multilateral organizations, private sector partners, and civil society to design and implement inclusive digital government platforms for service delivery that cater to all citizens. By fostering strategic partnerships and facilitating dialogue among key stakeholders, the specialist will ensure that digital government solutions drive measurable improvements in service delivery, social inclusion, and citizen and business empowerment. The specialist will join implementation missions as requested by the regions and Vice Presidencies, produce knowledge to be shared with clients and teams to further digital society.
Selection Criteria
โข Masterโs degree in service design, product development, computer science, data engineering, data architecture, information systems, or a related field.ย ย
โข 8+ years of relevant professional experience in a similar role.ย
โข Proven expertise in human-centered design, including user research and prototyping tools, with track record of designing and implementing large scale user-centric digital service and products.ย ย
โข Strong understanding of data exchange protocols, digital government architectures, interoperability, and open standards. Understanding of AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.ย ย
โข Experience in designing and implementing digital transformations for DPI and digitally enabled public services across regions, including policy and legal, institutional and procedural, and the digital dimensions of the transformations.
โข Experience with government data systems, interoperability standards, or public sector projects is highly desirable, notably with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
โข Experience working in developing countries or with governments on digital government, DPI or digital public service delivery is highly desirable.
โข Familiarity with data cycle for AI and in general AI technologies and their application in public services will be considered as an asset.
โข Previous experience and work in the private sector and governments would be considered as an asset.ย
โข Knowledge of policy frameworks and experience in legislative reforms and streamlining procedures for the implementation of DPI and digital public services will be considered as an asset.
โข Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with both technical and non-technical audience across government and non-government partners.ย ย
โข Problem-solving mindset and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
โข Excellent facilitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.ย
โข Ability to work in cross-cultural, multidisciplinary teams and adapt to resource-constrained environments
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of Urgency โ Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking โ Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability โ Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.
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.