Senior Public Sector Specialist Job #: req34507 Organization: World Bank Sector: Public Sector Development Grade: GG Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 10/21/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visitย www.worldbank.org.
Institutions Global Department
The Institutions Global Department at the World Bank Group aims to help countries build capable, effective, accountable, transparent, and inclusive institutions that provide citizen-focused services, promote private-sector growth, and foster trust in government. The ability of governments to efficiently deliver public goods, support an environment that creates jobs and growth, address market failures, and involve citizens in the process is more crucial than ever. Countries with strong institutions are more resilient, better at encouraging private sector development, reducing poverty, delivering valuable services, and gaining citizens' confidence. The Institutions Department brings together experts in public financial management, public administration and service delivery, state-owned enterprise management, public employment, regulatory policy, transparency, digital governance, law and development, anti-corruption, performance management, monitoring and evaluation, and social accountability to develop innovative, integrated solutions to complex institutional issues. The practice employs a problem-driven, diagnostic approach, merging global knowledge of reform successes and failures with a deep understanding of the institutional challenges and opportunities faced by developing countries.
Public Administration Global Unit
The Public Administration Global Unit within the Institutions Global Department is dedicated to helping countries develop capable, effective, accountable, transparent, and inclusive institutions that provide citizen-centric services, promote private-sector growth, and foster trust in government. The Global Unit concentrates on five key thematic areas and related programs: Public Administration Performance; Anticorruption; Public Sector Innovation and GovTech; Justice and Rule of Law; and Coalitions for Reforms. Each program is organized around four main functions: knowledge and innovations; data and analytics; operational work; and convening and partnerships.
Because many governments lack the necessary capabilities to leverage innovation and expertise to collect, manage, and analyze data effectively, hindering their ability to implement evidence-based policies and interventions, the unit program supports countries and World Bank teams through various activities under four main pillars.:
โข Knowledge and Innovation: Supports in-depth research and case studies on public sector innovation across regions and countries. The activities aim to contribute to the global debate on innovation, as well as to provide good practices and guidance to client countries and World Bank teams. It also supports the development of innovative public sector interventions as prototypes and proof of concepts to support client countries.โข Data and Analytics: Supports the development of cross-national datasets and sophisticated data analytics that can assist World Bank task teams, development partners, academia, civil society, the private sector, policymakers, and client governments.โข Operational Work: Provides direct technical support on innovative methods, tools, prototyping to World Bank country and regional teams.โข Convening and Partnerships: Supports the development of partnerships and convening activities by mobilizing external and internal partners through peer-to-peer learning, global/regional events on Public Sector innovation, as well as thematic working groups with global representation that explore frontier work.
Public Sector Innovation and GovTech Program
GovTech is a whole-of-government approach to modernizing the public sector, emphasizing three areas: citizen-focused services, universal access, and digital transformation. Its goal is to improve Core Government Systems, which are vital for managing public administration, increasing revenues, detecting wasteful spending, optimizing resource use, and reducing corruption. Additionally, GovTech prioritizes Citizen Engagement to foster trust in government through increased transparency, access to justice, accurate monitoring, and timely feedback. It also aims to enhance Service Delivery by encouraging institutional reforms that cut red tape, promote inclusion and user focus, and support data-driven public administration. Furthermore, GovTech highlights the importance of enabling factors such as effective regulation, skills development, and collaboration with the private sector to facilitate technology adoption. To provide strong support to countries, the World Bank Group launched the Global Program on GovTech & Public Sector Innovation.ย
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
The candidate will primarily contribute to the implementation of the Global Program on GovTech & Public Sector Innovation. The candidate will report to the Practice Manager of the Global Public Administration Unit and will closely coordinate his/her work program with the Program Manager. He/she will be responsible for:ย
โข Lead the design and development of knowledge products and global public goods related to public sector innovation and GovTech, with a special focus on Core Government Systems (Public Financial Management System, Tax Administration, Asset Management, Public Investment, Public Employment and Payroll Management etc.).โข Lead knowledge work on data management for Core Government Systems, focusing on data integration, exchange layers, open APIs, and interoperability standards and protocols.ย โข Support regional Task Teams by providing technical advice and input for the design and/or implementation of GovTech operations in client countries, specifically addressing challenges like interoperability and data management.ย ย โข Lead or provide technical input to analytical work by conducting analysis, reporting findings, and developing policy recommendations, in close collaboration with sector specialists on topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Core Government Systems, Interoperability, and Business Process Re-engineering;โข Develop partnerships and lead convening activities by mobilizing external and internal partners through peer-to-peer learning, global/regional events on Public Sector innovation, as well as thematic working groups with global representation that explore frontier work.โข Fulfill reporting, monitoring, and evaluation requirements as part of your responsibilities.
Selection Criteria
โข Minimum of a masterโs degree with an emphasis on public administration, public policy, economics, computer science, engineering, or a relevant discipline;
โข Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in GovTech and public sector digital transformation, working either for a government, Academia, or in the private sector;
โข Demonstrated technical competency in one or more of the following areas: core government systems and software, data management, the application of frontier technologies (e.g., AI and Machine Learning) to solve challenges in government operations (e.g., in public financial management, tax, service delivery, human resource management), interoperability, advanced data analytics, enterprise architecture, and data centers;
โข Relevant experience in designing and/or implementing core government systems and software (e.g., Integrated Financial Management Information System, Human Resources Management Information System, Tax/Customs);
โข Comprehensive understanding of good international practices, trends, and emerging lessons in technology, digital governance, and the application of disruptive technologies;
โข Ability to design, manage, and deliver high-quality analytical and operational work on public sector digital transformation;
โข Strong team player with a capacity to work effectively across sectors and within diverse, multidisciplinary teams;
โข Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional language is a plus.
WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.