Senior Education Economist/Specialist at World Bank

• The main responsibilities include: 

Operations:

• Design and supervise operations, both as leader and as member of team, in the education sector or multi-sectoral operations, tapping into the Bank’s full range of lending instruments (including investment project financing, result-based financing, etc). Provide implementation support for the on-going portfolio. Provide timely advice and support to clients in implementing projects and help to build capacity of the Federal and States’ Ministries of Education, as well as parastatals under the Ministries.
• Policy dialogue and building client capacity: Conduct sectoral policy dialogue with clients at the highest levels, on a range of complex issues at different levels of education. Identify and nurture opportunities for participating in the broader policy dialogue in the country especially in so far as they impact on education or where the education sector can contribute. Build client capacity to use findings of policy research/ analytical work for developing new policies. Provide technical advice on key issues and strategic directions for the country’s education sector development, by bringing relevant international experience and research to assist in developing local solutions, on issues such as strategies to expanding access to quality primary and secondary education, girls education, improving the quality and relevance of skills development, use of digital technology in education, and public private partnerships.
• Analytical work and non-lending services: Design and lead the preparation of “cutting edge” technical products that respond to critical policy questions identified by the client and which have an impact on policy and operational design on issues and policies related to education and training (including education finance, policy dialogue, governance, teacher policies, national large-scale assessments of student learning achievement, quality assurance systems, and skills development.  In addition, the successful candidate is expected to lead/contribute to activities such as impact evaluation, feasibility study, economic analysis of education operations, public expenditure reviews and other education sector work. Produce “just in time” notes of high quality as well as lead longer analytical reports.  Work on cross-sectoral teams to contribute to products such as public expenditure reviews and implementation of decentralization. Contribute to the country diagnostics and other core analytic work. Contribute to the unit’s analytical work by generating “think pieces” and synthesis papers. Provide education sector input to regular Bank products and outputs, e.g. HD-wide analytical tasks, CMU tasks. Liaise with HD staff on integrated HD inputs and activities. 
• Leadership: Work closely with the Practice Manager, the education team, the CMU and other sectors to identify, develop and support new business areas of engagement, including innovative financial products, technical advisory services and other services, as required.
• Education and human development sector work: Provide education sector input to regular Bank’s products/outputs (e.g. HD sector briefings and memos, background reports, project performance reviews, etc.).  Liaise with HD staff on integrated HD inputs and activities.  Respond to ad-hoc information requests from internal and external parties.  
• Partnerships: Work constructively with Local Education Group (LEG), partners, including bilateral and multi-lateral donors, UN agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners. Contribute to alignment and coordination around country led priorities.

Selection Criteria

• The Education GP is seeking an experienced, versatile, and highly motivated candidate to work on a large and growing portfolio as part of the education team based in Abuja, Nigeria. The ideal candidate will combine excellent team work and client dialogue skills, excellent technical skills, a capacity to translate analytical findings into policy and into innovative Bank operations to help clients shift policies in new directions or to pilot new approaches; and operational skills to provide effective implementation support for the Bank’s growing portfolio. The candidate should have:

Education:

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree (preferably PhD) in economics, education (economics of education, education policy, etc.), public policy, or a related field;

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years directly relevant work experience in education; and demonstrated expert-level knowledge of education policy.  
• Experience in World Bank operations as demonstrated through TTL-ship and or being core member for lending operations.
• Demonstrated experience on education policy, including ECD, primary and secondary education, skills development and tertiary education.
• Experience working clients to build capacity and engage in dialogue on education service delivery.
• Experience working with development partners.  
• Knowledge of the GPE processes is plus.
• Strong analytical/technical skills: Analytical and economics skills (e.g., education, labor economics), education policy analysis, including an understanding of the core education data sets, indicators, tools for analysis of these data, and the use of evidence for education policy;
• Strong client orientation. Ability to support policy dialogue, including Ministries of Education, and Ministry of Finance, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to lead teams. Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team and multicultural environment, with minimum supervision.
• High levels of energy, initiative, and flexibility.  Proactive attitude to challenges and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements. Ability to juggle numerous competing demands and priorities, respond quickly to internal and external client requests, and set realistic priorities for self and others.
• Language and communication skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. The candidate will be expected to write concisely and expediently; present technical information to clients; and represent the WBG education team among donors and the client.
• Willingness to travel, as required by the different tasks.

Competencies

• In addition to the above, the successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies
• Education knowledge and experience: Possesses technical skills, including an understanding of key core education issues with regard to quality, relevance, and equity at all levels. Has familiarity with analytical resources, data sets, indicators, tools for data analysis, and the use of evidence for education policy. 
• General economic knowledge and analytical skills: Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with economic and sectoral data and analytical and produce user-friendly written outputs.
• Policy Dialogue Skills: Possesses political judgment, diplomatic acumen, and negotiating skills; applies cross-country development knowledge to discussions with clients and development partners; anticipates needs and requests in the field and develops/offers relevant tools to clients.
• Knowledge and experience in development arena: Understands policy making processes; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients; understanding of political economy issues as well as a good grasp of governance issues in education.
• Integrative skills: Demonstrates strong integrative thinking and ability to support project teams in developing an integrated point of view around development challenges.
• Analytical Services and Advisory (ASA) policy, strategic and technical analysis for country/sector Issues:  Provides inputs to key ASA documents by analyzing relevant issues, soliciting input from others, and using data and facts to support conclusions and/or position.
• Written and verbal communication:  Delivers information effectively.
• Client orientation:  Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.
• Drive for results: Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization skills to do so. 
• Teamwork (collaboration) and inclusion:  Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view. 
• Knowledge, learning, and communication:  Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.
• Business judgment and analytical decision making:  Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work