Data Scientist (Development Economics - Statisticians / Data Scientists) at the World Bank

The World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group, is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Our mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.

The World Bank Group is launching a recruitment drive aimed at increasing the number of Sub Saharan Africans in its work force. This commitment to hire Sub Saharan Africans reflects the Bank Group’s senior leadership commitment for a diverse workforce in which African nationals can play a key role in fighting poverty and increasing shared prosperity. Employment opportunities will be in various technical areas and professional streams for talented and diverse young professionals and mid-career level professionals to contribute and grow their skills in a career in international development.

A career with the World Bank Group offers a unique opportunity for exceptionally talented individuals with a passion for international development to contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. Bank staff work with governments, civil society groups, the private sector, and others in developing countries around the world, assisting people in all areas of development, from policy and strategic advice to the identification, preparation, appraisal, and supervision of development projects.

We are recruiting to fill the below position:

Job Title: Data Scientist

Location: Africa
Area: Development Economics - Statisticians / Data Scientists

Background / General Description

• The Development Economics Group (DEC) increases understanding of development policies and programs by providing intellectual leadership and analytical services to the World Bank and the wider development community.
• DEC is the premier research and data arm of the World Bank Group.

Development Data Group (DECDG):

• Good data, combined with knowledge and experience and augmented by new technologies, have the capacity to transform the development process.
• They document successes, bear witness to failures, and throw light on complex problems.
• They give governments and citizens the information needed to make decisions and control their own development.
• The mission of the Development Data Group is to make national and international data and statistics widely accessible to clients within and outside the Bank and to improve the capacity of member countries to produce, use, and make accessible the data they collect.

Requirements

• The Data Scientist will have a Master's Degree plus 3 years of relevant experience and work on data collection, database management, and statistical publications, including the World Development Indicators, Global Development Finance, and online databases.
• The successful applicant will sustain and expand the ongoing Open Data Initiative, a key corporate priority of the Bank, and improve the coverage, quality and use of curated datasets.
• The post-holder will work closely with teams that produce statistical databases and publications, manage and curate datasets relating to sustainable development and economic management, and other groups in DECDG.
• The work will also require close collaboration with other key partners, such as staff in Development Economics, staff working in sustainable development, Operational Policy and Country Services, External and Corporate Relations, and the Information Management and Technology Network.
• Ideal candidates for this position must have a demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking, the ability to conduct dialogue on relevant development policies and priorities, and be fluent in English with very good writing and communication skills.

• A select number of candidates will be interviewed in September and October 2015 in Washington, D.C. and locations in Africa and Europe.
• Those applications that were not selected for interview during this campaign will be kept on file for up to one year and may be considered for future opportunities.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.