JOB 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 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, visit www.worldbank.org.

The East Asia & Pacific (EAP) Region Context

EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines and China! Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are heavily affected by climate change. The Bank plays a significant role on global public goods, including climate, biodiversity, water pollution, and health. The COVID pandemic, and more recently food and energy price increases are compounding the impact of the global economic slowdown. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing.

East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap

Digital & AI Vice Presidency

Digital technologies offer a unique opportunity to transform development through digital solutions. The Digital and AI Vertical Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams will support client countries in building their capacities for digital transformation and AI use. The WBG Digital and AI Vertical is led by a Vice President and was established in July 2024. WBG recently published its Digital and AI Strategy which includes four pillars: access, affordability, ecosystem and AI readiness. The strategy identifies the priorities that WBG will engage across the client segment over the next five years. The implementation plan is currently under preparation.

The Vertical will deploy a range of products, services, and partnerships to advance global knowledge across the four pillars of the Strategy through:

• Supporting World Bank regions that provide financing to governments in the form of grants, loans, guarantees, and risk management products to support digital investment projects and implement policy reforms.

• Supporting World Bank regions that provide advisory services including targeted policy guidance, technical assistance, and capacity building.

• Knowledge products including data and diagnostics to provide actionable insights at regional, country, and local levels, research and thought leadership to expand the global knowledge base, as well as thematic operational toolkits.

• Convening services that bring together key stakeholders, from both public and private sectors as well as international and non-governmental organizations involved in advancing global digital transformation.

For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment

The World Bank Group (WBG) and the Government of the Republic of Korea have established the WBG–Korea Global Digital Knowledge Center (DKC) in Seoul as part of the broader partnership on Digital and Artificial Intelligence. Building on Korea’s world-class digital innovation experience and the WBG’s global development expertise, the DKC serves as a global hub to accelerate digital transformation in developing countries through knowledge creation, capacity building, operational support, and innovation grants.

The DKC builds on the long-standing WBG–Korea partnership in digital development and supports the implementation of the WBG’s Digital Development Global Strategy. It is a joint initiative of the EAP Region and the Digital and AI Vertical to deliver practical, scalable, and inclusive digital transformation solutions.

The Center’s three strategic pillars are:

1. Strengthening Digital and Data Infrastructure

2. Enhancing Digital Public Services

3. Fostering an Inclusive Digital Economy, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a cross-cutting theme.

Duties and Accountabilities

The DKC is housed within the WBG Korea Office. The DKC team comprises a mix of regional and global digital experts working across the three technical pillars, supported by operational staff and external partners from Korea and other WBG units.

The will provide strategic and technical leadership for the DKC, ensuring the Center achieves its objectives as a global platform for digital knowledge exchange, operational excellence, and innovation. This person will also be responsible for shaping the technical direction of the DKC, managing its multidisciplinary team, and ensuring alignment with both the WBG’s corporate priorities and Korea’s digital development agenda.

The position reports to the EAP Practice Manager for Digital and AI.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide overall technical direction for the DKC’s work program, ensuring alignment with the Vertical and regional strategies.

• Lead the preparation and delivery of the DKC’s annual workplan, results framework, and reporting.

• Participate in high-level policy dialogues, partnership meetings, including with the private sector, and international forums on digital transformation and AI.

• Connect the mission of the WBG Digital and AI Strategy with the efforts of the other verticals and sectors of the WBG, including with IFC and MIGA.

• Ensure quality assurance and consistency of all knowledge products, capacity-building programs, and grant activities.

Technical Expertise and Program Delivery

• Lead the design and implementation of flagship knowledge and operational programs under the DKC’s three pillars, drawing from Korean experiences in broadband, data infrastructure, digital government, and AI policy.

• Provide technical leadership to WBG country teams and client governments on the four pillars of the Digital and AI Strategy.

• Oversee analytical and advisory products, ensuring they are policy-relevant and actionable for client countries.

• Mentor DKC’s technical staff and foster collaboration with Korean partners such as the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), National Information Society Agency (NIA), Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

• Facilitate integration of Korean expertise and technology solutions into WBG lending and Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) operations across multiple regions.

• Guide teams in developing operational engagements and pilots supported through the DKC’s Innovation Grants Program.

• Review and clear technical deliverables—policy notes, concept notes, mission outputs—and provide hands-on guidance to task team leaders and client-facing teams.

• In close coordination with Regional PMs, liaise with operational teams to provide operational support, including via innovation grants, and to harvest lessons from operational innovation at the country level.

• In close coordination with Global PMs, liaise with global expert teams in the Knowledge Bank to ensure, among other things, alignment with the World Bank Group’s Global Digital Strategy.

Partnership Management and Outreach

• Serve as the focal point for coordination between the WBG and the Government of Korea, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), and other public and private stakeholders on the operation of the DKC.

• Facilitate collaboration between Korean agencies, WBG, and client countries to ensure the effective transfer of digital knowledge and innovation.

• Lead outreach and communication initiatives to raise the visibility of the DKC’s contributions to global digital transformation.

Results Monitoring, Financial Management and Governance

• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting against the DKC’s Results Framework and workplan indicators.

• Prepare periodic progress reports, budgets, and support governance meetings (e.g., annual consultations with MOEF and the WBG).

• Promote learning, transparency, and knowledge sharing through publications, workshops, and digital platforms.

• Master’s degree or equivalent (PhD preferred) in information technology, computer science, engineering, finance, economics, public policy, law, or related field.

• Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience in digital transformation, digital policy and regulation, technology innovation driving development programs including substantial experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

• Recognized leader in digital and AI technologies in the public and/or private sector.

• Deep technical knowledge and policy understanding in at least two of the following domains: broadband and data infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, digital government, or digital economy and AI policy, with demonstrated ability to connect these areas to development outcomes.

• Proven record of leading complex analytical and operational work related to digital transformation in public and/or private sectors in developing countries, including advisory services, capacity-building, or pilot implementations.

• Extensive experience leading the design, development, and supervision of large-scale programs or lending operations, with a strong understanding of WBG’s operational policies and project financing frameworks, is desirable.

• Excellent understanding of private sector-led ecosystems (e.g., technoparks, ICT industry) in middle- or high-income countries, with applicability to developing-country contexts.

Leadership and Management

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and mentor staff across grades and technical areas.

• Strong ability to translate strategic vision into actionable plans and measurable results.

• Strong understanding of the substantive areas in which the DKC can collaborate across the WBG’s entities and various sectors (e.g. Finance, Agriculture, Health, Education, etc.).

Client and Partnership Orientation

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and diplomatic skills, with a track record of managing partnerships with governments, academia, and the private sector.

• Experience collaborating with or within leading Korean institutions—such as MSIT, NIA, KISDI, or KAIST—or with private-sector companies is a strong asset.

Analytical and Communication Skills

• Exceptional analytical, writing, and presentation abilities, capable of simplifying complex technical topics for policy audiences.

• Excellent command of written and spoken English; proficiency in Korean is desirable.

• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to identify and pursue new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

• High energy, proactive approach, and strong commitment to achieving impact through analytical, operational, and knowledge work.

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 the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.