Digital Specialist – Data/AI

Job Type: Location Type: Remote: open to residents of any country

 

Digital Specialist – Data/AI

Job #:
req34122

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Digital Development

Grade:
GF

Term Duration:
4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
9/21/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

This position is a part of the Japanese recruitment mission.

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

VPU Context:

The Digital Transformation Vertical Vice Presidency was established on July 1, 2024, and guides the 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 support client countries in building the foundational and cross-cutting elements of digital transformation.

Unit Context:

The Connectivity and Data Infrastructure (DTFCD) unit, under the Digital Foundations Directorate, plays a pivotal role in helping client countries build the foundational infrastructure needed for digital economies and societies. DTFCD focuses on strengthening broadband connectivity, device and data affordability and data infrastructure to ensure that individuals, businesses, and governments can access and benefit from digital transformation. The unit’s work is guided by the principles of affordability, reliability, interoperability and inclusivity, with a strong emphasis on closing the digital divide and enabling cross-sectoral digital integration.

Duties and accountabilities:
• Provide technical and strategic leadership in emerging AI-related technologies, including large language models (LLMs), vertical/domain-specific LLMs (e.g., legal, medical, scientific), and Physics-informed AI (Physics-AI). Support the design of AI-ready digital and data foundations LMICs.
• Contribute to the design and scaling of data ecosystems that enable inclusive AI adoption, by developing approaches to data accessibility, quality, governance, and value creation – including through collaboration with institutions advancing affordable data services, annotation schemes, and domain-specific AI solutions.
• Design and activate global strategic partnerships including leading academic institutions (e.g., Harvard, MIT, Stanford) to co-create digital public goods (e.g. compute power, mobile/spatial data) and policy-relevant digital solutions that feed into the Bank’s digital strategy.
• Engage with high-level Japanese stakeholders (e.g., Ministry of Finance, Prime Minister’s Cabinet, METI, academia, and private sector) to forge bilateral initiatives and advance Japan-World Bank collaboration in select priority areas.
• Support the operationalization of the new Digital Strategy, including contributions to data lifecycle, cross-sector AI foundations, and the integration of quantum, blockchain, and IoT technologies as enablers for trust (including cybersecurity and privacy) and scale.

Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree in economics, finance, digital development, public policy, international development, or other related fields, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills at the intersection of digital development, emerging technologies, digital skills and ICT industry including the ability to simplify complex issues & think innovatively.
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in a clear, easily understandable, and effective manner.
• Driven, self-starter who can proactively solve problems constructively and effectively and with professionalism.
• High degree of discretion, ethics, tact and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong attention-to-detail, creative problem-solving, and coordination/logistics skills. Driven, self-starter who can proactively solve problems constructively and effectively and with professionalism.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – 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 the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.