Associate Senior Data Architect

Job #: req35990
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Information Technology
Grade: GG
Term Duration:  2 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
Location: Chennai,India
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 3/27/2026 (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 130 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
ITS Vice Presidency Context:
The Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) enables the World Bank Group to achieve its mission of ending extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet by delivering transformative information and technologies to its staff working in over 150+ locations. For more information on ITS, see this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=VTFGffa1Y7w
Department Context 
The World Bank Group (WBG) is committed to supporting country clients in achieving sustainable development outcomes, including improved health systems, economic growth, education access, climate resilience, and social equity. In this context, digital platforms and data play an increasingly critical role in how development projects are designed, implemented, and adapted.  
The ITS Operations Products unit (ITSOP) enables digital enablement of the Bank's business processes through a modern, flexible, and user-friendly digital platform that integrates and optimizes critical functions for thousands of front-line staff. It also drives the delivery of AI-powered business solutions to support business priorities and accelerate data-driven decision-making across the institution. 
To meet evolving business needs and strengthen client-centric service delivery, ITS Operations Products (ITSOP) is seeking a Product Manager to lead the Financing product portfolio. The Product Manager will play a critical role in re-imagining Financing products for the era of AI-native and data-driven solutions, identifying opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and improve overall customer experience. By continuously reviewing feedback, monitoring product performance, and ensuring alignment with WBG governance, architecture standards, and enterprise policies, the Product Manager ensures that product investments deliver measurable business value, increase customer satisfaction, and support the institution’s broader digital transformation and operational efficiency and effectiveness objectives 
Role Overview 
ITSOE is establishing a Lead of Data and Technology to spearhead the transition toward a modern, agentic, and GenAI-driven insights framework. This GG-level role, based in Sofia, will be responsible for breaking down information silos by unlocking value from structured and unstructured data through scalable automation and robust enterprise solutions. 
Responsibilities 
A. Engineering the Technology Backbone 
• Architectural Sovereignty: Design and oversee the Technology Backbone, a modular and resilient technical ecosystem that supports the deployment of autonomous agents and complex GenAI workflows. 

• Unified Tech Stack: Lead the consolidation of fragmented technologies into a cohesive, enterprise-grade platform that enables seamless interoperability between the Operations Workspace and the Bank’s data lakes. 

• Scalable Infrastructure: Build the backend "nervous system" required to move the Bank from static document management to a dynamic, live-data environment. 
B. Agentic Data Foundations & GenAI Scaling 
• Data Liquidity: Lead the technical effort to break down information silos by creating high-liquidity data pipelines that feed the Autonomous Backbone, ensuring information is accessible, structured, and "agent-ready." 

• GenAI Production Excellence: Establish the engineering standards for deploying Generative AI at scale, specifically focusing on RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) to power generative drafting and sectoral research. 

• Automated Insights Framework: Oversee the development of the engine that generates "early warnings," identifies blindspots, and surfaces proven patterns across the project lifecycle. 
C. Unstructured Data & Knowledge Engineering 
• Knowledge Mining: Develop scalable solutions to unlock the value trapped in the Bank’s vast repositories of unstructured data (PDFs, mission reports, and evaluations), transforming them into actionable intelligence for AI agents. 

• Vector & Graph Architectures: Implement advanced data structures (Vector databases and Knowledge Graphs) that allow agents to "reason" across sectoral boundaries and historical project data. 

D. Technical Leadership  
• Engineering Hub: Act as the primary technical authority, managing a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and data scientists to deliver the Technology Backbone’s core components. 

• Thought Leadership: Develop, implement and ensure best practices are embedded in products and services 

• Security & Governance by Design: Ensure that the Technology Backbone is built with rigorous protocols for data privacy, AI ethics, and enterprise security, maintaining the Bank’s high standards for trust and auditability. 

• Performance Optimization: Manage the computational efficiency and cost-sustainability of the Bank’s AI and cloud infrastructure. 

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in STEM and 8 years of relevant experience; or bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Demonstrated expertise in leading data and technology solutions 

• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of products and services including data architecture, technology architecture, technology platforms in support of data and AI. 

• Advanced expertise in stakeholder engagement, product performance management, value proposition development, data driven decision making, insights and analytics 

• Demonstrated expertise in emerging technologies, systems thinking, change management, and innovation methodologies (e.g., AI, design thinking, agile) 

• Experience working in large, complex organizations or international development settings and delivering solutions in a global delivery model 

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills 

• Demonstrated ability to provide thought leadership, and experience in developing and presenting high-impact business cases, portfolio analysis to large stakeholder group 

• Knowledge of World Bank’s operations, governance, and organizational structure preferred 

• Certified in SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner, SAFe Agile Product Manager, Certifications in other Azure platforms, Databricks, Architecture is preferred 

• Experience leading teams, coaching, mentoring; and training in leadership programs preferred 

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.

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