Lead Digital Specialist

Job #: req37969
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Digital Development
Grade: GH
Term Duration:  5 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Jakarta,Indonesia
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The WBG 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 Region

East Asia Pacific (EAP) is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines, Indonesia 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 WBG plays a significant role on global public goods, including climate, biodiversity, water pollution, and health. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in EAP, 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, support client countries in building their capacities for Digital and AI use.  The WBG Digital and AI Vertical is led by a Vice President and was established in July 2024. Our work is anchored in the Digital and AI Strategy, which includes four pillars: access, affordability, ecosystem and AI readiness. The Digital and AI Strategy identifies the priorities that WBG will engage in over the next five years. The Vertical deploys a range of products, services, and partnerships to advance global knowledge across the four pillars of the Strategy through: 

• Supporting WBG 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 WBG 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 Opportunity

The WBG engagement in Digital is rapidly growing in the EAP in response to increased client demand for knowledge, technical assistance and financing. The Lead Digital Specialist will lead selected strategic or complex Digital knowledge and operational activities in Indonesia and Timor Leste, coordinate with the ASEAN Secretariat and among ASEAN members on digital issues, and support the delivery of the digital work program across EAP, ensuring technical and operational excellence, and alignment with the Digital and AI Strategy Implementation Plan (FY26–30) and the WBG’s corporate priorities, including the more and better jobs (MBJ) agenda. The Lead Digital Specialist will also play a key role in ensuring that digital activities and initiatives are well-coordinated and integrated across country and regional portfolios in EAP.

DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

The position is based in Jakarta, Indonesia, and reports to the Practice Manager (PM) for Digital & AI for EAP (DEPDU). Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Leadership
oIn close coordination with the Digital EAP PM, provide technical direction for the Digital & AI work program, ensuring alignment with the Digital and AI Strategy Implementation Plan (FY26–30) and EAP regional strategies.
oRepresent DEPDU in high-level policy dialogues, partnership meetings and regional events, including with the private sector, on Digital and AI.
oConnect the mission of DEPDU in delivering on the WBG Digital and AI Strategy Implementation Plan with the efforts of other verticals and sectors, including across the WBG and with IFC and MIGA.
oContribute to the development of partnerships and relationships with external stakeholders, provide technical direction and coordination as part of the WBG’s development partner relationship with the ASEAN Secretariat for digital, and support the effective, timely and relevant reporting of results and impact to donors.
•Technical Expertise and Digital Program Delivery
oProvide technical leadership to DEPDU teams and client governments on complex digital development issues, including digital and data infrastructure, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), data governance, cybersecurity, and AI for development. 
oLead strategic lending operations.
oWork closely with TTLs and country teams to provide guidance, where determined necessary by the Digital EAP PM, on key areas of project design, development, and implementation support and supervision.
oLead the design and implementation of flagship knowledge products for DEPDU, ensuring they are policy-relevant and actionable for client countries.
•Operational Support and Mentoring
oGuide task teams in integrating the solutions of the World Bank Group’s Global Digital & AI Implementation Plan into WBG Lending and Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) operations across the EAP region.
oIn close coordination with the Digital EAP PM, review and clear technical deliverables—policy notes, concept notes, mission outputs—to ensure high quality standards and compliance with all corporate requirements, and provide hands-on guidance to task team leaders and client-facing teams on project design and implementation.
oSupport the Digital EAP PM on portfolio and budget monitoring, anticipating issues and advising the PM on ad hoc issues regarding country engagements (portfolio, sector dialogue), as well as dialogue with country units and partners.
oLiaise with global expert teams to provide regional contribution to the Knowledge Bank in alignment with the World Bank Group’s Global Digital & AI Strategy; and mobilize support by the Knowledge Bank to regional engagements.
oProvide leadership, effective guidance and mentoring, supporting the Digital EAP PM, and serving as a technical adviser to more junior colleagues where needed.
•Partnership Management and Outreach
oIn close coordination with the Digital EAP PM, serve as the focal point in EAP for coordination and engagement with key regional partners, donors and stakeholders active on digital issues.
oFacilitate collaboration across the WBG, including between DEPDU, other WBG Global Practices, IFC and MIGA, and EAP CMUs, to ensure the effective transfer of Digital & AI knowledge and innovation across sectors.
oProvide technical support to colleagues working in other sectors to leverage digital technologies to improve public service delivery and to stimulate digital innovation, entrepreneurship and private sector-led investment.
•Results Monitoring, Financial Management and Governance
oEnsure effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting against the Digital and AI Strategy Implementation Plan (FY26–30) Results Framework and workplan indicators for Digital in EAP.
oPromote learning, transparency, and knowledge sharing through publications, workshops, and digital platforms.

Selection Criteria

•Education
oMaster's degree or equivalent in telecommunications, engineering, computer science, law, economics, political economy, public policy or related field.
•Experience
oMinimum of 12 years of relevant experience in digital transformation, digital and AI policy, law and regulation, or technology-driven development programs including substantial experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, with experience across at least two regions or a combination of regional and corporate assignments.
•Technical Expertise
oDeep technical knowledge and policy understanding in at least two of the following domains: broadband and data infrastructure, DPI, digital government, or digital economy and AI policy, with demonstrated ability to connect these areas to development outcomes.
oProven record of leading complex analytical and operational work related to digital and AI transformation in developing countries, including the design, development and supervision of lending operations, advisory services and analytics (ASA), and reimbursable advisory services (RAS), related to digital development.
oStrong understanding of private sector engagement, private capital mobilization and PPP approaches in Digital & AI, and DPI.
oExtensive 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.  
oDeep knowledge of the country and digital sector context and issues in Indonesia and Timor Leste, and among ASEAN member countries, with knowledge of the wider EAP region a strong advantage.
•Leadership, Partnerships and Mentoring
oDemonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and mentor staff across grades and technical areas.
oExperience collaborating with or within other sectors (e.g. Health, Social Protection, Education, Agriculture) in digital and AI.
oStrong ability to translate strategic vision into actionable plans and measurable results.
oStrong understanding of how countries can harness DPI to accelerate development impact and advance the jobs agenda.
oAbility to deliver results effectively under pressure and to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to and prioritize a variety of evolving tasks. 
oPrior engagement in the EAP region at senior policy or operational level is desirable.
•Analytical and Communication Skills
oExceptional analytical, writing, and presentation abilities, capable of simplifying complex technical topics for policy audiences.
oStrong organizational, research, and oral presentation skills.
oExcellent written and spoken English. 
•Other Attributes
oEntrepreneurial mindset and ability to identify and pursue new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
oHigh energy, proactive approach, and strong commitment to achieving impact through analytical, operational, and knowledge work.
•Ability to travel extensively and frequently across the EAP region.

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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