Digital & AI Skills Specialist
| Job #: | req38713 |
| Organization: | World Bank Group |
| Sector: | Digital Development |
| Grade: | GF |
| Term Duration: | Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP) |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Washington, DC,United States |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 11/2/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
At the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. 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 Digital Applications Department, overseeing solutions and impact, is led by a Manager who collaborates closely with the Manager for Policy and Regulations and reports to the WBG Vice President, Digital and AI Vertical, who is accountable to IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA Managing Directors. WBG recently published its Digital 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 Digital Specialist will be embedded in or closely with the Digital and AI Vice Presidency and collaborate closely with other relevant teams. The unit supports operational teams and client countries with the design, implementation, and scale up of digital solutions in several priority sectors.
Duties and accountabilities:
The Digital Specialist will support the Digital Skills team across a portfolio of knowledge, operational, and partnership activities. Specific responsibilities include:
Digital User Skills: Support the development and operationalization of foundational and productivity digital skills programs aimed at citizens, workers, and MSMEs participating in the digital economy.
• Support the development of Basic and Productivity Skills Blueprints, including skills demand mapping, learning pathways, and outcome indicators.
• Lead the development of Basic Skills add-ons to the TTL Toolkit, including project component menus, TOR language, procurement specifications, M&E indicators, and partner mapping.
• Develop and maintain the Basic Country Diagnostic Template to assess national demand, supply, credential systems, and training pathways for digital user skills
• Contribute to the Program Menu of implementation modalities, including digital literacy training, coaching, vouchers, and platform partnerships for large-scale delivery
• Support the development of an Inclusion “How-To” Guide covering approaches for women, rural populations, persons with disabilities, localization, and SMEs.
Skills for Jobs: Support the development of analytical frameworks, policy guidance, and institutional coordination mechanisms that link digital skills investments to employment outcomes.
• Contribute to the development of the Pathways to Jobs synthesizing global evidence and operational lessons on enabling regulatory environments for digital employment.
• teams, ensuring coherence across digital skills programming and joint workstreams.
• Facilitate internal collaboration, flag interdependencies across workstreams, and support joint planning between teams.
• Support knowledge sharing and the development of analytical and operational deliverables to better embed the jobs agenda in digital interventions, including webinars, knowledge products, and related activities.
• Support knowledge sharing and the development of analytical and operational deliverables to better embed the jobs agenda in digital interventions, including topic-specific webinars (digital industry and job creation)
Skills for AI: Support the development of analytical frameworks, guidance notes, and regional program design and implementation to support national governments in their AI skills strategies.
• Develop national-level AI skills mappings, gap analyses, and strategies tailored to country contexts, with particular attention to low- and middle-income countries.
• Develop practical toolkits, technical guides, and implementation frameworks to help governments design, deliver, monitor, and scale inclusive AI skills programs.
• Support the design of demand-driven AI skills programs that align curricula, credentials, and training pathways with current and emerging labor market opportunities.
• Develop competency frameworks and learning pathways spanning foundational AI literacy, applied AI capabilities, and specialized technical skills for priority occupations and sectors.
Specialized Skills for MSMEs and Sectors: Support the design of sector-specific and advanced digital skills programs that enable MSMEs and priority industries to adopt and scale digital technologies
• Lead the development of Sector Skills Blueprints and AI Sector Skills Blueprints, including industry analysis, skills demand mapping, skills profiles, and learning pathways.
• Develop sector-specific add-ons to the TTL Toolkit, including component menus, TOR language, procurement specifications, M&E indicators, and partner mapping.
• Develop country diagnostic templates to assess sectoral digital skills demand, supply, credentials, and training pathways (e.g., semiconductors).
• Support country teams in applying sector skills toolkits and diagnostic frameworks in operational programs.
• Support the Digital Campus partnership with Microsoft, including program design coordination, content alignment, and rollout tracking.
• Support the AgriConnect Skills Program with Coursera, including curriculum alignment, country deployment coordination, monitoring outcomes, and documenting lessons learned.
Cross-Cutting Knowledge & Partnerships:
• Curate and manage the Digital Skills Knowledge Repository, ensuring assets are searchable and accessible to TTLs and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the “Top 20” Case Study Library, producing 2–3 page briefs on high-impact global digital skills programs.
• Develop and maintain a Digital Skills Taxonomy to support country teams in structuring digital skills interventions.
Selection Criteria
• Advanced degree (Masters or equivalent) in Public Policy with 5 years of work experience (or combination of education and experience).
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital skills, economy, and jobs.
• Experience supporting the development of knowledge products, operational toolkits, or policy frameworks in an international development or research setting.
• Familiarity with the enabling policy and regulatory environment for digital skills and employment, including relevant frameworks and international good practices.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, audience-appropriate outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple teams and stakeholders, including external partners.
• Experience working with or supporting private sector partnerships (e.g., technology companies, online learning platforms) is an advantage.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team environment.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required.
As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:
- Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
- Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
- Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.
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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