Industry Specialist - Digital Transformation in Education bei World Bank Group

Industry Specialist - Digital Transformation in Education

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC’s Global Education unit, housed within the Global Disruptive Technologies, Services and Funds department, supports the World Bank Group (WBG)’s Jobs agenda by increasing access to affordable, quality education in emerging markets and enhancing digital services. The unit is responsible for managing IFC’s global education sector strategy and delivering sector expertise and global platforms in support of IFC’s investment and advisory activities in the areas of education services and edtech. IFC’s value proposition includes a suite of enabling initiatives and advisory tools under the Global Education Advisory Program to foster good practices in the education sector to enhance education quality, efficiency, and access. This suite of solutions includes IFC’s Digital Transformation Advisory (D4TEP). Under D4TEP, IFC provides direct advisory support to higher education institutions to create and implement their digital transformation strategies. IFC works with an institution’s leadership to set a vision for digital transformation and to design a comprehensive roadmap for achieving that vision. Technical workshops are provided to support an agreed understanding of the process and build buy-in of leadership, faculty and staff. For more information, visit www.ifc.org/D4TEP. 

In addition to D4TEP, the Global Education unit is expected to provide relevant input related to digital issues, challenges and solutions in assessing investment opportunities, working with portfolio clients and in setting IFC priorities and WBG strategy. The Education unit’s initiatives and priorities are closely aligned to the World Bank Group Jobs agenda and World Bank education sector strategy, as well as in close collaboration with IFC’s regional teams to grow and disseminate reach in line with regional needs.

Duties & Accountabilities:

The Global Education team requires a Digital Specialist - Education to support our education sector strategy and a growing portfolio and pipeline of digital initiatives for clients. Working in close collaboration with IFC’s lead for education advisory and education sector specialists, the Digital Specialist – Education will:
• Provide project and operational support in education technology and digital skills by leading the D4TEP platform working with at least 5 clients per year.
• Contribute to design and implementation of education initiatives leveraging technology solutions and digital skills.
• Contribute technical expertise to integrate technology and digital skills into IFC operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide project and operational support in education technology and digital skills by leading the D4TEP platform:
• Lead the day-to-day operations of the D4TEP advisory platform including resourcing and budget management. Ensure the project meets internal and external reporting requirements and donor visibility requirements.
• Develop a pipeline of clients for D4TEP by working with specialists and regional teams to pitch services to prospective clients.
• Facilitate the conversion of D4TEP client engagements into IFC investment mandates.
• Lead D4TEP client engagements and act as main IFC contact for clients. Drive efficient resolution of roadblocks and delays to project progress by working closely with the client and relevant IFC teams.
• Coordinate a team of specialists (consultants) for each client engagement, ensuring the right mix of skills in the team.
• Drive development of Digital Maturity Benchmarking to scale relevant digital skills and technology solutions to colleges and universities operating in low-income countries.
• Lead outreach and communications for the D4TEP program and clients including the colab community of practice initiative.
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation of D4TEP results, ensuring a verifiable and robust dataset of client feedback. Incorporate lessons from monitoring and evaluation of other advisory/upstream programs.
• Lead D4TEP fundraising requests by helping to identify potential donor partners and drafting funding proposals.
• Manage all required project governance procedures including client IDD, legal agreements, payments and invoicing.
• Capture learnings from client engagements and share them within WBG and externally.
• Continuously contribute to improvement of D4TEP methodology by capturing client feedback and iterating program delivery.
• Coordinate closely with regional upstream and advisory teams, global education advisory lead, education sector specialists and internal governance teams in program delivery and development.

Contribute to design and implementation of education initiatives leveraging technology solutions and digital skills.
• Support teams in assessing needs and opportunities for investment and/or advisory services for companies, from the perspective of education technology and digital skills.
• Contribute to the development of case studies, toolkits, industry overviews and primers on effective integration of technology into education and skills development.
• Participate in periodic review of advisory offerings, shape necessary adjustments depending on maturity of clients and markets.
• Lead or support other initiatives, including impact studies and/or development of new programs in technology, skills and education.
• Track emerging trends in education technology, digital skills training, and learning science.
• Support collaboration with the World Bank and other development partners on education technology and digital skills programs.

Contribute technical expertise to integrate technology and digital skills into IFC operations.
• Join client discussions with regards to sector specific risks identified as part of the appraisal process and develop mitigation solutions, including but not limited to IFC’s advisory solutions.
• Contribute to project preparation, appraisal, and supervision activities in close coordination with education specialists.
• Provide technical input on selecting, adapting, and integrating appropriate technologies into IFC education projects or components of projects.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree and/or at least 12 years of professional working experience.
• Experience managing project budgets, timelines, staff and consultants.
• Track record of achieving meaningful operational results.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in digital transformation in education.
• Strong familiarity with Edtech solutions and vendors for a variety of use cases. Familiarity with use of AI in education, including teaching and learning and data analytics.
• Knowledge of education and skills sector policies, systems, and governance in emerging market contexts.
• Sound business judgment and ability to work flexibly in response to changing priorities.
• Ability to represent IFC externally and to develop relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication skills in English. Spanish and/or Portuguese is a strong plus.
• Willingness to travel globally on a regular basis. 

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.