Job Description

Regional Chief Economist, LCR

Job #: req35225 | Organization: World Bank | Sector: Economics | Grade: GI | Term Duration: 4 years 0 months | Recruitment Type: International Recruitment | Location: Washington, DC, United States | Required Language(s): English | Preferred Language(s): Spanish | Closing Date: 1/5/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) 11:59pm UTC

Overview

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 worlds 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 changes around the globe. For more information, visit

The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) is the World Banks central reservoir of fresh insights into the most pressing challenges of development. It is led by the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, who advises the President and senior managers, serves as the community leader for the WBGs economists, and helps keep the institution in the forefront of thinking about development policy. DEC constitutes one of the worlds largest teams of economists focused on policy solutions for developing economies.

Responsibilities

The Regional Chief Economist serves as the principal economic advisor for the region, reporting directly to the World Bank Group Chief Economist and DEC Senior Vice President, and maintaining secondary reporting lines to the IFC and World Bank Regional Vice Presidents. S/he will be accountable for:

• Leading economic policy dialogue with public and private sector stakeholders, including policymakers, academia, think tanks, investment banks, and major consulting firms.
• Advising and working together with regional VPs and the Regional Leadership Team on main aspects and strategic economic issues in SCD, CPF, CPSD, and other relevant analytical products requested by the WBG VPs.
• Advising regional WB-IFC RLTs on sectorial strategies and most relevant operations for public and private sector, including active engagement at design and subsequent phases (contestability).
• Mentoring and coaching strong macro and microeconomists across regional units and developing internal seminars on key macro and micro issues for WBG regional staff.
• Coordinating DEC Prospects, Markets, Data, and Indicators Group services for the region.
• Working with the WBG Deputy Chief Economists to ensure an efficient allocation of responsibilities and resources between the Regional Chief Economist Office, DEC Prospects, and Markets.
• Leveraging WBG Institute for Economic Development programs to scale up engagement with economic policy think tanks, leading government economic advisers, and multilateral development organizations.

The regional chief economist office will be staffed to provide economic support to the regional Vice Presidents and their management teams, and intermediate knowledge flows between DEC and the regionboth by bringing the best of DECs services and products to support the region and informing DECs program priorities.

While managing a team of 7-20 staff in the Regional Chief Economist Office (depending on the size of the regional program and coverage), the regional chief economist will also assist the Director of the WBG Institute in outreach to thinktanks and researchers in the region. Performance will be assessed by the World Bank Group Chief Economist against agreed objectives and deliverables, with inputs from the IFC and World Bank Regional Vice Presidents.

Duties & Accountabilities

• Develop frontier analytical products based on regional trends and WBG regional priorities across macro and micro aspects of the economy, in coordination with knowledge banks and regional teams as needed and vetted by the WB-IFC RVPs.
• Help WB-IFC VPs define and set regional priorities and vision on WBG flagship reports and key research products.
• Align DEC products and offerings with shifting country programs and operations, including demands from the private sector.
• Produce high-quality, semi-annual regional macro-monitoring and thematic chapters in coordination with the country economists, and act as the regional anchor for the GEP team.
• Ensure economic rigor in regional products; review global flagships to reflect regional priorities; advise RVPs and the WBG Chief Economist, serving as their liaison on economic issues.
• Build and manage regional research and policy networks, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mentoring among policymakers, academics, think tanks, and WBG staff.

Selection Criteria

• PhD in economics or public policy.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage expertise within and outside the World Bank Group.
• Track record of published policy research, high-quality analytical work and policy advice.
• Leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong collaboration skills and networks across academia, IFIs, and within the WBG; ability to operate effectively across DEC, IFC, and MIGA.
• High standards of integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to WBG/IFC/MIGA missions and values.
• Quality, relevance, and operational impact of analytical work and policy advice.
• Effectiveness in guiding the research agenda of the DEC research team.
• Contribution to knowledge sharing and capacity building.
• Engagement with stakeholders and influence policy debates.
• Effective management and development of the Regional Chief Economist Office team.

WBG Culture Attributes

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risktaking: 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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