Job Description
E T Consultant
Job #:
req37389
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Social Protection
Grade:
EC2
Term Duration: 1 year 0 months
Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment
Location:
Vienna,Austria
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:
7/8/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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 Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. A predominantly middle-income region, ECA continues to be at the forefront in confronting the numerous development challenges that countries face in the evolving global economy. Several countries in the region face structural and legacy issues, including an incomplete transition to a market economy and declining productivity, weak institutional capacity, dependance on fossil fuels, limited physical and digital connectivity and demographic transition. The spillover impacts of recent shocks (COVID-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, weather shocks and natural disaster) have further exacerbated these challenges, with significant impacts on the level, inclusiveness and sustainability of growth and overall living standards.
In line with its Evolution Roadmap and the one World Bank Group approach, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is working closely with IFC and MIGA to support countries in the region to address these issues, with increasing focus on climate action, including energy transition and water management, human capital and economic inclusion, productivity and job creation, and physical and digital connectivity. The region has a strong lending pipeline as well as a large portfolio of Trust Funds (TFs) and Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS). Knowledge is critical to the Bank’s value proposition to client countries in the ECA region in both lending and advisory services. For more information about the region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca
The Social Policy (SP) Global Practice is one of Global Practices (GPs) in the World Bank. The World Bank is the largest provider of development finance and solutions for SP, working with high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries to develop country-tailored solutions for specific SP challenges. These range from increasing the efficiency and effectiveness with which public resources toward social programs are spent (via sound policy reforms and programs in relation to social assistance, social insurance, social services, and integrated social protection systems), to improving employment outcomes through labor market policy reforms and programs, often targeted at the poor and vulnerable, or youth.
The SP GP has an exciting, innovative, and growing portfolio in ECA. The ECA SP unit’s work is centered around three main themes: i) building well-composed, well-performing social protection systems; ii) promoting employability and jobs; and iii) adapting to demographic change. With the recent merge with the previous Social Sustainability and Inclusion GP, the ECA SP portfolio is now integrating local and community-based development solutions in national social protection systems, with special attention to vulnerable groups (i.e. refugees, internally displaced people, persons with disability, women survivors of domestic violence). In addition, the ECA SP unit takes forward cross-cutting work on energy subsidy reform, service delivery, support to refugee populations and host communities, and social investment and governance.
HMAPS is supporting the government of Saudi Arabia through various Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) agreements in the area of social policy. These task involve a broad range of topics, from labor markets to health, pensions, long-term care, fiscal analysis, extending work lives, and life-long learning, among others. They focus on both quantitative and qualitative assessments of labor policies, kills development programs, vocational education, and social programs. For the quantitative assessment, the focus is on analyzing data from various surveys and administrative data. These engagements also include design proposals for reforming existing or entirely new programs, including those that aim to improve work incentives, like an in-work benefit. Against this background, the World Bank task management team is requesting Ms. Sofia Gomez to support the following tasks during FY2027:
Duties and accountabilities
ECA and MENA SP units are seeking a Social Protection Specialist/Economist who can ably carry out the policy, reimbursable advisory services, operational and analytical engagement on the full range of SP areas, with government authorities, in association with other development partners as relevant.
The candidate would equally split her time between the two units and be a core member of both: SP ECA and SP MENA. The position will be based in the World Bank’s country office in Vienna, Austria. The work program will mostly be focused on Ukraine and Saudi Arabia but can include other countries in the ECA and MENA regions, based on need and interest. The selected candidate will work closely with staff and consultants based in Vienna, Kyiv, Riyad and Washington, DC, among other locations.
Key responsibilities in this position would include:
• Lead labor-related analysis, like analysis on work disincentives of existing programs, quota programs like Nitaqat and Tawteen, and support the development of reforms and of new programs to strengthen work incentives for Saudi workers, including women. This includes quantitative analysis of survey and administrative data, review of international best practice related to work incentives, a review of in-work benefits, and proposals for redesigning existing or developing new policies and programs in KSA.
• Support the team in reviewing international best practice in the areas of social and labor policies, including active labor market programs, wage subsidies, training programs, admission policies, and in-work benefit programs.
• Applying international best practice on the above to the Saudi context, including quantitative analysis of survey and administrative data and developing policy and program proposals.
• Actively contribute to the dialogue and activities of the Ukraine Employment and labor technical assistance under multiple trust funds supporting the SPIRIT program.
• Provide analytical and written inputs to the development of a Ukraine Labor Market Assessment.
• Discuss with relevant Ukrainian authorities’ priorities in the short- and long-term and provide sound advice in the areas of, among others, labor market and employment policies and programs.
• Make substantial contributions to the preparation and supervision of operations in Ukraine (using different lending instruments), the preparation and implementation of advisory services and analytics (ASA) activities and deliverables, including knowledge sharing.
• Support the team to foster engagement with development partners and other external stakeholders, both local and international
• Contribute to various tasks of the Ukraine employment team more broadly, including, supporting task teams, and representing the World Bank at conferences and events
• Coordinate and partner as necessary with other GPs in taking forward the SP agenda and meeting core country partnership framework priorities
• Support the employment service modernization pilots in Bosnia and Herzegovina including with best practices, design advise, implementation support, and evaluation.
• Provide technical support to the ECA SP team to prepare the Skills for Jobs event at the Vienna Knowledge Center ; coordinate with representatives of the Austrian Public Employment Services.
The candidate selected will report to the Practice Manager, Social Policy Global Practice, Europe and Central Asia Region.
Selection Criteria
• Academic Qualification and Experience: A minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant social science discipline with at least five years of experience in social protection, preferably in the areas of labor and migration; or other related fields.
• Conceptual and Analytic Skills: Experience and expertise in designing, implementing and assessing social assistance and labor market programs. Ability to: (a) translate conceptual and analytical findings into practical operational applications and policy recommendations; and (b) communicate these findings effectively in various technical and non-technical settings to influence policies, programs, and business opportunities.
• Communications Skills and Teamwork: (a) Excellent verbal and writing skills in English and Russian; (b) ability to deal sensitively in multicultural environments and to work in a team environment; (c) ability to operate independently with minimal direct supervision and support; (d) ability to work effectively and independently as a team member and as a leader, including in multi-sectoral teams; (e) ability to share and disseminate relevant information with colleagues, clients, and managers; and (f) ability to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders within and outside the World Bank, with a strong client orientation.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development: Ability to understand the policy-making process and to distill operationally relevant recommendations and lessons for clients.
• Policy Dialogue Skills: Ability to identify and assess policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.
• Other Skills: (a) Ability to develop and maintain productive, professional relationships with government counterparts, donors, civil society, and other stakeholders; (b) ability in time management, with an ability to prioritize and manage time efficiently; (c) ability to handle multiple tasks effectively, meet deadlines, manage uncertainty; (d) ability to work on flexible working hours and intensive schedule; and (e) ability to develop and maintain productive, professional relationships with government counterparts, donors, civil society and other stakeholders.
• Ability to travel.
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
As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.
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