Lead Digital Specialist

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide overall technical direction for the DKC’s work program, ensuring alignment with the Vertical and regional strategies.
• Lead the preparation and delivery of the DKC’s annual workplan, results framework, and reporting.
• Participate in high-level policy dialogues, partnership meetings, including with the private sector, and international forums on digital transformation and AI.
• Connect the mission of the WBG Digital and AI Strategy with the efforts of the other verticals and sectors of the WBG, including with IFC and MIGA.
• Ensure quality assurance and consistency of all knowledge products, capacity-building programs, and grant activities.

Technical Expertise and Program Delivery

• Lead the design and implementation of flagship knowledge and operational programs under the DKC’s three pillars, drawing from Korean experiences in broadband, data infrastructure, digital government, and AI policy.
• Provide technical leadership to WBG country teams and client governments on the four pillars of the Digital and AI Strategy.
• Oversee analytical and advisory products, ensuring they are policy-relevant and actionable for client countries.
• Mentor DKC’s technical staff and foster collaboration with Korean partners such as the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), National Information Society Agency (NIA), Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Operational Support

• Facilitate integration of Korean expertise and technology solutions into WBG lending and Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) operations across multiple regions.
• Guide teams in developing operational engagements and pilots supported through the DKC’s Innovation Grants Program.
• Review and clear technical deliverables—policy notes, concept notes, mission outputs—and provide hands-on guidance to task team leaders and client-facing teams.
• In close coordination with Regional PMs, liaise with operational teams to provide operational support, including via innovation grants, and to harvest lessons from operational innovation at the country level.
• In close coordination with Global PMs, liaise with global expert teams in the Knowledge Bank to ensure, among other things, alignment with the World Bank Group’s Global Digital Strategy.

Partnership Management and Outreach

• Serve as the focal point for coordination between the WBG and the Government of Korea, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), and other public and private stakeholders on the operation of the DKC.
• Facilitate collaboration between Korean agencies, WBG, and client countries to ensure the effective transfer of digital knowledge and innovation.
• Lead outreach and communication initiatives to raise the visibility of the DKC’s contributions to global digital transformation.

Results Monitoring, Financial Management and Governance

• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting against the DKC’s Results Framework and workplan indicators.
• Prepare periodic progress reports, budgets, and support governance meetings (e.g., annual consultations with MOEF and the WBG).
• Promote learning, transparency, and knowledge sharing through publications, workshops, and digital platforms.

Skillset

• Master’s degree or equivalent (PhD preferred) in information technology, computer science, engineering, finance, economics, public policy, law, or related field.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience in digital transformation, digital policy and regulation, technology innovation driving development programs including substantial experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Recognized leader in digital and AI technologies in the public and/or private sector.
• Deep technical knowledge and policy understanding in at least two of the following domains: broadband and data infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, digital government, or digital economy and AI policy, with demonstrated ability to connect these areas to development outcomes.
• Proven record of leading complex analytical and operational work related to digital transformation in public and/or private sectors in developing countries, including advisory services, capacity-building, or pilot implementations.
• Extensive 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.
• Excellent understanding of private sector-led ecosystems (e.g., technoparks, ICT industry) in middle- or high-income countries, with applicability to developing-country contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and mentor staff across grades and technical areas.
• Strong ability to translate strategic vision into actionable plans and measurable results.
• Strong understanding of the substantive areas in which the DKC can collaborate across the WBG’s entities and various sectors (e.g. Finance, Agriculture, Health, Education, etc.).
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and diplomatic skills, with a track record of managing partnerships with governments, academia, and the private sector.
• Experience collaborating with or within leading Korean institutions—such as MSIT, NIA, KISDI, or KAIST—or with private-sector companies is a strong asset.
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and presentation abilities, capable of simplifying complex technical topics for policy audiences.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English; proficiency in Korean is desirable.