Senior AI Specialist

Responsibilities

• Support the Bank Expertise and provide advice to governments on AI policy, governance and infrastructure needs and guide governments in creating an enabling environment for AI adoption through appropriate laws, policies, and strategies.
• Organize and facilitate high-level meetings, workshops, and events to foster collaboration and drive progress across AI initiatives.
• Build and deepen partnerships with AI hubs, academia, private sector players, and multilateral organizations, with a strong focus on scaling local talent and deploying AI solutions in Africa and other emerging markets.
• Identify and engage strategic partners to co-finance and co-develop initiatives, including international donors, venture capital funds, and philanthropic organizations.
• Work across World Bank verticals and sectors (e.g., healthcare, agriculture, education, public service delivery) to identify and design high-impact AI use cases.
• Support the piloting and scaling of AI applications as needed in client countries, ensuring alignment with regional and national development priorities.
• Develop toolkits, guidelines, and capacity-building programs to help client countries adopt and adapt AI solutions effectively.
• Develop robust monitoring frameworks to assess the performance and impact of AI initiatives, ensuring continuous learning and adaptation.
• Write periodic reports, case studies, and success stories to document lessons learned and share knowledge globally.
• Lead efforts to strengthen AI literacy and governance capacity within public institutions and local communities.
• Shape and influence global and regional AI strategies, with a focus on scalable, inclusive solutions, capacity building, and responsible governance frameworks.
• Provide strategic advice on AI-ready digital infrastructure (e.g., national cloud/data centers, open AI datasets) and regulatory sandboxes for innovation.
• Represent the World Bank in global forums, including G20 initiatives, to promote AI’s potential for inclusive and sustainable development; Negotiate global AI partnerships and lead coalitions to build momentum around priority initiatives.
• Build partnerships with academia, industry, and civil society to foster knowledge exchange and advance AI research tailored to emerging markets.
• Conduct detailed assessments of compute infrastructure gaps in client countries and identify opportunities to strengthen AI ecosystems.
• Monitor global technology trends (e.g., AI, IoT, Quantum Computing) to inform the Lab’s strategy and identify emerging opportunities for development.

Skillset

• Master’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Public Policy, Digital Development, Technology Policy, International Development, or other related field. PhD is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in AI, digital transformation, and/or technology for development.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills at the intersection of digital development and emerging technologies including the ability to simplify complex issues & think innovatively.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, while delivering high quality outputs.
• Prior experience leading analytical work, supporting client dialogue, designing inclusive interventions, developing indicators, and supporting project implementation.
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in a proven track record of effectively delivering technical information in a clear, easily understandable, and effective manner.
• Driven, self-starter who can proactively solve problems constructively and effectively and with professionalism.
• High degree of discretion, ethics, tact and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong attention-to-detail, creative problem-solving, and coordination/logistics skills.
• Proven ability to function effectively as a team member of multi-disciplinary teams and resolve disagreements constructively.
• Working proficiency in English is essential. Fluency in other languages including Spanish and French is a plus.