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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, please visit www.ifc.org.
The Economics and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency produces economics research reports related to private sector development, conducts development impact assessments for all IFC projects, and reports on IFC’s development outcomes. It focuses on operationally relevant research on firms in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The Economic and Market Research Department aims to significantly contribute to the WBG efforts to collect firm-level data and become a global enterprise data hub for researchers, practitioners, and investors. Business statistics are key for measuring economies’ structure and evolution, monitoring the performance of the business sector, including job creation, and informing investment decisions. EMDEs face gaps in business statistics, especially in low- and low-middle-income countries.
IFC Economics seeks to recruit a Senior Statistician with expertise in business statistics to enhance the WBG capabilities in providing technical assistance to statistical agencies. The candidate selected for this position should be a motivated and dynamic professional with excellent analytical skills and policy-relevant experience, expertise in collection of business statistics, and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the World Bank Group and with national governments.
This staff member will be based in Rome and be part of a joint IFC-World Bank statistical unit working to improve national data collection and statistics in emerging and developing economies (EMDEs). The staff will be supervised by the IFC Economics Department and will work in collaboration with the World Bank Development Economics Data Group (DECDG).
Duties and Accountabilities :
The roles and responsibilities of the position will include
- Working with colleagues, lead the assessment of the quality of business statistics in middle- and low-income countries, providing details on country gaps regarding various dimensions of business statistics, including Statistical Business Register (SBR), Annual Business Statistics (ABS), and Short-Term Business Statistics (STBS).
- Support the IFC Economics team in building a harmonized firm-level database across countries and a data portal providing available data (harmonized where possible) on the business sectors across developing economies. Organized by country, it would be an entry point for researchers, investors, and technical policymaking staff interested in firm-level data and statistics.
- Provide technical assistance for national statistical agencies to improve business statistics collection and facilitate using these data for economic analysis.
- Develop global engagements and interface with experts at the IFC, World Bank, and other international financial institutions, as well as leading academics and external partners to support the IFC and the business statistics strategy, particularly with European partners and universities.
- The successful candidate is expected to be proactive and output driven.
Selection Criteria
Main Selection Criteria
- Master’s degree in Statistics or a related field with more than 10 years of experience or Ph.D. Degree with over 8 years of relevant experience. The candidate is expected to be an expert on business surveys, ideally with proven experience in EMDEs and LICs.
- Professional experience designing and implementing business statistics surveys and censuses with National Statistics Agencies.Experience collecting, managing, and analyzing m
- icrodata, particularly establishment- and firm-level data.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including extensive knowledge of statistical models, as well as survey design and implementation techniques.
- Computer skills: Strong Statistical package skills (good knowledge and experience using packages such as R, SAS, STATA, and Python, is a plus).
Other Selection Criteria
- Experience supporting Business Statistics in emerging and developing economies.
- Impactful and persuasive oral and written communication skills in English.
- Fuency in other languages is a plus.
- Ability to lead and mentor junior staff.Demonstrated ability to collaborate in a diverse multilateral organization.
- Ability to cultivate an active network of relationships inside and outside the organization and to represent IFC publicly as needed.
- Commitment to the WBG and IFC’s mission and values.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word).
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.
