Job Vacancies World Bank Washington DC

Senior Public Sector Management Specialist
Washington, DC

Closing Date 07-Jan-2011

Background / General description
The Latin America and the Caribbean Region's Public Sector Unit (LCSPS) is seeking a Senior Public Sector Management Specialist to be based in Washington, DC. This senior specialist will contribute to the work of LCSPS primarily in the area of tax administration, and at least two of the following areas: i) performance management including performance-informed budgeting; ii) policy-making and implementation; iii) decentralization, the candidate will also be expected to make a broader contribution to policy dialogue concerning all aspects of public management and governance at the national and sub-national levels. LCSPS is a sector group within PREM in Latin America and the Caribbean region (LCSPR). LCSPR is divided into four sector groups: Economic Policy, Poverty and Gender, Public Sector, and Finance and Private Sector Development. The overall mission of LCSPR is to assist LAC countries in developing and implementing strategies to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development through our lending, advice and analytical work. The Public Sector Group contributes to the pursuit of LCSPR's mission by addressing the challenge of improved public sector management and governance. LCSPS's key activities are:

Promotion of efficient public expenditure and revenue management;

Modernizing governmental organizations and institutions;

Strengthening accountability, transparency and civic engagement

Supporting effective intergovernmental finance and decentralization arrangements

Supporting legal and judicial reform

Assisting in the reduction of corruption.

Duties and Accountabilities
General:

Contribute to LCSPS work in public financial management, performance based budgeting and efficiency of result oriented public institutions.

Develop knowledge concerning performance improvement of the public sector and creatively applies that knowledge via the different instruments the bank provides for its client countries.

Provide leadership, advice, and assistance on issues related to public management in the LAC region, helping to develop and disseminate effective approaches for addressing public management challenges, with a focus on those related to tax and revenue administration and revenue sharing.

Advise country teams on how to address public sector issues in country assistance strategies, operations, analytic work and advisory services to client countries, helping them to match the strategy, reforms, and types of operations to the risks and challenges that public management poses for growth and poverty reduction in the country.

Understand clients’ needs and developmental challenges and identifies entry points for interventions in her areas of expertise.

Establish strategic partnerships with other development organizations and bilateral aid agencies and facilitate access to international experiences to clients in the Region.

Mainstream institutional development activities into Bank operations and assist clients in strengthening institutions at national and subnational levels.

Specific products:

Lead operational and analytic and advisory work at the national and subnational levels, and provide hands-on technical assistance, in relation to the following core business areas: (i) Tax administration and tax reform implementation; (ii) Institutional design of revenue collecting agencies; (iii) Public Management systems; (iv) Center of government reforms - with a focus on taxes and fiscal sustainability; and (iv) Political economy of reforms – with a focus on tax policy, Fiscal federalism, decentralization and revenue sharing arrangements.

Staff Development:

Work with other staff working on these themes through formal and informal networking and dissemination of good practice. Partnering with Other Networks:

Work with other Networks to help coordinate Bank lending and analytic work on tax policy and administration, customs administration, public management, including performance informed budgeting, coordinating with other development partners to support sustainable reforms and use of country systems in donor operations.

Selection Criteria

Advanced degree in Economics, public administration, public policy, or similar fields and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in development agencies and/or other organizations including governments.

Demonstrated experience in leading or actively participating in policy-dialogue on public sector management issues with high level government officials (ministers and vice-ministers) in the areas of revenue collection and administration, revenue sharing, implementation of tax policy reform.

Deep knowledge and demonstrated experience in the areas listed above under “specific products”, and understanding of the institutions that provide for a sustained macro-economic management.

Demonstrated experience preferably in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Demonstrated ability to engage in a dialogue with seasoned public officials in different settings –as mission leader, organizing conferences and policy-dialogue events on public sector and governance issues, from conceptualization to logistics.

Demonstrated experience in project management in public sector modernization projects.

Knowledge of MDI’s procedures, products and systems; portfolio management, deliverables and experience with managing fee-based services is desirable.

Excellent analytical skills, including qualitative and/or quantitative.

Proactivity, client-orientation, risk-taking, and initiative.

Excellent interpersonal skills, teamwork and track record of working across sectors.

Excellent English and Spanish written and oral communication skills are required; a certified advanced level of Portuguese or French is a plus.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Apply Here