Junior Data Scientist: Indicator Research, Production, and Data Visualization
Job #:
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req30048 |
Organization:
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World Bank |
Sector:
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Economics |
Grade:
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GE |
|
Term Duration: |
2 years 0 months |
Recruitment Type:
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Local Recruitment |
Location:
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Washington, DC,United States |
Required Language(s):
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English |
Preferred Language(s):
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|
Closing Date:
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11/1/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
DECDG AND THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATISTICIAN
Located within the Development Economics Vice Presidency, the Development Data Group (DECDG) is the World Bank's center of excellence on data and statistics. By unlocking the full value of data for development, DECDG helps achieve the World Bank's mission to end extreme poverty and boost prosperity on a livable planet. Inspired by the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives, DECDG envisions a world where data are actively transformed into decisions that improve the lives and livelihoods of the poor and marginalized. Its mission is to help countries realize this new global vision on data, grounded in the principles of value, equity, and trust. Through leading data public goods, cutting-edge innovations, and research, pioneering partnerships, and globally trusted technical expertise, DECDG leads efforts to ensure development data are of high quality, accessible, and widely used across the world.
The World Bank’s Office of the Chief Statistician provides a strategic vision for the World Bank’s work and innovations in development data and statistics. The Chief Statistician main functions are to: (i) lead and promote the adoption of standards and best practices for data and statistics across the World Bank; (ii) champion data innovations by advising Senior Leadership on the implementation of data and statistics initiatives, identifying strategic priorities for World Bank data governance, and fostering collaboration among partners on data and statistics priorities; and (iii) represent the World Bank in global discussions and deliberative fora on data and statistics.
DECDG houses the World Bank’s main data team, together with the Secretariat for the Data Council and the Office of the Chief Statistician. Its mission is to put data to work for development, by increasing country ability to produce, disseminate, and use data of all kinds; improving accessibility, management, and dissemination of the WBG’s own data assets, and by producing high quality statistical indicators and data products to help improve development outcomes. The work of the department calls for extensive partnership with other international organizations, with member countries’ statistical offices, and, with regions, World Bank global practices, and other units.
This position will be based in the Indicators and Data team (DECID) of the Development Economics Data Group (DECDG). The Indicators and Data team produces high quality data outputs (such as the World Development Indicators and Statistical Performance Indicators databases) and manages business processes and data quality procedures relating to data collection, transformation, and dissemination. The team manages a portfolio of key institutional data management and dissemination platforms including the World Bank Data Catalog (datacatalog.worldbank.org), Microdata Library (microdata.worldbank.org), and Databank (databank.worldbank.org) and various websites such as World Bank Open Data (https://data.worldbank.org).
The team’s responsibilities are expanding to support the Office of the Chief Statistician, particularly in the implementation of the World Bank Data Quality Assurance framework and its roll-out across the institution. This will include development of standards, guidelines and tools for data and metadata management and data quality assurance guidance, processes, and metrics.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The general duties of the position involve methodological research, data analysis and data communication (including visualization). In particular, the successful candidate will:
Methodology and data analysis
•Contribute to systems for monitoring the World Development Indicators.
•Contribute to the improvement of World Bank methodologies for curating development data, in particular the World Development Indicators (e.g. researching methods for handling missing data, outlier detection, and aggregation).
•Contribute to the production and dissemination of the World Bank Statistical Performance Indicators (SPI). This includes an annual update of SPI data and the release of a What’s New document. It also includes research activities to produce new indicators for the SPI.
•Contribute to research on alternative data sources for development indicators (for example, satellite imagery or social media using machine learning)
Data communication
•Lead particular data visualization projects (such as the Atlas of the Sustainable Development Goals) using a range of data visualization tools to communicate data effectively.
•Participate in the editorial team for the World Development Indicators website and World Bank Data Blog.
Coordination
•Liaise with other World Bank departments to contribute towards the development and improvement of data methodology and coordinate effective compilation and documentation of the data.
•Participate in the working groups that coordinate activities across various World Bank departments involved in data products, and generally data management.
•Attend certain international meetings relevant to the Statistical Performance Indicators or the WDI.
Selection Criteria
•A minimum of a master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, economics (econometrics), or a related field.
•2 years relevant work experience.
•Strong knowledge of statistical concepts, methods, and techniques.
•Extensive experience in creating, managing, and disseminating databases of indicators.
•Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, SAS, SPSS) and data manipulation tools.
•Experience working with semi-structured data (JSON, XML) and APIs.
•Experience programming in and developing robust, well documented Python or R packages for data management.
•Experience with version control (e.g., Git) and collaborative development (e.g., Github).
•Experience working with international metadata and data exchange standards like SDMX (Statistical Data & Metadata eXchange), ISO19139/19115, DDI.
•Experience in data quality assessment and improvement.
•Familiarity with data collection methodologies and survey design.
•Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
•Strong attention to detail and ability to work with diverse data sources and large datasets.
•Effective communication and collaboration skills.
This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered
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.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.