Senior AI Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative change around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

VPU Context: Digital technologies offer a unique opportunity to transform development through digital solutions. The Digital and AI Vertical Vice Presidency and its global and regional teams support client countries in building their capacities for digital transformation and AI use. The WBG Digital and AI Vertical is led by a Vice President and was established in July 2024. WBG recently published its Digital and AI Strategy which includes four pillars: access, affordability, ecosystem and AI readiness. The strategy identifies the priorities that WBG will engage across the client segment over the next five years.  The implementation plan is currently under preparation.

The Vertical will deploy a range of products, services, and partnerships to advance global knowledge across the four pillars of the Strategy through: 
• Supporting World Bank regions that provide financing to governments in the form of grants, loans, guarantees, and risk management products to support digital investment projects and implement policy reforms.
• Supporting World Bank regions that provide advisory services including targeted policy guidance, technical assistance, and capacity building. 
• Knowledge products include data and diagnostics to provide actionable insights at regional, country, and local levels, research and thought leadership to expand the global knowledge base, as well as thematic operational toolkits. 
• Convening services that bring together key stakeholders, from both public and private sectors as well as international and non-governmental organizations involved in advancing global digital transformation. 

For more information:https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/digital-and-ai

The East Asia & Pacific (EAP) Region Context: EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines and China! Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are heavily affected by climate change. The Bank plays a significant role on global public goods, including climate, biodiversity, water pollution, and health. The COVID pandemic, and more recently food and energy price increases are compounding the impact of the global economic slowdown. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing. 

East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/region/eap

Job Context: The World Bank Group (WBG) and the Government of the Republic of Korea have established the WBG-Korea Global Digital Knowledge Center (DKC) in Seoul as part of the broader partnership on Digital and Artificial Intelligence. Building on Korea’s world-class digital innovation experience and the WBG’s global development expertise, the DKC serves as a global hub to accelerate digital transformation in developing countries through knowledge creation, capacity building, operational support, and innovation grants. The DKC builds on the long-standing WBG–Korea partnership in digital development and supports the implementation of the WBG’s Digital Development Global Strategy. 

The DKC is a joint initiative of the EAP Region and the Digital & AI Vertical to deliver practical, scalable, and inclusive digital transformation solutions. The Center’s three strategic pillars are:
1. Strengthening Digital and Data Infrastructure
2. Enhancing Digital Public Services
3. Fostering an Inclusive Digital Economy, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a cross-cutting theme.

The DKC is housed within the WBG Korea Office, and the team comprises a mix of regional and global digital experts working across the three technical pillars, supported by operational staff and external partners from Korea and WBG units.

Duties and accountabilities:

1. AI Strategy, Governance & Policy Advisory
• Provide senior thought leadership on national AI strategies, regulatory frameworks, risk based AI oversight, and AI governance models.
• Advise governments on developing enabling environments for safe and ethical AI adoption (privacy, cybersecurity, algorithmic fairness, explainability, red teaming).
• Translate the WBG AI related strategic priorities into country level programs and operational guidance.

2. AI Readiness, Diagnostics & Country Engagements
• Lead AI readiness diagnostics, maturity assessments, and sector specific feasibility studies.
• Identify high value AI use cases in public service delivery, social protection, health, climate adaptation, education, procurement, and infrastructure.
• Design policy roadmaps, pilots, regulatory sandboxes, and institutional capacity building programs.

3. AI for Digital Government & Knowledge Bank Integration
• Support DKC’s digital government programs by embedding AI capabilities (e.g., NLP driven service interfaces, automated case handling, fraud analytics, digital ID integration, computer vision for inspections).
• Lead creation of global AI knowledge assets: playbooks, toolkits, KPIs, implementation guides, regulatory templates, case studies.
• Coordinate quality assurance, peer reviews, and Knowledge Bank alignment.

4. Korea AI Ecosystem Engagement 
• Map Korea’s AI ecosystem (research labs, start ups, major tech firms, universities, accelerators, standards bodies).
• Broker partnerships between Korea AI institutions and client countries (study tours, AI policy academies, co-development pilots).
• Identify scalable Korean AI innovations relevant for developing countries—particularly in agriculture, disaster management, public health, mobility, education, and service delivery.

5. Operational Support to Lending & Advisory Programs
• Provide technical leadership on AI related components of World Bank lending and ASA programs.
• Contribute to development of TORs, procurement specifications, safeguards analysis, and risk frameworks for      AI systems.
• Conduct M&E of pilots and national AI programs using global frameworks and DKC methods.

6. AI Innovation, Pilots, and Responsible Deployment
• Design and oversee proofs of concept and pilot deployments of AI tools.
• Assess scalability, cost effectiveness, risks, and safeguards for broader deployment.
• Monitor outcomes, sustainability, and institutional readiness.

7. Communications, Stakeholder Engagement & Convening
• Representing the WBG at high level Korea AI forums, conferences, and government consultations.
• Prepare briefs, analytical notes, and strategic updates for internal WBG leadership, Korean stakeholders, and global clients.
• Organize Korea global AI events, workshops, and policy dialogues.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in computer science, AI/ML, data science, engineering, information systems, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years hands-on experience in AI/ML model development, AI policy, AI systems integration, responsible AI, AI governance, or research/industry AI deployment.
• Deep understanding of AI architectures (ML, NLP, CV, LLMs), data pipelines, MLOps, and ethical AI considerations.
• Strong understanding of Korean AI ecosystem and ability to interface with Korean institutions at senior levels.
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate highly technical AI concepts into policy relevant insights.
• Fluency in Korean and English.

Preferred qualifications:
• Experience working with public sector AI transformation programs.
• Understanding of data governance, privacy regulation, cybersecurity, and DPI.
• Experience in international development or multilateral institutions.
• Experience with AI procurement, AI risk management frameworks, or national AI regulatory approaches.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.