Lead Economist

World Bank Group; Singapore; On-site; SGD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An international financial institution is seeking a Lead Economist in Singapore to provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing education programs. The ideal candidate will have a PhD, 12-15 years in education sector development, and strong analytical skills. Responsibilities include leading multi-functional projects, conducting policy analysis, and advising governments on education financing and reforms.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits including a retirement plan

Medical, life, and disability insurance

Paid leave including parental leave

Qualifications

• Minimum 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience in education sector development.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills for policy analysis.
• Experience managing large-scale education projects in developing countries.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in developing education programs across multiple countries.
• Conduct rigorous policy analysis and public finance reviews.
• Lead complex cross-regional projects ensuring quality outcomes.

Skills

Forecasting

Python

SPSS

R

Regression Analysis

Stata

Research Experience

Statistical Software

Survey Design

Calculus

SAS

Statistics

Education

PhD or equivalent terminal degree in economics or related field

Job description

Lead Economist

Job # : req34715

Organization : World Bank

Sector : Education

Grade : GH

Term Duration : 5 years 0 months

Recruitment Type : International Recruitment

Location : Singapore

Required Language(s) : English

Preferred Language(s) :

Closing Date : 11 / 10 / 2025 (MM / DD / YYYY) at 11 : 59pm UTC

Description

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

Because traditional programs that are driven by input often fail to promote learning the WBGs education strategy highlights the need for a more comprehensive systems approach to education reform investments and service delivery. This approach is about increasing accountability and targeting results as a complement to providing inputs. And it also requires strengthening the knowledge base on education to highlight where systems are achieving results where they are falling short and what the most effective solutions are. These efforts are increasingly guided by the need to invest early invest smartly and invest for all! Through high-quality analytical work collection and curation of evidence and practical know-how in these three areas the WBG is helping its partner countries accelerate their educational progress.

The East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region comprises more than 20 countries including MICs LICs and fragile states (EAP has the second highest number of fragile states amongst all the Bank regions). In the education sector while many of the countries in EAP have achieved much in terms of getting their children to attend school at basic levels they face ongoing challenges regarding the need to provide access at post-basic levels improve the quality of schooling at all levels and enhance the relevance of education for the workplace!

The EAP Regions education strategy is consistent with the Banks own education sector strategy with focus on following areas : (a) to strengthen education systems by helping develop institutions that enhance accountability build information for effective decision-making through M&E and assessment systems and benchmarking; (b) to tailor our approach to country circumstances specifically by responding to fast-growing countries requests to engage in upper secondary and higher education skills development and vocational training as well as to those from fragile and small states still trying to complete the EFA agenda; and (c) to use multi-sector approaches such as conditional cash transfer programs to achieve educational outcomes.

The Lead Economist will report to the Practice Manager for East Asia and Pacific and will provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing education programs and projects across multiple countries in the region. This position plays a critical role in advancing the education agenda in EAP through rigorous economic analysis with particular emphasis on education financing resource allocation and spending efficiency. The Lead Economist will serve as a trusted high-level interlocutor with government officials including Ministers conduct evidence-based policy dialogue on education sector reforms and lead complex multi-functional projects while ensuring alignment with country priorities and corporate objectives including climate gender and maximizing finance for development.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Lead Economist will:

Provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing education programs and projects across multiple countries in the EAP region ensuring alignment with country priorities and corporate objectives.

Offer deep technical expertise in education sector development from early childhood through higher education with particular focus on education financing resource allocation spending efficiency and equity analysis.

Design and assess education financing mechanisms including budget allocation formulas per-student financing performance-based funding and innovative financing instruments to expand and sustain quality education systems.

Conduct rigorous policy analysis public finance reviews expenditure tracking and cost-effectiveness studies to strengthen education systems and inform evidence-based policymaking.

Analyze fiscal space for education investments and advise governments on medium-term expenditure frameworks revenue mobilization strategies and optimizing domestic and external financing for the sector.

Advise on the preparation and implementation of lending and non-lending operations translating broad policy objectives into concrete development proposals that integrate climate gender and maximizing finance for development.

Lead and manage complex multi-functional cross-regional projects while ensuring efficient delivery and quality outcomes across diverse operational contexts.

Serve as trusted high-level interlocutor with Ministers of education finance and planning donors private sector and civil society to facilitate effective policy dialogue on education financing and reform.

Conduct evidence-based policy dialogue promoting the use of data in prioritization exercises to advocate for more and better spending in education demonstrating links between education investments and economic returns.

Defend the rationale and impacts of proposed reforms to senior stakeholders demonstrating deep understanding of political economy social and cultural factors influencing education policy and public expenditure decisions.

Represent the EAP Global Practice in high-level regional forums sharing insights on education financing strategies and promoting best practices linking education to broader macroeconomic and poverty reduction frameworks.

Build and mentor multidisciplinary teams while promoting collaboration across the World Bank Group and with external partners and demonstrate influence across organizational boundaries through peer reviewing and corporate contributions.

Note -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 case an external candidate applies their application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

PhD or equivalent terminal degree in economics education economics public policy or related field with minimum 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience in education sector development.

Deep expertise in education financing resource allocation spending efficiency and equity analysis across all levels of the education system from early childhood through higher education and skills development.

Strong quantitative and analytical skills with demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous policy analysis public finance reviews expenditure tracking impact evaluations and cost-effectiveness studies.

Proven track record of leading and managing large-scale complex multi-functional education projects and programs in developing countries preferably in the EAP region.

Demonstrated ability to build and mentor multidisciplinary teams while promoting collaboration across organizational boundaries and with external partners through professional networks.

Exceptional ability to serve as trusted high-level interlocutor with senior government officials including Ministers demonstrating political judgment diplomatic acumen and strong negotiating skills.

Proven ability to conduct effective evidence-based policy dialogue and defend reform proposals to senior stakeholders with deep understanding of political economy social and cultural factors influencing education policymaking.

Outstanding written and oral communication skills with ability to facilitate debate among international experts deliver compelling messages to diverse audiences and influence decision-making at the highest levels.

Experience representing organizations in high-level regional and international forums with strong presentation skills and ability to link education issues to broader macroeconomic and poverty reduction frameworks.

Proven ability to conceive and promote innovations in development policies and project design integrating cross-cutting themes such as climate gender and maximizing finance for development.

Comprehensive knowledge of macroeconomic frameworks and their relationship to education sector development with ability to analyze fiscal space and advise on medium-term expenditure strategies.

Fluency in English required with proven ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and willingness to travel extensively within the EAP region and globally.

WBG Culture Attributes

• Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
• 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.

Key Skills

• Forecasting
• Python
• Spss
• R
• Regression Analysis
• Stata
• Research Experience
• Statistical Software
• Survey Design
• Calculus
• SAS
• Statistics

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1