E T Consultant
Job #:
req39072
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Private Sector Development
Grade:
EC2
Term Duration:
1 year 0 months
Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:
11/2/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
The World Bank is seeking to hire a Private Sector Development Specialist, based in Washington DC, as Extended Term Consultant (ETC) for 1 year. The ETC will work for the MENAAP Finance, Competitiveness, and Investment (FCI) Regional team and support the work program in GCC countries. Part of the Prosperity vertical, FCI combines expertise in the financial sector with expertise in private sector development to foster private sector-led growth and help create markets in client countries. FCI's core lines of business include: (a) Financial Systems Resilience & Integrity; (b) Financial Inclusion; (c) Capital Markets Development; (d) Climate & Risk Management; (e) SME and Enterprise Development; and (f) Competition Policy, Trade Policy and Facilitation. For more information, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit/fci.
In GCC, the FCI team of the Bank implements a robust work program, covering both private and financial sector development aspects, under technical assistance (TA) activities. The core FCI team for GCC is comprised of the Practice Manager (PM) and Lead and Senior Economists, Senior Specialists, supported by regional and global colleagues. Working under the direct day-to-day supervision of the Senior Economist/ Senior Specialist (as Task Team Leaders/ TTLs), based in Riyadh and Washington DC respectively, and with guidance from the PM, the ETC will primarily focus on the private sector component of the FCI program in GCC.
Duties and Responsibilities
The ETC's specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Support the TTLs in maintaining and deepening policy dialogue with government and private sector counterparts, national and subnational, on investment promotion, facilitation, aftercare, and the broader investment climate. Leverage established relationships with the KSA Ministry of Investment (MISA), the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA), and the UAE Ministry of Investment (MoI) to advance reforms and their implementation.
• Provide technical support on the design and strengthening of investment promotion agency (IPA) functions. These include investor targeting and lead generation, image building, investor servicing, one-stop-shop and facilitation mechanisms, aftercare and retention, and policy advocacy. Support the development of sector-specific investment strategies and value propositions, including for pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, digital, and manufacturing.
• Support work on FDI attraction and impact. This covers analyzing FDI trends and investor perceptions, supporting the development of performance indicators and monitoring and evaluation frameworks for IPAs, and advising on linkages between foreign investors and local SMEs and suppliers.
• Prepare high-quality analytical outputs (notes, briefs, proposals, and reports) on investment promotion, competitiveness, and private sector development. Translate evidence and international good practice into actionable policy and program recommendations tailored to counterparts' priorities.
• Help design, organize, and facilitate policy consultations and dissemination events with public and private stakeholders, including peer-learning exchanges with leading IPAs. Ensure inclusive participation and clear follow-through on agreed actions.
• Organize and participate in missions, meetings, workshops, and focus groups as requested by the TTL. This includes logistics, materials preparation, and stakeholder engagement. Coordinate with institutions, experts, and participants to ensure timely delivery and documentation of results.
Selection Criteria
• Master's degree in economics, public policy, international development, trade, business, or a related discipline, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in investment promotion, investment facilitation, economic development, or investment management.
• Demonstrated practical experience in investment promotion and facilitation, such as working in or advising an IPA, investment ministry, or economic development agency. Experience in investor targeting, aftercare, and investment incentives and policy advocacy is an asset. Knowledge of trade and investment policy, investment climate and business environment reforms, and SME support is also valued.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. This includes the ability to draft concise reports and correspondence and to present the team's work and advice to a variety of stakeholders, orally and in writing.
• Experience working at the sub-national (provincial) level and in industries relevant to the FCI program in Saudi Arabia and UAE.
• Practical experience translating global good practice in investment policy and promotion into GCC specific policy and institutional contexts.
• Deep, on-the-ground understanding of private sector and foreign investor constraints and opportunities in Saudi Arabia and UAE. This should be informed by multi-year engagement with KSA MISA, KSA SIPA, and the UAE MOI, and by direct involvement in the design and sequencing of investment climate and promotion reforms.
• Proven track record of involvement in country-level policy discussions on investment promotion, investment climate, and competitiveness. This includes stakeholder convening and drafting policy notes with recommendations.
• Collaborative team player in multi-disciplinary and multicultural settings, able to motivate, lead, and contribute to cross-VPU and cross-agency efforts.
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
As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.
