JOB DESCRIPTION

E T Consultant- Opinion Research Specialist

Job #: req32363 Organization: World Bank Sector: Communications 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: 4/7/2025 (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

External and Corporate Relations Vice-Presidency (ECR)

The mission of External and Corporate Relations (ECR) is to help deliver financial and political support for the World Bank Group, strengthen the Bank Group’s role as a global thought leader in development by enhancing and safeguarding its reputation, and supporting operational teams to achieve country outcomes. ECR manages corporate communications and global engagement with key stakeholders, including media, civil society, foundations, private sector, donor countries, and international organizations, as well as employee engagement. ECR also manages strategic communications for the World Bank’s Regions and Global Practices and leads the management of reputation risk.

Department context:

The ECR Brand and Digital (ECRBD) department is responsible for the World Bank’s corporate online and social media presence; manages the Bank’s brand and reputation through its digital channels; produces content for a wide variety of platforms, including print, broadcast, and web; and provides insights and impact analysis of the Bank’s communications work.

Background / General description

ECR’s Business Intelligence (BI) team in the ECRBD department measures and evaluates the World Bank’s communications work, optimizes digital campaigns, and researches the opinions of key stakeholders to assess and improve the reputation of the institution globally. The Business Intelligence team is an essential partner for communications colleagues across the World Bank Group (WBG), it provides them with data and insights to inform communications strategies and operational priorities.

Among its mandates, the BI team is responsible for analyzing WBG stakeholders’ feedback on the WBG’s effectiveness and results in client countries through the flagship Country Opinion Survey (COS) Program. As part of the WBG’s increasing focus on results, the COS Program gauges the perceptions of clients and other stakeholders systematically, globally, and consistently. In order to achieve this, Country Surveys are fielded in approximately 40-45 client countries per year, resulting in a full census of data from all client countries every three years. The data are used to track results over time in countries, regions, and globally. The findings inform a range of corporate indicators and country-specific strategies on issues related to the WBG’s effectiveness and development impact, financial instruments and knowledge work, partnerships and collaboration on the ground, outreach and overall reputation.

About the COS Program: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/world-bank-country-opinion-surveys

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organized, self-motivated individual with demonstrated hands-on experience in quantitative and qualitative research, survey design and methods, and management of relations with internal and external partners. The successful candidate possesses excellent presentation and communication skills, and is able to discover and articulate actionable insights from large amounts of data.

This is an Extended Term Full-Time Consultancy for one year, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year. The job is based in Washington, D.C. The successful candidate is expected to work from the office four days a week at a minimum.

Duties and Responsibilities

Relationship Management: 

• Supervise the launch and implementation of 10-15 Country Opinion Surveys (COS) in close collaboration with country teams;
• Coordinate all aspects of the COS process with regional and country teams (incl. TORs and training for local fielding firms, balanced stakeholder representation in country databases, etc.) and ensure effective survey implementation according to corporate and country deadlines;
• Manage relations with fielding firms including coordinating procurement process, supervising field work, and ensuring data accuracy;
• Collaborate with ECR and operational teams on designing questionnaires and collecting data related to other external and internal survey efforts.

Survey design/preparation:

• Develop COS questionnaires addressing country circumstances and program needs (incl. design of specific survey modules according to country context and program specifics);
• Design web-based COS surveys in multiple languages (using Qualtrics), provide support to country teams on all aspects of online survey implementation, and monitor results throughout the COS process;
• Provide recommendations to teams across the WBG on various aspects of the design and implementation of internal and external research efforts.

Data analysis and reporting: 

• Analyze quantitative data in R, SPSS, and Excel and perform statistical analysis including straight forward banner reporting, quadrant analysis, and multivariate and regression analyses when necessary;
• Apply various sampling and research methodologies with informed opinions about these and related matters such as weighting;
• Analyze large amounts of qualitative data from open-ended questions;
• Prepare research reports from various survey efforts, including quantitative and qualitative data analyses, and presentations of survey results in PowerPoint.

Selection Criteria

Technical: 

• Master’s degree with at least 5 years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of qualifications and experience in communications or social sciences with strong focus on quantitative research methods and statistical analysis.   A higher-level degree is strongly preferred.
• Strong data analytics skills including a high level of experience with Excel, R, and SPSS statistical software as well as with online survey platforms such as Qualtrics.
• Advanced research skills, including strong expertise in sampling, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, weighting, multivariate and regression analyses, etc.
• Experience in leveraging AI technologies to analyze large amounts of unstructured data and qualitative feedback.
• Ability to work on all aspects of a research effort from design to implementation support to quality control of data to writing reports and preparing presentation.
• Ability to prepare PowerPoint presentations with charts/tables and other more sophisticated data visualization tools.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Strong client focus: Sound judgment and ability to evaluate client needs, suggest innovative approaches and follow up on detailed implementation.
• Proven ability to work effectively with teams in a multicultural environment is critical and knowledge of diverse world languages is highly desired.
• Proven ability to work effectively with internal clients across the institution.
• Proven ability to work with outside vendors on solving research challenges.
• Ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.
• Solid understanding of current development topics, issues, and institutions.
• Good understanding of World Bank Group operations and policies, especially the strategy, policy review and project cycle, and stakeholder relations will be a plus.

Interpersonal:

• High levels of initiative, judgment, and a solutions-focused mindset; good time-management skills and an eye for detail.
• Strong diplomatic, interpersonal and teamwork skills, demonstrated client orientation, and sensitivity to working in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work effectively under stress and to juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
• Able to work with staff at various levels, from senior management to unit-level communications staff.
• Able to work with minimal direction and supervision; independent and self-sufficient.
• Team player, with positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Demonstrated willingness to provide assistance and support when others on the team are in need.
• Organized, detail-oriented and deadline-driven.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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. 

Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET appointment of three years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements