Overview Senior Agriculture Economist – World Bank Group
Location: Vienna, Austria. Term: 4 years. Recruitment: International. Closing Date: 3/2/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC. Required language: English. Preferred language: Russian.
Duties & Responsibilities Provide technical, operational, and strategic leadership on food safety for the development and implementation of the unit’s work program in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region.
Lead or contribute to policy dialogue on food safety and food trade and interactions with clients, development partners, and other stakeholders; alert management to issues requiring attention.
Lead and co-lead preparation and supervision of operations as Task Team Leader of operations managed by SCAAG and projects related to agriculture, agribusiness, agri-food systems, and rural development; ensure high quality and timely delivery.
Lead or contribute as a core team member to analytical products and engage with clients and stakeholders on strategic program development and policy reforms relevant for the transformation of agriculture and rural economies in the ECA region.
Collaborate with staff across Global Practices, IFC, and MIGA to identify opportunities for addressing agri-food development issues as part of core diagnostics, country partnerships, policy dialogues, and multi-sectoral projects.
Stay current with major analytical work in the profession and participate in strategic analytical work relevant to SCAAG’s work program in the region.
Represent the World Bank in forums with development partners and support food safety related work of partners as appropriate.
Develop strong client relations and partnerships with other Global Practices, IFC, and MIGA on operational matters and policy dialogue.
Contribute to the rollout of the AgriConnect initiative in the ECA region from a food safety perspective.
Selection Criteria / Qualifications Advanced knowledge in food safety, agriculture, agri-food systems, and rural development, and investments and policies.
Master’s or PhD in Food Safety, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Economics, MBA, or related discipline; at least eight years of relevant experience.
Experience in managing complex projects with high-impact results; strong analytical skills and ability to lead policy dialogue on transformation of agri-food systems.
Understanding of food safety and food trade policies, institutions, and regulations with ability to support findings with technical evidence.
Proven team skills in a demanding, fast-paced, multi-sectoral and multi-cultural environment; commitment to teamwork and effective collaboration.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; ability to present complex issues to World Bank management, government representatives, and non-specialist audiences.
Ability to travel regionally and internationally.
Operational familiarity with the World Bank’s project cycle and knowledge of IFC investments and advisory services would be a plus.
Knowledge of any ECA languages, especially Russian, in addition to English, would be a plus.
World Bank Group Culture Attributes Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to stakeholder needs.
Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo to achieve greater impact.
Empowerment and accountability: Act responsibly and hold others accountable for results.
World Bank Group Core Competencies The World Bank Group offers a comprehensive benefits package and an inclusive work environment. We are an equal opportunity and inclusive employer and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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