Senior Economist

The Senior Economist will provide intellectual and technical leadership on financial sector development issues in India, engaging with government and private sector stakeholders to support advisory and lending projects focused on private sector development. The role involves leading analytical work, policy dialogue, and collaboration across World Bank Group teams to mobilize private capital and foster financial sector reforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide intellectual and technical leadership on financial sector development issues in India.
• Engage in strategic dialogue with senior government counterparts and private sector stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities in the financial sector.
• Offer policy advice and technical input on reforms related to financial stability and development.
• Lead or co-lead the development of lending operations aimed at mobilizing private capital, including structuring innovative financing solutions and coordinating project design.
• Drive the creation of high-quality analytical work on financial sector topics, ensuring outputs are rigorous, relevant, and actionable.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the FCI Global Practice and other Global Practices, including IFC and MIGA, to deliver integrated solutions.
• Champion private capital mobilization as a cross-cutting priority across all dimensions of engagement.
• Serve as a key point of contact for financial sector engagements in India, maintaining strong client relationships and representing the World Bank in relevant meetings and conferences.
• Mentor and guide junior staff and team members, fostering a positive and inclusive team environment.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in the financial sector or financial sector development, including banking, capital markets, financial regulation, or development finance.
• A Ph.D. or advanced certification is an advantage.
• Proven expertise in India’s financial sector development, including deep knowledge of the banking system, capital markets, non-banking financial institutions, fintech, and digital finance.
• Strong understanding of India’s regulatory and supervisory frameworks and experience engaging with key institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, and IRDAI.
• Demonstrated analytical and advisory skills, with a track record of producing high-quality financial sector analyses, reports, or technical papers that inform policy or reform.
• Experience designing or implementing lending, investment, or blended finance projects, ideally leveraging private capital through guarantees, co-financing, or PPPs.
• Excellent project management and leadership abilities, including experience coordinating teams and delivering results under tight timelines.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with fluency in English (spoken and written); proficiency in Hindi or other Indian languages is an asset.

Skills

• Banking Sector Development
• Banking Sector Knowledge
• Capital Markets Experience
• Finance Regulation
• Development Finance
• India Regulatory Frameworks
• Reserve Bank of India Engagement
• SEBI Engagement
• IRDAI Engagement
• Financial Sector Analysis
• Policy Advisory
• Lending Project Design
• Investment Project Implementation
• Blended Finance Structuring
• Private Sector Capital Mobilization
• Public Private Partnerships
• Project Management
• Team Leadership
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Report Writing

Languages

English