Senior Knowledge Management Officer, Tokyo, Japan

Senior Knowledge Management Officer, Tokyo, Japan
Closing Date: Saturday, 26 January 2013

  Background / General description:

 This is a local position and the selected candidate must either be a Japanese Citizen or have the necessary work permit or visa to work and live legally in Japan. A competitive compensation package will be offered commensurate with qualifications and experience.....


The East Asia and Pacific Region presents a dramatic illustration of the global dynamics, opportunities and risks of the 21st century. After making the fastest progress in growth and poverty reduction of any region around the world in the last fifteen years, some countries in the region - such as Mongolia - are poised to become middle-income, and some are preparing to join the small group of high-income countries. Such a rapid transformation is leading to the largest shift in rural-to-urban population in human history, generating rising inequality within and across countries, leaving individuals and regions behind in the dash for prosperity. Meanwhile, the uncertainty in the advanced economies clouds the prospects for countries across the region which are being forced to adjust to changed growth and development prospects while addressing evolving impacts on macroeconomic stability, employment and poverty.

EAP comprises more than 20 countries, including China, several Middle-Income Countries, Low-Income Countries, and fragile states (EAP has the second highest number of fragile states amongst all the Bank regions). The Region is characterized by generally rapid growth, both sophisticated and low capacity borrowers, and some highly dynamic sectors. At the same time, EAP countries are faced with weak governance environments. The Bank's program in EAP is multi-faceted and has grown rapidly in recent years: lending in FY12 will has exceeded $8 billion; the portfolio consists of nearly 300 operations for about $30 billion; and the Trust Fund program is significant (with a portfolio of about $4.3 billion). EAP consists of about 800 staff with 20% in Washington and 80% based in the field offices in the six Country Management Units.

The Operations Services Sector (EASOS) of the East Asia and Pacific Region (EAP) provides services to the Region in three main areas: Development Effectiveness, Procurement, and Financial Management. The Department's mission is to provide timely, high-quality, value-adding, and cost-effective support to regional staff and management on enhancing the development effectiveness of lending and grant operations and on meeting the Bank's quality and fiduciary standards. EASOS also provides tools to implement the Bank's agendas in confronting corruption, mitigating risks, managing for results, and learning and knowledge. EASDE (Development Effectiveness) is a multi-disciplinary group that comprises the Quality, Trust Funds, Safeguards, and Knowledge and Learning (including both client and staff learning; and both distance and face-to-face delivery).

The Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) is part of the EASDE unit and contributes to the overall knowledge and learning agenda of the EAP region. Established under the Japan-World Bank Distance Learning Partnership, the mission of the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) is to serve as a platform for knowledge sharing on developmental issues with a broad range of public/private partners. TDLC also serves as a hub for technology services and for design and delivery of knowledge and learning programs as a member of the Global Development Learning network (GDLN).

Please note that this is a coterminous position and if the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment, if s/he has a re-entry guarantee from their current department. All others will be offered a 2-year renewable term appointment.

  Duties and Accountabilities:
This position will function as Programs and Knowledge Coordinator. Under the guidance of the TDLC Program Manager, the incumbent will assume the following duties and responsibilities:

    Lead development and implementation of specific structured learning and knowledge sharing programs in coordination with Bank operational teams (Sector Management Units, WBI, etc), Japanese organizations (e.g. JICA), and regional organizations (e.g. ASEAN).
    Develop and manage relationships to deliver knowledge and learning programs based on sound instructional design methods for both new and established partners (e.g. CITYNET), and in TDLC's key areas of focus, including disaster risk management and global health.
    Provide leadership/mentorship to other members of the TDLC Programs Coordination team, including guidance on program design and implementation and on partnership development and relationship management.
    Prepare, coordinate, and deliver TDLC services to GDLN affiliates and partners by working with TDLC colleagues and in collaboration with other DLCs/
    As part of the delivery of programs, develop multimedia-based content / knowledge management approaches as an integral part of TDLC program service delivery including:

    o Design and/or recommend overall course and module structure, learning strategies and methodologies, materials, and collaborative activities that support course goals, learning objectives and performance objectives.

    o Establish, maintain and manage the relationship with content/program partners to ensure the design and delivery of dynamic, interactive learning experiences

    o Oversee the work of consultants hired as distance learning specialists, instructional designers, or subject matter experts to guide specific TDLC structured programs

    o Advise on the most appropriate blend of tools/technologies and methodologies for learning activities including videoconferencing, face-to-face, the web, CD-ROM, PowerPoint, video, social media, audio and print etc.

    o Plan and coordinate use of web-based learning management systems (e.g. Moodle) within TDLC structured programs
    Support the TDLC Program Manager in developing regional programs that lead to the creation of revenue generating and /or public good type of GDLN business in the EAP region.
    Through close interactions with clients and partners, identify potential fund raising activities for TDLC programs that can be pursued by TDLC Program Manager.
    Contribute to development of GDLN regional operation procedures.
    Represent TDLC in GDLN Asia Pacific and/or GDLN Global committees and working groups, under the guidance of TDLC Program Manager.
    Provide inputs and support to the TDLC Program Manager on business plan/work program development and dialogues with stakeholders.
    Maintain close and constructive working relations with the staff of the World Bank Tokyo Office.

  Selection Criteria:
Competencies:

    Knowledge Strategy, Leadership and Implementation - Is able to independently identify and assess opportunities to incorporate KM into a broader range of business processes which bring advantage to organization and/or its clients.
    Culture Change, Community Building and Collaboration - Has solid understanding of, and interest in, theory of organizational change, applies it in organizational environment and in KM activities.
    Knowledge Assessment, Content Management and Evaluation - Has ability to create and promote the right conditions for knowledge to be created and used.
    Knowledge Architecture, Technology and Tools - Demonstrates broad understanding of and keeps up to date with newest technologies and applications relevant to KM.
    Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
    Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
    Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
    Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
    Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

    Other Selection Criteria:
    Advanced degree (Masters level) in development or related fields and minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience.
    Strong English and Japanese language ability, including both oral and written communications.
    Strong knowledge of the field of instructional design.
    Demonstrated experience in applying information technology to the implementation of knowledge and learning programs.
    Strong client and program delivery orientation.
    Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environments, and to work as a member of a team, both as participant or team leader, and with senior staff and managers in the unit and elsewhere in the Bank Group.
    Functional understanding of multimedia applications for instructional design.
    Proven ability to deliver complex projects and activities on-time and on-budget.
    Experience in public/private sector training institutions, or in marketing.
    Experience in fostering partnerships in an international development context.
    Interest in and understanding of the Bank Group's work and objectives.
    Experience with projects or programs in the fields of disaster risk management or global health desirable.To apply click