Research Officer, Planet Lab Job : req36023 Organization: World Bank Sector: Research & Quantitative Analysis Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Brussels,Belgium Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Dutch, French, Portuguese Closing Date: 3/30/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions driven by a bold vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, we help solve the world’s greatest development challenges. When you join the World Bank Group, you become part of a dynamic, diverse organization with 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide. We work with public and private sector partners, invest in groundbreaking projects, and use data, research, and technology to bring tangible and transformative changes around the globe. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org. VPU Context: The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) is the World Bank’s central reservoir of fresh insights into the most pressing challenges of development. It is led by the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, who advises the President and senior managers, serves as the community leader for the WBG’s economists, and helps to keep the institution in the forefront of thinking about development policy. DEC constitutes one of the world’s largest teams of economists focused on policy solutions for developing economies. Unit Context: Over the past twenty years, the Development Impact Group (DECDI) has demonstrated that investing in local capacities for data, advanced analytics, impact evaluation, and artificial intelligence can effectively double the impact of policy investments. Collaborating with governments and international organizations, the Development Impact Group delivers data products and impact evaluations that significantly enhance the effectiveness of public policies. Its mission is to promote evidence-based and data-driven planning, programming, and implementation across the policy cycle. The Planet unit (DECPL) in the DECDI department leads the work on the growth agenda for a livable planet, including agriculture, natural resource management, and resilience. A current core priority for DECPL is to support the use of rigorous evidence and evaluation in advancing the agenda of agricultural productivity growth and commercialization, particularly in support of the AgriConnect Agenda. This agenda is coordinated with related efforts throughout DEC and the Planet vertical through the broader Planet Lab. To advance this agenda, DECPL seeks to hire a research officer based in Brussels with a strong record of advancing evidence and evaluation in the areas of agriculture, food security, value chain development, resilience, and/or private sector development. The position provides an opportunity to contribute to the frontier of the evidence agenda for agriculture, engage with policymakers and operational teams, and shape the development of the World Bank agenda in these areas. The research officer will be a core member of the DEC Planet Lab coordination team, which works across DECDI, DECRG and the Chief Economist office to deliver a cohesive research program linked to the WBG AgriConnect agenda. Duties and accountabilities: • Support partnerships on the AgriConnect, Food Systems, and broader EU agenda: • Manage partnerships with the Government of the Netherlands, and particularly the planned contribution to the DEC-delivered evidence agenda for the Food Systems 2030 trust fund. • Represent DECDI’s engagement the Brussels CMU. • Coordinate dissemination and evidence uptake through the EU in coordination with DECDI and Brussels CMU leads for EU engagement. • Coordinate and strategize fundraising and donor engagement in the EU for DEC. • Coordinate academic partnerships with Europe-based research institutions such as Wageningen University. • Support effective budget tracking and management of Food Systems partnership contributions. • DEC Planet Lab coordination • Provide technical and strategic support to Planet Lab management in the preparation of strategy notes, evidence briefs, and inputs for senior management discussions. Official Use Only • Collaborate closely with Research Program Managers and Principal Investigators (PIs) in the design and coordination of country, regional, and thematic research programs. • Support the coordination and delivery of Planet Lab thematic and regional initiatives in collaboration with Planet Lab PIs and management, WBG regional teams and the Planet vertical. • Support the adaptation and dissemination of Planet Lab research products and analytical tools for use by policymakers, think tanks, and development partners. • Provide advice on partnership development and engagement strategies to strengthen collaboration with World Bank operations, client governments, and external partners. • Engage in Policy-Oriented Analysis and Data Work: • Jointly with economists coordinate the design and delivery of impact evaluations for the AgriConnect and Food Systems agenda. Provide technical leadership in the operationalization of research, ensuring high standards of implementation, data quality, and analytical rigor. • Develop briefs, evidence notes and learning events to broaden the reach of DECDI evidence and research. • Engage with World Bank operational teams and policymakers to translate research insights into evidence-based policy recommendations. • Coordinate, plan, and deliver workshops to accelerate evidence uptake and develop new evaluation partnerships with operations and government counterparts. • Liaise with junior staff, including analysts, field coordinators, and research assistants, to ensure research activities are implemented to Planet Lab quality standards. • Team building and unit development: • Coordinate the interests of DECDI staff and affiliates based in Brussels as the senior staff member. • Mentor field-based staff and research analysts to develop the coordinator/analyst/officer track of career progression. Selection Criteria • Master’s degree with at least five years of experience in impact evaluation. Strong preference for field-based experience and knowledge of World Bank operations. • Strong research record agriculture, private sector development in food systems and resilience. • Expertise in supporting rigorous research and quantitative analysis of data for agriculture. • Strong track record with donor engagement and partnership management. • Experience with data collection • Ability to bridge academic research with policy debates and engage with World Bank operational teams. • Strong communication skills to engage academic, policy, and development audiences. 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 The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered. 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.