Job Description
- 162310
- Senior Transport Specialist.
- Transportation
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- International Hire
- English [Essential]
- 15-Nov-2016
The World Bank Group’s Transport and ICT Global Practice (T&I GP) seeks to improve virtual and physical connectivity of developing countries to promote economic and social development. It responds to the needs of developing countries and transition economies for modern and reliable transport and ICT solutions. These needs are growing exponentially under the combined effect of globalization, population growth, urbanization, economic development, and technological progress – making transport and ICT a cornerstone of the global development agenda.
To serve our clients, the T&I GP offers comprehensive financial and technical assistance solutions. This includes the entire range of financial instruments (loans, zero to low-interest credits, grants, and guarantees), the facilitation of financing through trust fund partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donors, reimbursable advisory services, and comprehensive knowledge offerings. T&I manages an active World Bank transport portfolio of $41 billion and ICT portfolio of $1.5 billion (as of Aug 26th, 2015), making the WB the largest provider of development finance for transport globally.
The Practice is led by a Senior Director and two Directors, supported by nine Regional Practice Managers (PMs) for the delivery of transport operations and analytical and advisory work, two PMs in charge of ICT operations, one PM in charge of knowledge and operational support, one Lead Economist, and five Global Solutions Group Leaders managing knowledge offerings in areas, such as development corridors and regional integration, road asset management and rural accessibility, road safety, urban mobility, and broadband access for all. The T&I leadership team further includes staff leading the agenda on railway development, air transport, mainstreaming ICT, green transport and ICT, leveraging the private sector, gender, jobs and FCV. To execute our work program, T&I has also established important partnerships inside and outside the WBG, including with other international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
South Asia’s transport network is one of the largest in the world. Its road network is quite extensive. For example, India’s roads rank third in terms of length, next only to China and the United States. In terms of density India’s roads are similar to the United States and far denser than those in China or Brazil. However SAR’s current road network is increasingly insufficient to support rapid growth in the economy. Most roads are generally in poor condition, urban traffic is clogged, public transport is unreliable and unsafe, and intra-regional connectivity is inadequate.
While rail and inland waterways are more cost-effective and environment-friendly than roads, their enormous potential has yet to be realized. SAR’s railway network, which includes one of the largest and most densely-used networks in the world – India, has seen little new investment. And ports need to be modernized and better connected with the hinterland. An integrated logistics strategy will need to address the missing links in the transport system and connect key transport modes – roads, rail and ports – with each other.
Poor safety, especially road safety, is a major concern. Road fatalities in SAR are among the highest in the world – touching almost 140,000 in 2012 alone in India. Moreover, the growing number of vehicles is leading to rising air pollution as the region continues to add new motorized vehicles at a record pace.
It is estimated that the transport sector alone will require an investment of nearly $700 billion (3.3 percent of 2010 GDP) over the next 10 years. Given this scenario, both the public and private sectors will need to increase their transport sector investments as a proportion of GDP, and strengthen their capacity for executing infrastructure project in a rapid and efficient manner
For decades, the World Bank has been assisting SAR countries in developing appropriate solutions to the sector’s tremendous challenges. World Bank projects support SAR Governments’ efforts to improve the highways, reform and develop the railways, increase the network of rural roads, upgrade urban transport, pilot applications of ITS technology, and improve road safety. The Bank especially focuses on strengthening institutions, increasing accountability, and building capacities among transportation agencies at both the national and state levels.
The T&I Global Practice seeks to recruit a Senior Transport Specialist for transport sector operations in the SAR Region based in Kathmandu. The position seeks highly qualified and experienced candidates who are seasoned professionals, with expertise in the transport sector (see below specific requirements). He/she will be responsible for the management of a number of key transport projects and AAA/SW and oversight of one or more thematic areas in projects and AAA/ESW undertaken by other TTLs. The chosen candidate will report to the SAR Transport practice manager.
Note: 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. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountability
The primary responsibilities of this position will be to:
• Manage selected Bank’s transport portfolio activities in the Unit (with responsibilities for 2 to 4 ongoing projects and 1 or 2 new operations in a given year) and, where required, be responsible for the initiation and completion of economic sector work;
• Deliver technical expertise that can improve the quality of transport activities in the region by both working to bring best practices to client organizations and conducting proactive oversight of ongoing projects;
• Develop capacity in the pertinent implementing entities to plan, develop and manage transport network assets under their jurisdictions;
• Provide professional input in SAR with respect to formulating sector strategy, with the focus on either road, railways and waterways subsectors, for implementation through Bank-financed operations in Client countries; and
• Lead transport related policy dialogue in the country.
The specific duties will include project deliveries, supervision and contribution to analytical studies consistent with the SAR strategies, with particular focus on:
• Providing guidance to improve the professional quality of road, railway and waterway sub-sectors in SAR in general and raise professional standards of other unit’s staff, through technical advisory quality assurance control of projects and junior staff mentoring
• Coordinating activities related to analytical aspects of road, railway and waterway sub-sectors in the region including knowledge creation and dissemination.
• Managing teams of external experts engaged to support the Bank’s project implementation activities.
• Working in teams in other sector units with transport components in projects, enhance the quality of project design, implementation and supervision, and related technical assistance components;
• Supporting formulation and implementation of institutional reforms and capacity building initiatives in the road, railway and waterway sub-sectors in cooperation with responsible agencies and other partners at country level;
• Contributing to country briefs for policy makers and senior Bank management
• For projects for which appointed as task team leader, ensuring compliance with the Bank Operational Policies and guidelines, managing fiduciary (especially procurement and financial management) and other corporate responsibilities, including safeguards compliance;
In carrying out those duties, the appointee will have to:
• work effectively in a diverse and cross cultural environment with the transport team members based in both Washington DC and in country offices;
• ensure effective collaboration and partnership between Governments, the World Bank, and other development partners in the transport sector; and
• improve SAR’s portfolio performance in the areas of expertise
Selection Criteria
Candidates for the position will be selected based on the following preferred criteria:
• Post graduate degree at Masters’ level or higher in transport economics, transport related engineering, or a relevant field;
• adequate technical knowledge regarding construction and maintenance of roads and bridges with good knowledge of public sector planning and project implementation
• Minimum eight (08) years proven experience in the transport sector, including in developed countries, with demonstrated ability to work on at least two of the following areas (a) Development of Transport policy and national planning instruments; (b) policy, institutional and financing aspects of road, railway and waterway agencies, (c) rural mobility, (d) road, railway and waterway sub-sectors and other transport infrastructure planning, construction, maintenance and asset management, (e) detailed road, railway and waterway design, design review, and preparation of engineer’s cost estimates, (e) value-for-money and the use of cost-benefit analysis to determine efficient design solutions, (f) contract management, site management, material testing, construction (and maintenance) equipment/plant management, and (g) a good working knowledge on the procurement of works, goods and services with experience on the use of performance-based contracting being an added advantage,
• The proven experience should come from employment within or outside the Bank, in large professional organizations or as an individual consultant and shall include both project-related and management level experience in planning, preparing and implementing complex transport sector projects and investments.
• Knowledge of economics of transport including assessment of transport operations and costs.
• Appreciation and knowledge of social and environmental requirements for the sector.
• Demonstrated project/program management skills, aptitude to lead teams, and ability to promote client/beneficiary participation to ensure implementation and long-term sustainability of project/programs, to be demonstrated by the candidate’s management position level in governmental or large private sector Organizations. High degree of dynamism and self-motivation, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision. Proven practical experience in project development and management would be a strong advantage.
• Experience of working on similar programs financed by the World Bank or other development partners. Working experience in several countries, besides his/her country of origin is essential.
• Excellent oral and written skills in the English language.
Competencies
• General Economic Knowledge, Analytical Skills, and technical expertise – Possesses Cross-country knowledge in economic specialty and demonstrates ability to link the macro, institutional, and micro-level behaviors; able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills – Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Transport Policy, Strategy, and Institutions – Solid understanding of transport policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Transport Engineering and Technologies – Extensive experience with transport engineering and technologies, with ability to apply knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice.
• 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.
• Ability to navigate complex institutional environments that may often prove unstable
• 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.
• Grit and willingness to take on seemingly insurmountable challenges a plus.
It is also highly desirable that candidates should have worked for extended periods in one or more of the Bank’s client countries and is familiar with the issues and problems of the transport sector, in particular the road, railway and waterway sub-sectors in these countries.
WBG COMPETENCIES
• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients’ stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
How to apply
Apply Online through
https://wbcba.worldbank.org/loginpage/wbB2CLogin.jsp?TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-0002a09b-9181-1272-98db-835089550008&GUID=&SMAUTHREASON=0&METHOD=GET&SMAGENTNAME=$SM$Vmww4PwDZABw7WFUh%2fXAxN2x2f7%2bwY1sOcbp8SfaVBlcQFNutAukrkPus4RvFDFc&TARGET=$SM$HTTP%3a%2f%2fapplicant%2eworldbank%2eorg%2fpsc%2fHRERECP%2fEMPLOYEE%2fHRMS%2fc%2fROLE_APPLICANT%2eERVIEWJOBS_PASSKEY%2eGBL%3fJOB_REQ_NBR%3d162310