Manager, Urban, Subnational Finance, Land Solutions & Impact

World Bank Group

About The Position

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty on a livable planet, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org. Background The WBG Infrastructure Vice Presidency provides public and private solutions to operational teams and clients across the WBG to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs by: (i) supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, (ii) policy environment, and (iii) enabling and mobilizing private sector capital. With 60 years of experience, the WBG is poised to support the sector becoming an engine of growth and jobs through improving policies and governance, foundational infrastructure and private sector investments. The WBG lending in the sector is expected to grow substantially. The Infrastructure VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure WBG Manager, Urban, Subnational and Land Solutions & Impact: The Manager for Urban, Subnational and Land Solutions & Impact will report to the WBG Director, Urban, Subnational Finance, Tourism and Disaster Management, who is accountable to the WBG Vice President, Infrastructure. Leading a team of 35 within a 145-person department, the Manager oversees the scaling of high-impact solutions across all WBG products. The unit drives both IBRD/IDA and IFC investments in three core areas: urban infrastructure (e.g. flood and waste management), subnational finance (public and private resource mobilization), and land administration. Additionally, the unit bolsters country operations through strategic trust funds, including the City Climate Gap Fund and the Global Program for Results-Based Aid.

Requirements

Work experience in at least two world regions or a combination of regional and corporate assignments is required; field experience is preferred.
A Master’s degree in a relevant field including economics, public policy, urban planning, or related field, with at least 12 years of relevant experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.
Proven operational and development experience, including policy and investment lending, with a strong record of delivering complex operations and policy dialogue across multiple regions and institutional settings (e.g., IBRD, IFC, MIGA).
Demonstrated leadership and people management skills, including experience managing multi-location and virtual teams, and operating effectively with both formal and matrixed authority.
Strong strategic orientation and ability to prioritize, streamline, and rationalize activities to maximize impact.
Adaptability, flexibility, and ability to lead teams for success during periods of change.
Extensive experience working across practices, disciplines, and sectors, and in building partnerships with governments, the private sector, civil society, donors, and research institutions to achieve development results.
Excellent communication and representational skills, including proven experience engaging with senior stakeholders, media, and external constituencies.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge and experience in one or more relevant thematic areas is desirable, though strong managerial, coordination, and influencing skills are paramount.

Responsibilities

Replicates/ scales high-impact projects & innovations across all WBG products
Shares best practices via Communities of Practice
Provides operational support to Regions.
Models exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behaviors and reinforces these qualities in own team and staff
Leads, drives and inspires technical excellence within the team and the Department by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients
Closely supports and advises staff on their performance, skills development and career planning.
Ensures that the department is at the forefront of the development debate and contributes to the global dialogue in the area of expertise of the sector, working across the WBG and DEC.
Mobilizes and leads Solutions and Impact teams and ensures alignment between the two functions: (1) produce, curate, validate, and share knowledge with operational teams, clients, and partners, and (2) capture, scale, and replicate innovations. Monitor the impact of solutions.
Supports country teams to apply global knowledge and adapt them to local contexts, incorporating complexities of local political economy.
Promotes innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning .
Leads efforts to collect, curate, validate and disseminate Infrastructure data, including contributions to the Data360; and work with partners (e.g. UN agencies) to support data for policy making in Infrastructure.
Help clients scale proven solutions, and design, implement and deliver training, learning and capacity building programs for staff and clients, including through the WBG Academy.
In consultation with relevant stakeholders within the WBG, decides on the best use of internal and external resources for maximum client and developmental impact
Is accountable for delivering the agreed-upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal controls and policies, and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the unit outputs