Senior Transport Specialist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The World Bank Group is seeking a Senior Transport Specialist for the Transport unit (IECT1) within the INFRA Practice Group, to be based in Washington DC. The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region is diverse and faces numerous development challenges in the evolving global economy, including building regional connectivity, managing labor market changes, adapting to digital technologies, aging populations, migration flows, and political polarization. The invasion of Ukraine has further threatened the region's progress. The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to help countries implement sustainable mobility solutions. The ECA Transport Unit has an active portfolio of lending operations and advisory services, focusing on improving regional and national connectivity, strengthening client capacity for transport interventions, leveraging resources through partnerships, and ensuring sustainability through improved governance, technology, and resilience. This position will primarily cover road sector initiatives, requiring a seasoned specialist with a strong track record in policy dialogue, business development, and operation implementation in the road sector, including institutional reform, investments, and implementing rated criteria. First-hand experience working with road agencies at provincial/national levels is highly valued.

Requirements

At least 8 years of professional experience in the transport sector.
At least a Master's degree in a relevant discipline such as transport engineering or related fields with strong relevant experience.
In-depth experience in analytical/operational work to design and implement policy, strategy, institutions, and regulations, as they relate to the road sector.
Demonstrated experience in the development of policy recommendations and implementation of capacity building in areas such as road sector institutions, PPPs, and road sector resilience.
Demonstrated capacity for large-size project management and team management.
Demonstrated experience in civil works contract management and understanding of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) fiduciary and environment and social safeguards policies and requirements in practice.
Ability to integrate technical, institutional, and financial elements in formulating or assessing a realistic reform strategy and conducting policy dialogue.
Demonstrated experience on strategic policy dialogue with senior clients for road sector projects.
High degree of dynamism and self-motivation, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision.
Ability to identify and develop potential areas for future World Bank transport sector initiatives based on client consultation and analysis.
Ability to communicate concisely and with high technical content to different levels of counterparts, from technical to managerial levels.
Outstanding written and communications skills in English.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the region and some knowledge of Russian.
Previous experience working for a road sector agency at national/provincial level.
Experience working with International Financial Institutions.
Experience with development and application of rated criteria.
Experience with the use of guarantee instruments to bring commercial financing to the road sector.

Responsibilities

Implementation of the road sector program in the region, including RAS on sector reform, investment projects with a focus on sector reform and bringing commercial financing into the sector.
Leading the technical dialogue (advisory and analytics) in the road sector with the authorities in ECA countries.
Identifying new opportunities and preparing new projects in the region.
Leading policy/institutional reforms and mainstreaming key initiatives on incorporation of the private sector, logistics, transport sector reform and resilience.
Developing analytical and advisory work and knowledge activities in close collaboration with other Global Practices, leveraging best practices, international experiences, and innovative tools and data analytics.
Contributing to maximizing private sector financing by partnering with IFC/MIGA/WB World Bank Infrastructure Finance and Guarantees Units.
Leadership of and support to project preparation, supervision, and analytical studies consistent with the World Bank’s sector strategies, with a particular focus on the use of rated criteria in investments and their application in WB transport investment projects.
Leading the development of road sector strategies with a focus on road sector institutions, governance, and public-private partnerships.
Focusing on funding and financing innovations in the road sector and bringing commercial financing into the road sector.
Leading the day-to-day implementation of active projects in countries in the regions, including lending and non-lending operations.
Identifying and developing a pipeline of projects and programs in ECA countries in accordance with country strategies, especially where private capital mobilization is envisioned.
Advising government counterparts on technical matters associated with transport projects, including institutional strengthening activities, technical designs and specifications, compliance with environmental and social policies, procurement, operational health and safety.
Supporting the World Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating in Solution Areas under the Transport Global Solutions Groups, delivering technical notes, and expanding the knowledge base.
Staying abreast of recent developments in the transport sector worldwide and on cross-cutting issues, identifying knowledge gaps and disseminating relevant knowledge to clients.
Delivering high-quality transport projects through high-quality project documents, state-of-the-art technical advice, and a strong focus on quality assurance.