Transport Specialist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

11d•Onsite

About The Position

At the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. The WBG Infrastructure Vertical 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. The WBG’s 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. The World Bank Group (WBG) Transport and Logistics Department (KIT) is dedicated to enabling sustainable, efficient, and inclusive movement of goods and people worldwide. As a core part of the WBG’s mission, the department focuses on developing, financing, and advising on transport infrastructure and services that are vital for economic growth, regional integration, and poverty reduction. Our work encompasses all modes of transport—including road, rail, maritime, and aviation—and covers both urban and rural environments. The department collaborates with public and private sector partners to design and implement innovative solutions that address emerging challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, technological advancements, and the need for improved supply chain resilience. KIT Department is organized into three units: Policy and Regulations (KITPR), Solutions and Impact (KITSI), and Trust Funds for Safe and Sustainable Transport (KITEF). KITEF manages two global programs, the Global Facility for Decarbonizing Transport (GFDT) and the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF). KITEF is seeking to hire a Transport Specialist to be based at the World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. to support it work program including serving as its road engineer. He/she will report to the Program Manager of KITEF. On a day-to-day basis, he/she will work under the supervision of senior staff in the unit and the department.

Requirements

A masters-level or higher degree in civil, transport engineering or related fields.
At least five years of relevant professional experience in road engineering and safety.
Demonstrated experience in the preparation, procurement, and implementation of complex roads projects.
Demonstrated research and analytical skills, specifically with experience in technical and economic analysis of road sector investments.
Advanced knowledge of Excel, GIS tools and handling large datasets is required.
Experience in leading/co-leading/executing analytical work in the transport sector.
Experience in leading/co-leading/executing standalone road safety analytical projects.
Experience in working either with the World Bank, or on programs financed by other development partners, multilateral or bilateral.
Organizational skills, ability to see the big picture as well as attention to detail and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing demands and tight deadlines.
High degree of initiative, problem-solving skills, flexibility, and ability to work independently.
Strong interpersonal skills; experience working effectively in large and multi-disciplinary teams of specialists; with the capacity to interact in a multi-cultural environment.
Strong work relations and communication with the Bank teams and clients, including ability to coordinate effectively between both teams, are desirable.
Excellent written and communications skills in English, especially in communicating verbally complex data analysis results.

Nice To Haves

Co-authoring journal and research papers in transport planning and economics topic is an added advantage.
Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership on road engineering and transport infrastructure across the KITEF portfolio.
Support the planning, design, procurement, construction, maintenance, and operation of regional safe, resilient, and sustainable road infrastructure projects.
Provide technical and implementation support to regional transport operations , with an increasing focus on integrating transport resilience, road safety and sustainability.
Monitor transport projects across several regions to identify opportunities for road safety, ensure road safety requirements are integrated, and track implementation progress.
Lead the implementation of the Rated Criteria analytical work and deliver its technical workstreams.
Facilitate the work of the Transport Rated Criteria Working Group to provide practical guidance to regional teams on applying rated criteria in transport contracts.
Lead the delivery of the GRSF’s Road Safety Audit Pillar across participating countries, strengthening road safety governance, institutional capacity, and the translation of audit findings into safer infrastructure investments.
Lead the development of global knowledge, tools, and capacity that strengthen the technical quality, safety, and value for money of road infrastructure investments, with particular emphasis on procurement, construction safety, and infrastructure safety.
Develop and deliver a capacity-building program on construction safety, traffic and fleet management, and work-zone safety to public and private sector clients.