Senior Transport Specialist

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Latin America and the Caribbean (LCR) Region. The WBG serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The last Bank’s strategy for LCR focused on three pillars: (a) supporting the foundations for inclusive growth; (b) investing in human capital and protecting the poor; and (c) building resilience. In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, this strategy will need to be adjusted to better support the countries deal with a health crisis without precedents and an economic crisis not seen since modern statistical records started in 1900. Yet, the basic elements of the strategy: accelerating growth (following a projected GDP contraction in 2020 of 7.2%), investing in human capital, including in health (in the most affected region by COVID19), and building resilience appear fully relevant.

The Infrastructure Practice Group. Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. Infrastructure improves lives by connecting people to opportunity. 

In Latin America and the Caribbean Region, the Infrastructure Department (ILCDR) is responsible for delivery of the transport and energy programs in the LCR region and it comprises a Transport unit (ILCT1) headed by a Transport Practice Manager and an Energy unit (ILCE1) headed by a second Practice Manager (PM) as well as a small front office.

The LCR Transport Unit (ILCT1). The LCR Transport Unit (ILCT1) has an active portfolio of 23 lending operations with total commitments of about US$3.49 billion, 15 ongoing Analytical and Advisory Activities (ASA) and approximately 13 investment lending deliveries in FY23. ILCT1 also provides significant policy input to an increasing number of policy-based lending operations (DPLs).  The current portfolio is evenly split between inter-urban and rural roads projects (39% by number) and urban transport operations (39% by number), followed by airports/aviation operations (17% by number) and waterways projects (4% by number).

The ILCT1 unit is looking to recruit a seasoned senior transport specialist with a solid track record in policy dialogue and operations in transport, demonstrated through strong track record in the areas of transport decarbonization, planning, climate, and governance for urban or interurban passenger and freight transport.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Transport Specialist will be part of a team responsible for: (i) implementation of the transport program in the region, which includes projects on rural, interurban, urban and global connectivity; (ii) leading the technical dialogue (advisory and analytics) in the transport sector with the authorities in Peru; (iii) identifying new opportunities and preparing new projects in the region; (iv)leading policy/institutional reforms and mainstreaming key initiatives on road safety, gender, green transport infrastructure, decarbonization and services and the incorporation of the private sector; (v) developing analytical and advisory work and knowledge activities in close collaboration with other Global Practices, leveraging on best practices, international experiences and innovative tools and data analytics; and (vi) in all above activities, contribute to maximizing private sector financing by partnering with IFC/MIGA/WB IPG.

The specific duties will include project preparation, supervision, and contribution to analytical studies consistent with the World Bank’s sector strategies, with a particular focus on:

• Delivering high quality transport projects in general, through high quality project documents, state of the art technical advice, and strong focus on quality assurance.
• Contributing and leading the development of sector strategies and new business areas, with a focus in areas related to transport decarbonization, governance and public-private partnerships.
• Developing communications and training materials, delivering training, seminars, workshops and conferences at the regional and global level.
• 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 project and programs in Peru in accordance with the country strategies, especially where private capital mobilization is envisioned.
• Advising government counterparts on technical matters associated with transport projects, including on institutional strengthening activities, technical designs and specifications, compliance with environmental and social policies, procurement, operational health and safety, etc.
• Participating in cross-sectoral teams responsible for preparation of policy notes, Systematic Country Diagnostics, Country Partnership Strategies, CCDRs, public expenditures reviews, sectoral studies, and research and policy development activities on the topics/sections pertaining to the transport sector.
• Identifying and leading the implementation of trust funded activities and seeking other funding to support carry out non-lending activities.
• Leading the procurement and management of consultants and firms to support analytical and operational work. Supervising the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure quality and consistency with Bank standards.
• Supporting the World Bank-wide professional community of staff engaged in the transport practice by participating in a selected number of Solution Areas under the Transport Global Solutions Groups, delivering technical notes to enhance the creation and dissemination of new knowledge, and expanding the existing knowledge base.
• Staying abreast of recent developments in the transport sector world-wide, and on cross-cutting issues, in relation to the topics of specialization for this position; identifying knowledge gaps and disseminating relevant knowledge to clients.

Selection Criteria

• At least 8 years of professional experience in the transport sector.
• At least Master’s degree in relevant discipline such as transport, engineering, finance, law or economics.
• In-depth experience in analytical/operational work to design and implement policy, strategy, institutions, and regulations, as they relate to the transport sector.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of policy recommendations and implementation of capacity building in areas such as transport planning, transport decarbonization, climate financing, transport governance, economic models for transport projects, PPPs, and mitigation and adaptation related to transport.
• 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 for transport projects, including urban and interurban 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.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27261&site=1