Senior Urban Transport Specialist

Job #: req36366
Organization: World Bank Group
Sector: Transportation
Grade: GG
Term Duration:  4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 5/1/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity 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. 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. 
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
Transport and Logistics Global Department
Within the Infrastructure VPU, the WBG Transport and Logistics Department seeks to connect people to jobs, social services and income-generating opportunities, as well as to move goods between local, regional, and international markets, using cleaner, safer, more equitable and more resilient transport solutions, with a particular focus on private capital mobilization.  
The Department is composed of 3 units: (1) Policy and Regulations; (2) Solutions and Impact; and (3) Transport Trust Funds.
The Senior Urban Transport Specialist will play a Global Lead role for Urban Mobility and will report to the Manager for Transport and Logistics, Policy & Regulation. Accountability includes providing thought leadership for all matters related to Urban Mobility, leading the preparation of high quality knowledge products and advisory services, providing targeted and high quality support to regional teams from all parts of the World Bank Group in implementing Urban Mobility Solutions, and coordinating the knowledge and solutions group for urban mobility. As all Global Leads, he/she will need to give particular attention to private sector participation and private capital mobilization in urban mobility. 
Key responsibilities: 
Strategic Leadership and Flagship Research:  
• Identify key challenges in Urban Mobility and initiate solutions and other knowledge initiatives to address these challenges, including new products and financing modalities, with particular attention to private capital mobilization
• In partnership with the other Global Lead for Urban Mobility in the Solutions and Impact unit as well as with regional transport and infrastructure staff, develop a menu of key policy and regulations options, that can be used by regional business teams 
• Formulate strategic directions and associated implementation plan for each upcoming fiscal year and present it to the KTI Management Team for endorsement, as well as mid-year update on implementation of the plan
Operational Quality Assurance and Support: 
• Through the new WBG ADM guidelines, support the quality assurance process across the full lending and ASA project cycle, from upstream support on fundamental design issues to helping extract lessons during the completion process. 
• Ensure the most relevant and up-to-date global knowledge is brought to bear on the design and implementation of particular country engagements and resolve any technical disagreements 
• Extract lessons from WBG operations, curate and disseminate this knowledge across the WBG
Learning and Mentoring: 
• Assess gaps in technical skills based on business needs, and work with the KTI Management Team to internally develop these skills through formal or on-the-job training and through developing a solutions-focused learning curriculum
• Support technical staff in deepening their expertise 
• Lead or contribute to learning activities under the Transport Academy Programs (including the Leaders in Urban Transport Policy Program – LUTP)
• Create and maintain the content on the KTI intranet and support corporate initiatives such as Data 360 and Knowledge 360
• Actively contribute to developing sessions and finding presenters and resource speakers for key learning events including the Transport Learning Forum and 
Transforming Transportation
• Regularly convene staff affiliated to the Knowledge and Solutions Group for Urban Mobility to discuss emerging issues, share experiences across regions, and identify issues for management attention, ensuring balanced participation of field-based staff along with those based in HQ
• Convene field-based friendly training and dissemination events to ensure that best practice experiences are widely known and discussed within the World Bank Group
• Identify and promote opportunities for South-South and North-South peer exchange among clients facing similar development challenges
Partnership and Outreach:
• Build relationships with internal partners to promote effective collaboration across the zWBG
• Build and nurture existing relationships with external players to forge partnerships, draw on external knowledge and expertise, and support resource mobilization
• Represent the World Bank Group in relevant technical meetings, events and partnerships
• Participate in the organization of the flagship events (learning week, Transforming Transportation), especially sessions in areas of relevance to the urban mobility agenda
• Act as a public spokesperson for the World Bank Group’s perspective on relevant issues, including conferences, and meetings with partners and civil society
• Develop briefings, opinion editorials, blogs, etc. related to emerging opportunities and issues, World Bank Group engagements, and other strategic issues
Fundraising and Resource Mobilization:
• As part of the department’s fundraising coordination strategy, contribute to the growth of resources and expansion of donors of existing key transport trust funds 
• Participate in key donor-led events or those organized in collaboration with major donors to enhance visibility of the department’s work

Selection Criteria

• A Master or PhD degree in a relevant field and at least 8 years of relevant experience in urban mobility, in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.
• Ability to influence dialogue and policy in urban mobility, including a track record conducting effective policy dialogue and successful collaboration with country counterparts, communicating and defending difficult issues and positions to senior bank management and high level government officials.
• Strong technical knowledge and experience of delivering complex analytical work in urban mobility is essential
• Proven operational and development experience, including policy and investment lending, with a strong record of delivering complex operations and policy dialogue
• Excellent communication and representational skills, including proven experience engaging with senior stakeholders, media, and external constituencies.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.


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