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Home > Jobs > Employment Opportuni... > Professional/Technical

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year renewable term appointment.

The mission of the South Asia Sustainable Development Department (SASSD) is to reduce poverty by helping the countries of South Asia formulate policies and implement programs that support sustainable economic and social development.  Within the region’s matrix structure, SASSD is responsible for seven business lines – Social Development, Environment, Urban & Water, Disaster Management, Energy, Agriculture & Rural development, and Transport – and is supported by a Safeguards Team, a Carbon Finance Transactions Unit, and a Director’s office.  A Sector Manager based in Washington Manages the program in transport, which accounts for a large share of the department’s lending program and existing portfolio, and the program is expected to continue to grow.  

Within transport, the highway and rural road sub-sector has been traditionally the main focus of lending and supervision work in the Region, and will continue to be important, but the program is expected to grow mainly through diversification into other sub-sectors including urban transport, railways, ports/logistics, and multimodal trade and transport facilitation.  The road sector portfolio has in recent years accounted for about 20% of the World Bank’s total loan portfolio in South Asia. The transport unit in South Asia is highly decentralized, with about two-thirds of the staff based in six country offices. Increasingly, members of our transport team are expected to work within cross-sectoral teams working on the preparation of country strategy documents and programmatic lending products, to which they must bring a high level of professionalism and technical expertise as well as having a broad understanding of the underlying macro issues.

This announcement seeks applicants to fill vacant position for an experienced Senior Transport Specialist position in Washington DC.  The position seeks candidates with expertise in transport infrastructure and services and an educational background and/or experience in highway engineering, including participation into major infrastructure construction. The successful candidate should have an appreciation for, and knowledge of, the transport sector as a whole.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Senior Transport Specialist will be responsible for advancing the Bank's Transport agenda in the Region with a special focus on India (National Highways) and Sri Lanka (Rural and provincial roads).  She or he will have the following responsibilities:

•	Work closely with our clients to help them develop appropriate transport sector related policies, regulatory structures, investment plans and operating practices, which link with the country's broader economic, social and poverty alleviation objectives;
•	Lead/Participate in task teams to identify, prepare, appraise and supervise Bank financed transport investments and reform projects: on-going Sri Lanka Provincial Roads project under finalization and recently requested multibillion National Highway Improvement project for India, as well as with various other projects under implementation both in Sri Lanka and India;
•	Lead/Participate in task teams to identify, prepare, appraise and supervise Bank financed transport investments and reform projects;
•	Work within cross-sectoral teams responsible for the preparation and implementation of country programs, Poverty Reduction Strategy Plans and Country Assistance;
•	Lead teams responsible for the formulation of best practice notes and programs within the Bank;
•	Serve as a source of quality advice within her/his region on transport issues, and work within teams responsible for Bank policy papers;
•	Lead teams assessing country risks as they affect transport; and 
•	Provide direct staff/reports with mentoring and coaching support.

Selection Criteria

•	Post graduate degree at Masters’ level or higher in transport economics, planning, engineering, management, or finance.
•	Minimum eight years experience in the transport sector with proven ability to work on (a) policy, institutional and financing aspects of the various mode of transport (roads, railways, inland waterways, ports), (b) transport infrastructure construction and management especially for mega projects related to National Highway network improvement in India, (c) transport operations and planning, and (d) experience/knowledge of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure both regarding the required institutional environment and PPP transactions process. 
•	Knowledge of sector issues in transport in developing countries and an appreciation of multimodal and cross-sector dimensions of transport development. 
•	Ability to link sectoral policies, including regulations, with broader economic and poverty alleviation policies, and to advise governments upon their design and implementation.
•	Ability to integrate technical, institutional and financial elements in formulating reform strategies, and ability to advise governments upon their implementation;  
•	Demonstrated project/program management skills, aptitude to participate in and lead inter-disciplinary teams, and ability to promote client/beneficiary participation to ensure implementation and long-term sustainability of projects/programs.
•	High degree of dynamism and self-motivation, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision. 
•	Experience of working on similar programs financed by the World Bank or other donor organizations. 
•	Excellent inter-personal, English writing, and communications skills, proven interest in transferring knowledge, ability to listen and to influence without taking over.
•	Interest in the countries and cultures of the South Asia region.


The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background.  Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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