Senior Urban Development Specialist

Senior Urban Development Specialist

Job #:

req23508

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Urban

Grade:

GG

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

Arabic and/or French

Closing Date:

8/11/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

The MNA Urban, Resilience and Land Unit (SMNUR) is led by a Practice Manager based in Beirut country office, in Lebanon, and serves the whole MNA Region.

The Senior Urban Development Specialist will be based at the Bank HQs in Washington DC, USA and will report to the SMNUR Practice Manager.

REGIONAL & UNIT CONTEXT

The Middle East and North Africa Region (MNA) at the World Bank serves 21 client countries with a total population of about 335 million. Clients range from upper middle-income countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which are more interested in the Bank's Reimbursable Technical Assistance, analytical and advisory services; to IBRD middle income countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, and two IDA countries, Yemen and Djibouti where more traditional Bank services are required. Hence the range of needs for advice, support and cross-fertilization of experiences is wide and challenging.

The MNA Urban, Resilience and Land Unit (SMNUR) consists of both headquarters and field-based staff in eight country offices (Amman, Tunis, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Rabat, Riyadh and Jerusalem). The portfolio comprises a diverse set of projects under supervision and has an active lending pipeline which is poised for further growth.

The SMNUR team works across a complex institutional environment, in partnership with many different units within the Bank given the cross-cutting nature of urban, DRM, land, and resilience issues. The span of work of SMNUR extends to all active clients in the region, and across a variety of financial and technical assistance support. This includes IBRD/ IDA financial and technical assistance to client countries, as well as the provision of Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) from the Bank to the GCC countries.

The thematic work of the SMNUR unit cover an active portfolio and a growing pipeline for lending, and a large RAS and TF program. The portfolio responds to the demands articulated by the MNA strategy and covers a range of urban programs and a growing risk management and resilient recovery agenda, given the vulnerability of most of MNA countries to a wide range of risks, including disasters, climate change, and most prominently, conflict.

SMNUR is seeking a Senior Urban Development Specialist to support and substantially contribute to the development and implementation of the MNA Urban and Resilience Program. The focus would be on the region's gradually evolving decentralization agenda and the unit's growing solid waste management and circular economy engagement. Also, the delivery of sustainable municipal services to help build climate-smart cities within an often fiscally constrained and at times fragile contexts.

ROLES and RESPONSABILITIES

• Lead/co-lead/participate in task teams to develop and carry out Urban, Land and DRM activities in assigned countries.

• Specifically, lead/co-lead/participate in policy dialogue, just-in-time advisory and analytical work, and lending operations in the areas of:

- Solid waste management, resource management and circular economy,

- Sustainable and climate smart delivery of municipal services,

- Governance, decentralization, and municipal finance,

- Climate finance,

- Climate smart urban management, including floods, drainage, green buildings,

- Local economic development.

• The candidate is also expected to develop new business opportunities in the above priority engagement areas and develop new areas of engagement based on the region's emerging needs and demands;

• Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and in the Bank;

• Work with the URL Global Practice, help develop knowledge products/training activities to improve best practices in the urban sector both within and outside the Bank;

• Generate 'think pieces' and 'best practice' papers; handles complex technical, institutional and program implementation issues in the sectors; lead the development of proposals;

• Contribute to dialogue and provide technical inputs for the preparation of country strategy documents;

• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists in support of policy reviews and recommendations and supervises consultants' reports and outputs;

• Contribute to knowledge sharing, dissemination and awareness raising activities with key clients.

Selection Criteria

- Degree & advanced degree in environmental engineering, economics, MBA/public administration, municipal finance, urban planning, climate change/finance studies or similar fields with at least 8 years' experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Substantive practical experience and technical expertise in solid waste management, sustainable delivery of municipal services, the circular economy, sustainable cities, municipal finance and/or climate finance specifically sought.

- Experience of leading strategic dialogue and analytical work on solid waste management and circular economy agenda with a comprehensive approach including institutional, financial, policy and private capital mobilization aspects is desirable.

- Ability to conduct independent policy discussions with representatives of central and local government, private sector and civil society as well as bilateral and multilateral development partners.

- Experience in initiating and implementing municipal service delivery programs with development impact, including IPFs and PforRs.

- Experience with digital tools and innovation

- Demonstrated ability to lead and work with multi-disciplinary teams

- Ability to anticipate client demand and undertake relevant knowledge and research and analytical work.

- Strong written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability of making effective presentations to diverse audiences; and

- Excellent command of English. In addition, French and/or Arabic are desirable.

COMPETENCIES

Technology and systems knowledge

Has advanced knowledge of, and keeps up to date with systems, technology and databases relevant to functional area of assigned responsibilities. Demonstrates initiative and pro activity in learning and/or supporting implementation of emerging technology applications and systems relevant to effective work of the unit.

Project and task management

Displays good project management skills. Exhibits good understanding of unit's priorities; can proactively negotiate with stakeholders and adjust own deliverables upon changing and competing priorities, remaining flexible and effective with a clear understanding of objectives to be achieved. Can organize, coordinate, and make priorities-based adjustments to work schedule of internal clients (e.g. manager), if the tasks fall in the area of assigned responsibility. Exhibits and promotes ownership and accountability of results and quality-oriented delivery, proactively anticipates and approaches issues. Demonstrates innovation and creativity, promotes process simplification and effectiveness. Able to mentor less experienced staff in task and time management.

Institutional policies, processes, and procedures

Displays an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the institutional vision, strategy, and priorities and how they affect unit's products and programs and interaction with clients in relevant functional area. Able to act as an expert on relevant administrative and policy guidelines, procedures and practices, demonstrates up-to-date knowledge of a diverse range of products and/or services in the relevant functional area of assigned responsibilities; can independently interpret relevant policy application and guide others in complex situations within assigned area of functional responsibility.

Versatility and adaptability

Able to anticipate change in the business environment and accurately assess the need for new skills and knowledge. Able to facilitate and catalyze change where applicable. Demonstrates continued learning attitude, shows initiative in accepting new challenges and meeting critical needs within the unit/department/VPU. Encourages and supports others in their learning and change management efforts.

Deliver Results for Clients

Demonstrates initiative, independence and autonomy in addressing client needs in changing business contexts and environments. Has knowledge of department strategy, vision, and goals and can link them to those of the larger organization. Allocates and prioritizes resources according to areas of most urgent need and greatest impact for the client.

Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries

Adopts a collaborative approach to improve overall effectiveness outside one's department and displays an open, helpful attitude toward others. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Demonstrates understanding of and acts to incorporate multiple perspectives. Frames thinking/actions with a WBG corporate perspective in mind.

This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.