Lead Urban Specialist

Lead Urban Specialist

Job #:

req22119

Organization:

World Bank

Sector:

Urban

Grade:

GH

Term Duration:

4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

English, Spanish

Preferred Language(s):

Portuguese/French

Closing Date:

4/21/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World BankGroup provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve theirgreatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largestsources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnershipof five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity,and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners,investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technologyto develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. Visitwww.worldbank.org.

Regional Context

The WBG serves 30 client countries in the LatinAmerica and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large, rapidlygrowing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbeanstates to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, andan average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persistin most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region's people living inpoverty. The last Bank's strategy for LCR focused on three pillars: (a)supporting the foundations for inclusive growth; (b) investing in human capitaland protecting the poor; and (c) building resilience. In the aftermath of theCOVID19 pandemic, this strategy will need to be adjusted to better support thecountries to deal with a health crisis without precedents and an economiccrisis. Yet, the basic elements of the strategy: accelerating growth, investingin human capital, and building resilience appear fully relevant.

The Sustainable Development (SD) Department supports the WBG'stwin goals by focusing on green, resilient, and inclusive growth. It consists of five global practices (GPs):Agriculture and Food; Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy;Urban, Resilience and Land; Social Sustainability and Inclusion; and Water.

Within the SD Department, SLCUR serves client countries in the Latin-American and theCaribbean (LCR) region in the areas of urban development, disaster riskmanagement, land, and regional development. Clients range from middle-incomecountries (MICs) such as Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, with demand forcutting-edge knowledge services and technical assistance in addition tolending, to IDA countries like Haiti, Honduras, and small island countries inthe Caribbean, with an emphasis on poverty reduction and programs that supportequitable and enhanced access to social and economic opportunities.

The Latin America and Caribbean Region contains 17 of the top 50 countriesidentified in the World Bank-sponsored Hotspot study with highest GDP exposureto natural hazards. With an increasing concentration of assets in urban orsemi-urban areas, human and physical losses from floods, landslides,earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural events are onthe rise and important development gains are being erased overnight. Population growth and the ever-increasing concentration of infrastructure inurban or semi-urban areas have been clear drivers of the growth in human andphysical losses from adverse natural events. This trend is now beingexacerbated by increasing climate variability, bringing disaster riskmanagement and climate change adaptation to the forefront of the Region'sdevelopment agenda.

In the area of Urban Development, the SLCUR team provides technical, analyticaland financial support to regional clients in a broad range of technical areasincluding urban poverty reduction, service delivery, municipal finance, urbanregeneration and infrastructure urban resilience, and the urban growth, jobs,and competitiveness agendas. The team is active across the spectrum ofBank instruments including the provision of reimbursable advisory services,financing city-level interventions, financial intermediary engagements, anddeep policy and analytical work to support the urban development challenges ofthe region. SLCUR provides support to client countries with IBRD and IDAfinancing, as well as through significant partnerships with a range of grantfinancing windows. The use of climate financing is likely to be an importantfuture area of opportunity for the team.

About the Position

The Urban Specialist will report to the Practice Manager, SLCURand will provide operational mentoring and oversight and thought leadership to the Urban and DRM teams in theareas of urban development. He/She will be expected to play a critical role inthe day-to-day supervision and oversight of the operational and analyticalprogram, supporting the Practice Manager and broader unit leadership team in developingand cultivating relationships with internal and external clients, supportingtask teams across the range of instruments, and identifying and pursuingfrontier technical areas for addressing the range of urban developmentchallenges in LAC. The Lead Urban Specialist is expected to demonstrate thehighest collaborative competencies, working with colleagues across the range oftechnical areas within the unit and, equally importantly, from other GPs withwhom SLCUR regularly collaborates. He/She will be expected to play a criticalmentoring and support role to the GF/GG staff in the unit and to work closelywith the SD Front Office. The default location for the position is in HQ, but afield-based location could be accommodated based on the preferences of theselected candidate and business needs.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Lead Urban Specialist'sresponsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

- Provide operational and analytical guidance and leadership for the units staff, including in helping to define approaches to program and project design and supervision as well as for the definition and oversight of the unit's analytical program in concert with the Practice Manager and broader unit leadership team

- Mentor and guide teams in all aspects of program design and implementation including on strategic issues across the range of Bank instruments.

- Lead/initiate/participate in high-level engagements and just-in-time dialogue with internal stakeholders and key government counterparts on strategy and policy.

- Collaborate and engage with partners to identify cooperation opportunities and leverage financial and intellectual resources to complement department resources.

- Assume an active role in engagement with CMUs with the aim to ensure adequate and appropriate integration of the urban development agenda in core Bank products, including country partnership/assistance strategies, strategic country diagnostics, policy notes, country economic memoranda and similar strategy documents.

- Support the SLCUR Practice Manager in all aspects of unit management, including by contributing to corporate, regional, and department level initiatives when requested and represent the Bank in events, as needed.

Selection Criteria

* Master's degree or PhD in economics, urban planning, finance, policy or equivalent, and at least 12 years professional experience.

* Deep knowledge of urban development issues including but not limited to urban finance, infrastructure, urban regeneration, service delivery, urban governance and management, and/or urban planning.

* Strong operational experience including with both policy-based and investment operations. Track record of delivery of client-oriented solutions through Bank instruments.

* Strong analytical track record in the core areas of urban development and management.

* Strong communication skills, including the ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner and deliver complex concepts and messages orally in an understandable and compelling manner.

* Ability to think innovatively and strategically in dealing with policy issues while maintaining a strong client focus.

* Demonstrated capacity to effectively engage in policy dialogue with World Bank clients.

* High energy and demonstrated interest and experience in achieving impact through operational and analytical work.

* Demonstrated experience to lead teams, mentor staff and enhance quality of analytical and operational documents in a collaborative manner.

* Fluent English and Spanish.

* A proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently.

WBG Core Competencies:

In addition to the above, the successful candidate is expected todemonstrate the following competencies:

- Contributes new insights to understand situations and develops solutions to resolve complex problems.

- Adds value by constantly looking for a better way to get more impactful results; sets challenging stretch goals for oneself.

- Appropriately involves others in decision making and communicates with key stakeholders.

- Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches displaying a sense of mutuality and respect.

- Identifies and pursues innovative approaches to resolve issues.

- Leverages Global Practice and DEC expertise and body of knowledge across the WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.

- Builds personal and professional networks inside and outside the department.

- Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBG's strategy.

- Evaluates risk and anticipates the short and long-term implications of decisions.

- Commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.

The World Bank Group offerscomprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life anddisability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well asreasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

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.