Senior Transport Specialist at World Bank

Job #: 171919

Job Description
The selected candidate will be based in Abuja and is expected to have expertise in at least two of the transport sub-sectors, including urban transport, roads, railways, logistics infrastructure (freight), and transport corridors. In particular, the Senior Transport Specialist will:

• Lead and manage a number of transport operations at each stage of the project cycle for lending (preparation, appraisal, implementation, and completion);
• Manage existing projects related to transport connectivity and logistics infrastructure;
• Contribute to policy dialogue to enhance the ability of clients to respond to emerging issues;
• Initiate PPP-led activities and build long-term business relationships with national and local government stakeholders, private sector and development partners, through policy dialogue, strategic communications, and outreach; and
• Participate in knowledge sharing activities and staff mentoring.

Duties and Accountabilities
T&I Practice would like to hire a Senior Transport Specialist to assist in preparing and supporting the implementation of the transport portfolio in Nigeria. The primary objectives of the assignment will be to:

• Lead, manage and participate in task teams to prepare and supervise technical assistance and advisory activities particularly in transport engineering, transport corridors, logistics infrastructure, and transport policy with a focus on Nigeria;
• Lead discussions on enabling policy interventions in Nigerian transport sector, National Transport Policy, and use of evidence based planning. Participate in the policy dialogue, together with other development partners, under the guidance of the Practice Manager;
• Lead and participate in the supervision of transport projects under implementation primarily in Nigeria. The selected candidate is expected to provide technical expertise during implementation of ongoing transport projects. The candidate will lead frequent field visits to project sites across Nigeria, and review ongoing works, and hold discussion with counterparts, stakeholders in the country and in the region.
• Develop new business opportunities in the Transport sector in Nigeria and Southern Africa region by identifying key priority areas for engagement including connectivity, corridors’ improvements, urban mobility (BRTA) and logistics parks/hubs using PPP Frameworks;
• Initiate dialogue with stakeholders on innovative logistics solutions, share international experience with freight flows and logistics solutions. Provide credible insights and share best practice on strategic reforms in road/rail and maritime transport, port management, multimodal options and freight logistics. Demonstrate assessment of market potential leveraging multimodal transport system and road/rail freight;
• Promote the participation of the private sector in the financing and delivery of transport logistics work and corridor improvements;
• Lead and participate in preparing new lending projects. The candidate is expected to manage a portion of the Bank’s transport portfolio in Nigeria including the preparation of one/two new operations per year, and support other project teams during preparation and implementation of ongoing projects. The focus should remain on sector technical issues ranging from policy reform, corridor connectivity and transport logistics, general institutional setups, and PPP-led initiatives, but also those that may surface due to client demand and need.
• Assist country teams in including the Transport agenda in the Country Partnership Strategy and macro dialogue, lead and/or provide critical inputs to the design and execution of policy and research initiatives, and conceive and promote innovations in sector policies and strategies in the area of transport;
• Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the transport sector and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned country and in the Bank;
• Working with the various Global Solution Groups and Community of Practices, help develop knowledge products/training activities to improve best practices in the transport sector both within and outside the Bank; and
• Provide coaching and on-the-job mentoring to junior team members in the unit.

Selection Criteria

• Master's or higher degree in Transport Engineering, Transport Economics, Logistics Management, Civil Engineering, and/or other related disciplines plus at least 12 years of relevant experience in the priority areas of the transport sub-sectors mentioned above.
• Solid experience of working on the design and implementation of projects and analytical work in areas dealing with the transport sector, with deep and broad understanding and solid background in two or more of the following areas: transport policy & planning, corridor integration, trade and transit facilitation, logistics infrastructure (logistics parks, freight logistics), urban/rural transport for agricultural productivity, growth centers (SEZs), participation of the private sector and public-private partnerships, and multimodal transportation system;
• Experience in leading ASA projects about international and national transport policy, strategy, institutions and regulation as they relate to Nigerian transport sector;
• Familiarity with Bank Analytical work and operations as well as experiences in supporting clients in initiating and implementing programs/projects with development impact;
• Demonstrated track record in leading and delivering high quality outputs in a tight time schedules and in challenging country environments. Proven ability to translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications;
• Strong organizational skills, as well as the ability to prioritize tasks and ensure timely completion of tasks under pressure;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams, including developing, coaching, guiding and mentoring staff; supervision of firms and consultants and resolving conflicts taking into account cultural sensitivities;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability of making effective presentations to diverse audiences;
• Excellent command of English speaking and writing is essential; and
• Experience of working in the Africa region and knowledge of Nigeria would be a plus.

WBG Competencies

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena: Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interactions with clients, stakeholders at the policy level is essential.
• Policy Dialogue Skills: Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government, donors, and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills: Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Transport Policy, Strategy, and Institutions: Solid understanding of transport policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations in the context of Nigeria and the Region. Clear understanding of PPP frameworks and applicability in the transport logistics activities are required.
• Transport Engineering and Logistics, ICT: Extensive experience with transport engineering and logistics infrastructure with ability to apply knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice.
• Client Orientation: Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results: Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion: Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication: Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making: Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.