Chief Ports and Maritime Transport Officer - PICU1 at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB/17/446
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50093743

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization is central to the Bank’s mission of developing the private sector, improving infrastructure and accelerating industrialization.
• The complex main functions are to (i) strengthen the enabling environment for private sector [and financial sector] development conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, (ii) support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including cities and urban development, and (iii) place renewed emphasis on industrial and trade performance in support of structural transformation across Africa.
• The Complex leverages knowledge, co-financing, and partnerships to attract private capital and work with governments on delivering the Bank’s development agenda.

The Hiring Department

• The role of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department is to foster advancement of infrastructure and cities in Africa by detailed development of appropriate interventions which the Bank might finance on a regional, national or a continent-wide basis.
• The Officer is responsible for ports and maritime transport aspects of the transport and logistics sector in support of the Bank's development strategies.

The Position

• The overall purpose of this job is to act as the Bank's principal expert on Ports and Logistics with particular emphasis on policy, project development, public- private partnerships (PPP), financing and regulation.
• The job holder will strengthen and maintain the Bank's understanding of the ports and logistics sector and its role in the development of the continent.
• The incumbent will advise on policy, institutional and regulatory reforms, and future investments in the sector by the Bank and its regional member countries as well as lead the identification, preparation, appraisal, and implementation supervision of ports and logistics projects and programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the general supervision of the  Division Manager, Transport and Logistics, the Chief ports and maritime transport Officer will:

Ports infrastructure and logistics policy, strategy, business plan:

• Devise, maintain and revise the ports infrastructure and logistics development business plan of the Bank in consultation with internal stakeholders and taking account of long-term trends in transport and logistics and the development of the continent.
• Ensure the appropriate implementation of the business plan through communication and advise to all relevant stakeholders in the Bank, particularly operations functions, and define a monitoring framework. 
• Identify and develop any necessary policies to underpin the business plan.
• Consult as necessary with external partners and Regional and non-Regional Members Countries on the form and efficacy of the business plan. 

Ports infrastructure and Logistics Knowledge:

• Manage a team to develop and maintain the Bank's expertise on ports, maritime transport, and logistics to support the development goals of the Bank and the continent.
• Devise the Bank's contribution to key ports infrastructure and logistics development themes and represent the Bank at global, regional and national conferences and workshops on maritime transport and logistics.
• Coordinate and work alongside key partners, such as other Multilateral Development Banks and the World Economic Forum to design ports infrastructure and logistics programs and solutions for the economic and social development of Africa.
• Publish major studies and reports on ports, maritime transport and logistics, taking into account the comparative advantage that the Bank can bring to bear to any specific subject or theme. Convene associated workshops and learning events to disseminate best practices across Africa.
• Develop and maintain, in collaboration with partners, a detailed database of statistics, publications, and economic models relating to ports and logistics, and the state of maritime transport and services in Africa;
• Identify appropriate maritime transport and logistics training for internal and external stakeholders.

Ports and Logistics Projects and Programs:

• Act as a focal point for advice to Regional Member Countries on ports infrastructure and logistics issues and lead policy dialogue with governments in advancing policy, regulatory and institutional reforms in the ports sector.
• Lead the development of technical assistance programs to provide cutting edge advice on ports infrastructure development, private sector participation, ports restructuring, concessions or privatization and foster public and private partnerships.
• Lead the origination and financial structuring of ports and logistics projects in regional member countries in collaboration and with the support of operations staff based in the regions and ensuring the optimum use of all the Bank's financing instruments.
• Advise and support operational staff based in the regions on ports and logistics projects implementation and ensure appropriate coordination of actions in supporting clients during the project procurement, execution and monitoring phase.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Hold at least a Master's degree or its equivalent in Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering, Ports and Maritime Engineering, Transport Planning, Transport Economics, Transport Logistics, or related discipline.
• Have a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in ports infrastructure development and logistics in the public or private sector with proven experience in at least two key aspects including planning, design, operation, financing, regulation.
• Dual qualification in Transportation Engineering and Business/Finance will be an added advantage.
• Public and/or private sector experience involving PPPs for ports development, concessions, or privatization. Experience in private sector experience will be an added advantage.
• Thorough knowledge of Ports infrastructure, logistics and ports operations, Institutions and regulations.
• Foundational knowledge of ports and logistics business models with ability to apply/recommend operationally relevant solutions and lessons for clients.
• Knowledge and experience in development and understanding of policy making process; project and program design, execution, monitoring and evaluation.
• Policy dialogue skills – Ability to identify and assess critical policy issues and actively dialogue with governments and/or other stakeholders to develop solutions.
• Ability to make sense of complexity, interpret a wide range of information and make smart decisions.
• Effective consultation and advisory skills coupled with a client orientation to ensure relevancy.
• Create, apply and share knowledge across the Bank to strengthen solutions for internal and/or   external clients.
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language;
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications; knowledge of SAP is an added advantage.