Senior Urban Specialist at World Bank

Roles And Responsibilities

The Senior Urban Specialist’s responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Lead engagement in Urban sector through existing country program and provide technical support towards the promotion and implementation of the Urban resilience agenda, including through participation in our dialogue with clients and CMU.
• Provide technical and thought leadership on Urban strategy development and portfolio management, including in maintaining engagement with a range of stakeholders within the Bank, and with clients and development partners in Nigeria.
• Participate in, co-lead, and lead task operational and analytical activities including preparation and implementation support towards lending operations and development and implementation of cutting-edge analytical instruments and knowledge products.
• Lead and contribute to regional and country level policy dialogue and just-in-time advisory work in climate resilience and adaptation, and urban resilience including cross-sectoral engagements such as Country Partnership Framework, CCDR and other CMU-led activities.
• Work closely with national and sub-national clients to respond to Urban challenges through analytical work and lending operations, particularly in the areas of flood resilience, land, municipal finance, solid waste management, urban planning among others.
• Help adapt global good practice to local context and advise government counterpart and Bank teams on matters related to green, resilient and inclusive urban development.
• Supervise the work of consultants and technical specialists to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank standards; evaluate studies and sector-related project documentation.
• Manage Trust Fund (TF) activities including preparation and review of grant proposals, consultation on technical issues, preparation of progress reports, project briefings, disbursements and quality control of deliverables.
• Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the URL Global Practice, the GSGs, and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and in the World Bank.
• Provide coaching mentoring on-the-job to junior team members, extended term consultants and junior professionals in the unit; and
• Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in a field relevant to urban development, such urban or regional planning, economics, geography, municipal finance, infrastructure engineering, public policy, political science, or a related field.
• At least eight years of relevant experience in urban development program or urban infrastructure development, integrated multi sector operations.
• Understanding of fragile and low-capacity context.
• Supporting/providing leadership on stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated leadership skills leading complex operations, sector policy and engagement strategies, and analytical works.
• Demonstrated experience of bringing global knowledge, best practice international experience and fit for purpose innovation into operations and sector engagements.
• Strong motivation to work in the urban, DRM, and land fields and ability to work flexibly and independently on a range of assignments, adjusting to and prioritizing a variety of complex evolving tasks.
• Demonstrated relationship management skills with internal stakeholders (CMUs, PGs), external clients, and development partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to lead teams and function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• High energy and demonstrated interest and experience in achieving impact through operational and analytical work.
• 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.
• Excellent and effective command of English in verbal and written forms required.

WBG Core Competencies

• Drive for Results: Takes personal responsibility for producing high quality work, identifying and informing of risks, and delivering results for clients
• Lead and Innovate: Brings new and different insight; applies critical thinking to current approaches, identifies areas for improvement and tries new solutions that drive results
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Keeps others fully informed to ensure integration and work consistency and displays a sense of mutuality and respect.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Actively contributes to and readily applies WBG’s body of knowledge for internal and/or external client solutions
• Make Smart Decisions – Leverages available data and makes timely decision; seeks and analyzes facts, data and lessons of past experience to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work.