Principal urban development specialist

1. Immediate reporting relationships:

The position is located in the East Asia Regional Department (EARD) and reports to: Director, Social Sectors Division (EASS)
The following staff positions report to the Principal Urban Development Specialist: National Officers and Administrative Staff

2. Job purpose:

Oversee the development and formulation of policy and strategies on urban development and urban environmental improvement in People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Mongolia, including, where appropriate, water supply, wastewater management, sanitation and solid waste management, district heating, disaster management, and urban road and transportation. Oversee policy dialogue with the governments concerning urban development issues among developing member countries (DMCs). Oversee and lead the project teams to process and administer loans and technical assistance (TA) for urban development projects in DMCs. Work within a framework of broad policies, principles and goals, applying a high degree of autonomy in selection of work methods.

3. Expected outcomes:

Strategy and Planning
- Oversee the development and formulation of the urban sector policy, strategies, and programs to promote sustainable urban development and urban environmental improvement (including, where appropriate, water supply, wastewater management, sanitation and solid waste management, district heating, disaster management, urban road and transportation, regional hub and regional cooperation) in consultation with the governments of PRC and Mongolia and the concerned resident missions (RMs)
- Oversee the review of the urban development strategy and policy of the DMC governments including related legal and regulatory framework, and assess the progress made towards achieving sustainable economic development and poverty reduction
- Oversee policy dialogue with the governments and other donor agencies on urban development issues including urban planning, urban and municipal management, urban environmental management, private sector participation in provision of municipal service, development of regional hubs to promote economic cooperation among DMCs
- Oversee, guide and support urban development specialists in their work with the governments and other donor agencies to identify opportunities for lending and non-lending products and services (NLPS)
- Represent EASS in sector committees, country teams and working groups concerning urban development issues
- Ensure proper coordination between the Headquarters and the concerned RMs to ensure consistency of approaches, knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences, and consistency and integration of policy commitments in all the urban-related operations
- Serve as the focal point for coordination with external stakeholders (including governments, donor agencies, academic institutions, private sector entities, and non-government organizations or NGOs) and other divisions/departments within the Bank on urban-related issues

Project Processing and Management
- Oversee, provide guidance and support for project teams to ensure quality of sector analysis and consistency of policy interventions in the design, development, and processing of loan and NLPS for urban development projects in the concerned DMCs
- Oversee multidisciplinary project teams to process and administer loans and NLPS for urban development and urban environmental improvement projects in the concerned DMCs
- Identify good practice in project design and implementation for knowledge sharing and dissemination

Policy and Project Evaluation
- Oversee and conduct regular and continual assessment of urban development policies, strategies, and programs to ensure relevance and responsiveness of the operation to the urban development needs of the DMCs concerned
- Ensure that relevant findings of evaluation reports be taken into consideration in developing and formulating new policies and strategies for urban development and urban environment
- Oversee, provide guidance and support for the project teams to ensure that the new policy initiatives, best practices, and lessons learned be incorporated in the design, development and processing of new projects in the urban development programs
- Oversee and foster knowledge sharing, and disseminate findings and good practice generated/developed under loans and TA for urban development and urban environment improvement projects of EASS

Staff Supervision
- Create and lead multidisciplinary teams and ensure the overall quality of its work
- Supervise the performance of teams and individuals providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance
- Provide coaching and mentoring to team and individuals and ensure their on-going learning and development

4. Core competencies:

Technical Knowledge and Skills
- Able to lead others to solve complex problems using technical knowledge and skills relating to urban development thematic areas and poverty reduction
- Applies a high level of technical expertise in work in conducting dialogue with the governments on a wide range of sensitive policy, sector, and operational issues relating to urban development thematic area
- Uses technical expertise to provide advice and support for country teams, project teams, and DMC governments in developing policy and sector strategy, and in project design

Client Orientation
- Focuses own and other efforts on understanding and meeting client needs in DMCs
- Able to work effectively with clients
- Seeks feedback on the quality of service and makes improvements

Achieving Results
- Ensures own work contributes to achieving EASS results
- Regularly reviews progress to ensure work is on target
- Prioritizes own and others’ work to achieve key results areas

Working Together
- Develops the team skills of team members
- Encourages cooperation within and between teams and promote the value of diversity in teams, such as in different views, culture, nationality, and gender
- Facilitates conflict resolution within the team

Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Helps staff to find a variety of ways to learn and develop
- Empowers staff to make improvement
- Encourages the team to learn from each other

5. Key relationships:

a. Supervisor
Director Work planning, performance feedback, results assessment, and personal development
b. External Clients
Policy dialogue and development, project development and monitoring, and knowledge sharing and capacity development
c. Internal Clients
Policy and sector strategy development, support for operation coordination, project processing and portfolio management, knowledge and information sharing. Team and mission management. Quality assurance. Guidance and support to others in terms of technical expertise and country and regional understanding

6. Education requirements:

A university degree in economics or other related fields, preferably with specialized training in the field of urban development or environmental management; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent.

7. Other requirements:

- Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level
- At least 12 years of relevant professional experience with the demonstrated capability to lead multidisciplinary project teams to process and implement loans and TAs for complex urban development projects and sophisticated environmental management/improvement projects
- Good experience in formulating country or sector level assistance strategy and programs, and in portfolio management in terms of loan administration and country portfolio review
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- International experience working in development in several countries