Urban Development Specialist

As an Urban Development Specialist, you will contribute to the formulation and articulation of policy and strategies on water and urban development sector in the DMCs. You will be responsible in enhancing quality of policy dialogue, operations, and knowledge solutions delivery by working closely with DMC clients. You will provide support in identifying, developing, processing, implementing and administering loans, grants, and TA projects in DMCs, and provide relevant stakeholders with necessary technical support and knowledge for projects.  

You will:

• Process and administer sub-regional and DMC-specific loan, grant, and TAs in urban sector development, with due attention to country’s development policies and projects’ impacts on climate change.
• Develop new lending projects and programs in the sector including water supply, wastewater management, sanitation, drainage, solid waste management, housing, sustainable tourism, urban and regional planning, municipal governance/finance, climate- and disaster-resilience, and sector restructuring/utility management and reforms.
• Collaborate with other sector offices and departments in ADB to propose integrated solutions in response to DMC needs.
• Identify and introduce innovative and smart solutions, aligned with international best practices but fit for purpose and for the DMC context, in the design and administration of loans, grants, and TAs. Propose appropriate contract modalities and lead discussions on procurement issues including review of bidding documents, bid evaluation reports, and consultant recruitment.
• Closely coordinate with RDs, RMs, Office of Safeguards (OSFG), Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), Office of Markets Development and Public-Private Partnership (OMDP), and Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) in identifying, developing, implementing, and administering loans, grants, and TAs for the water and urban development sector.
• Continuously assess water and urban development sector development policies, strategies, and programs with a view of ensuring comparability to international best practices, smart solutions and technological advance, climate change mitigation and adaptation, private sector development, use of digital technologies, and responsiveness to development needs of DMCs.
• Identify the priority areas in the water and urban development sector in the region/countries assigned, undertake upstream and analytical sector work, and propose the modality and nature of the required loans and TA support.
• Assist the team and RDs with guidance on inquiries related to urban sector development, urban environmental improvement, and relevant sector governance reforms.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners for knowledge and project opportunities. Respond to external inquiries as needed.
• Work on generating and disseminating knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices and country or region specific cross-learning in water and urban development, and on the areas related to livable cities.
• Lead relevant in-house studies and seminars and prepare reports or policy briefs on topics crucial to ADB’s water and urban development sector operations.
• Lead, supervise, and support reporting staff, including their performance and development.
• Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff. Mentor junior staff and support their learning and integration into SG-WUD and the Sectors Departments in effective ways.
• Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in your workplan.

Qualifications:

You will need:

• A University degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, urban and regional planning, urban and environmental management, or economics or other relevant areas; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience in water and urban development and municipal service improvement, and in project preparation and administration of projects, practical knowledge, and experience in integration of financial, economic, social, institutional, and safeguard requirements and issues in project design and execution.
• Strong core technical skills and sufficient practical experience in the field with demonstrated ability to engage in policy dialogue with clients, prepare knowledge solutions with colleagues and development partners, and develop capacity in DMCs.
• International experience working in several countries.
• Broad experience in the preparation of investment projects and analysis of relevant development policies, including knowledge of procurement and consultant recruitment.
• Demonstrated team leadership or managerial skills and experience leading professionals, teams, and missions for technical matters and projects processing/implementation.
• Significant expertise within a specific area of ADB’s operations (economic, sector, or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Source:  https://www.adb.org/careers/250208