Lead Transport Specialist

The Lead Transport Specialist will provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the transport and logistics program in India and across South Asia. The role involves leading complex transport operations, fostering collaboration across World Bank Group practices, and mentoring multidisciplinary teams to address development challenges in transport connectivity, urban mobility, and infrastructure financing.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the development, preparation, and implementation of complex transport, mobility, logistics, and infrastructure operations in India and selected South Asia countries.
• Lead the development of transformational flagship operations aligned with the India CPF, characterized by high financial leverage, large economic impact including in job creation, and strong climate and environmental outcomes.
• Serve as Task Team Leader (TTL) or co-TTL for major lending and non-lending operations, ensuring high technical quality, operational readiness, and compliance with World Bank policies and procedures.
• Design and support innovative financing approaches, including PPPs, blended finance, guarantees, and instruments that leverage IFC investments, MIGA guarantees, and domestic capital markets.
• Actively drive One WBG collaboration, working seamlessly with IFC and MIGA to originate and structure joint solutions for public and private clients.
• Engage with ministries of finance, railways, urban development authorities, multilateral and bilateral partners, institutional investors, and private operators on complex financing and delivery models.
• Lead high-level policy dialogue with national, state, and city governments on urban mobility, transport sector reform, logistics modernization, infrastructure financing, and sustainable development.
• Lead or contribute to flagship analytical work, policy notes, investment frameworks, and strategic advisory services.
• Advance innovation in areas such as sustainable mobility, digital transformation, logistics, infrastructure resilience, clean transport technologies, and service delivery.
• Contribute to global knowledge initiatives and cross-regional learning.
• Support PM in providing portfolio oversight and quality assurance for India transport program, supporting problem-solving in complex and high-risk operations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, inclusion, and results orientation.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in transport planning, engineering, urban planning, economics, finance, public policy, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in two or more of the following areas: transport infrastructure, urban mobility including urban rail, infrastructure financing, and logistics.
• Proven track record in leading large-scale, complex transport operations financed by the World Bank, other MDBs, or other financiers, including experience as TTL or equivalent senior role.
• Strong understanding of mobility systems, logistics, infrastructure planning, governance, institutional development, and service delivery.
• Demonstrated expertise in infrastructure finance, PPPs, guarantees, and private capital mobilization, including engagement with IFC, MIGA, and domestic financial markets.
• Ability to engage effectively with highly sophisticated clients at senior policy and decision-making levels.
• Proven team leadership and people management skills, including mentoring, performance management, and leading diverse, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgment, and ability to operate across technical, financial, and political dimensions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships, influence stakeholders, and deliver results in complex institutional environments.

Skills

• Transport Planning
• Urban Mobility
• Transport Infrastructure
• Infrastructure Finance
• Logistics Management
• Project Leadership
• Transport Operations
• Public Private Partnerships
• Private Sector Capital Mobilization
• Governance
• Institutional Development
• Service Delivery
• Client Engagement
• Team Leadership
• Performance Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Policy Engagement
• Stakeholder Management
• Mentorship
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication

Languages

English