Lead Transport Specialist

Lead Transport Specialist

Job #: req37741 Organization: World Bank Sector: Transportation Grade: GH Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: New Delhi,India Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 8/4/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

South Asia and India Context

The South Asia Region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) is at a pivotal stage of development. Rapid economic growth—driven by urbanization and demographic trends—has reduced poverty, but significant disparities persist. The region also faces increasing climate risks, environmental pollution, and structural challenges, including informality and low female labor force participation.

Sustained, private sector-led growth—anchored in investments in infrastructure, logistics, energy, and connectivity—is critical to generating jobs needed to employ South Asia’s sizeable youth population. At the same time, the region needs to continue building human capital so that South Asia’s population is well equipped for the jobs of the future.. More information: South Asia Region overview.

India, the largest economy in the region, is undergoing a profound urban and economic transformation. Meeting the country's growing demand for sustainable mobility, efficient logistics systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure will be critical for enhancing competitiveness, improving access to jobs and services, supporting decarbonization, and attracting private investment. The World Bank Group's engagement in India, as presented in the recently approved Country Partnership Framework (CPF), increasingly requires integrated solutions that combine public and private financing, policy reforms, and institutional strengthening. Delivering on this agenda requires sophisticated client engagement, innovative financing structures, and close integration across the World Bank Group, including collaboration with IFC and MIGA.

The South Asia Infrastructure program supports countries in building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure systems, while adopting an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to supporting economic growth, job creation, connectivity, resilience, and service delivery across the region. Reflecting the World Bank Group's focus on Private Capital Mobilization (PCM), infrastructure engagements are increasingly developed and implemented in close collaboration with IFC and MIGA, combining public and private sector solutions to maximize development impact.

Within this, the Transport & Logistics Practice focuses on enhancing connectivity, trade efficiency, and economic integration through investments across all transport modes—road, rail, maritime, inland waterways, and aviation—with increasing emphasis on multimodal logistics, port modernization, and regional economic corridors. The department collaborates with public and private sector partners to design and implement innovative solutions that address emerging challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, technological advancements, and the need for improved supply chain resilience.

In India, the Transport and Logistics Practice covers two spatial themes: urban and interurban. In urban space, the aim is to promote compact, connected, and low‑carbon urban development enhancing climate resilience, attracting private investment, and supporting sustained job creation. In interurban space, the focus is to create efficient, resilient, safe and climate‑smart connectivity, reducing logistics costs and enabling job‑rich value chains through improved gateways, trunk networks, and multimodal integration, contributing to key priority agendas including AgriConnect, metals and minerals, tourism, and value-added manufacturing.

About the Position

ISAT1 seeks to recruit a Lead Transport Specialist (GH) to provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the transport and logistics program in India and across South Asia.

The position requires a recognized transport leader with strong experience in urban mobility, transport connectivity and logistics, infrastructure financing, and policy reform. The successful candidate will help shape the next generation of mobility and connectivity solutions in India, bringing together expertise across transport subsectors, infrastructure finance, urban development, climate resilience, and private sector participation.

The selected candidate will lead high-level dialogue with government counterparts, private sector partners, and development institutions; foster collaboration across World Bank Group practices and institutions; support the development of transformative investment programs; and mentor multidisciplinary teams working on complex development challenges.

At the GH level, the Lead Transport Specialist is expected to broaden strategic horizons, drive innovation, engage confidently with senior decision makers, and provide thought leadership within the Global Practice and the wider World Bank Group.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Lead Transport Specialist will be responsible for a full range of strategic, technical, operational, and team leadership functions, including but not limited to the following:

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• 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.

Financing, Private Capital Mobilization, and WBG Integration

• 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.

Policy Dialogue, Innovation, and Knowledge

• 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.

Portfolio and Team Leadership

• 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.

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience

• 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.

Technical and Operational Expertise

• 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.

Client Engagement and Leadership

• 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.

Communication and Professional Skills

• 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.

Critical Success Factors

• Ability to conceptualize and deliver transformative transport programs aligned with national priorities and WBG strategic objectives.

• Strong capacity to integrate technical excellence with innovative financing and private sector solutions.

• Credibility and confidence to represent the WBG in high-level policy and investment discussions.

• Leadership style that inspires teams, encourages innovation, and delivers results at scale.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.