Senior Urban Development Specialist

Senior Urban Development Specialist

Job #: req38573

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Urban

Grade: GG

Term Duration: Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP)

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: New Delhi,India

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 10/21/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

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.

South Asia Infrastructure

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.

The SAR Urban, Resilience, and Land (ISAU1)

India, the largest economy in the region, is undergoing a profound urban and economic transformation. Meeting the country's growing demand for urban infrastructure in well performing cities will be critical for enhancing competitiveness of Indian cities, improving access to jobs and high-quality urban services, and attracting private investment. The World Bank Group's engagement in India, as presented in the recently approved Country Partnership Framework (CPF, 2026-31) has a strong emphasis on urban development and 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. By supporting (i) resilient urban infrastructure and services; (ii) safe, green, and affordable housing; (iii) vibrant local economies, including tourism; and (iv) strong local governments, the India urban unit activities contribute to CPF objectives across the states in India through both national and state urban programs. Cross-cutting areas underpinning the cities agenda include climate change, private capital mobilization, gender and inclusion, and jobs. The urban unit expects to see substantial growth in scale of urban engagements in India.

Position:

Seeking a Senior Urban Specialist to support and substantially contribute to the development and implementation Cities, Sub-Sovereign Finance, Toursim, and Resilience program, and other operational functions across the India urban portfolio. The position will be based in New Delhi, and the selected candidate will report to the SAR Urban Practice Manager.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Lead policy dialogue and coordination with national and state governments on priority urban, resilience, land, housing, tourism, municipal development, and finance agendas.

• Lead, co-lead, or contribute to the design and implementation of lending operations, advisory services, and analytical work, with particular focus on private capital mobilization and PPPs.

• Provide technical leadership on complex policy, institutional, and implementation issues; develop urban development proposals, policy recommendations, and strategic analytical products.

• Contribute to country strategy, engagement with key counterpart ministries—including DEA—and broader India urban program planning.

• Develop and disseminate knowledge products, best-practice notes, and training activities that connect Indian clients with global experience.

• Manage and supervise consultants and technical specialists; ensure their analyses and outputs inform high-quality client recommendations and policy dialogue.

• Contribute to professional development, knowledge sharing, and outreach within the India program, the Global Practice, and with key clients.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree in any of the following fields: engineering, urban planning, economics, finance, urban development, or a related field, with at least 12 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Deep experience across the urban agenda—including local government, municipal services, urban development and finance, local and regional development, and tourism—with a track record of structuring or negotiating private-sector and PPP transactions.

• Demonstrated experience leading or co-leading complex, high-impact operations; anticipating client demand; and delivering relevant analytical, knowledge, and research work.

• Strong knowledge of India’s urban, resilience, and land policy agenda, with the ability to lead independent policy dialogue with central and local governments, and the private sector.

• Proven ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and communicate complex issues clearly through strong written, oral, and presentation skills.

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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.