Urban Transport Specialist

Urban Transport Specialist

Job #: req38813

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Transportation

Grade: GF

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

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: New Delhi,India

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 11/6/2026 (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

South Asia Region Context:

The South Asia Region, comprising 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 growing climate risks, environmental pollution, informality, and low female labor force participation.

Sustained, private sector-led growth, anchored in investments in infrastructure, logistics, energy, and connectivity, is critical to creating jobs for South Asia’s sizeable youth population. At the same time, continued investment in human capital is needed to equip people for the jobs of the future.

The South Asia Infrastructure program supports countries in building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure systems through an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to growth, job creation, connectivity, resilience, and service delivery. Infrastructure engagements increasingly combine public and private sector solutions, including collaboration across the World Bank Group, to maximize development impact.

India, the largest economy in South Asia, 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 important for improving access to jobs and services, enhancing competitiveness, supporting decarbonization, and attracting private investment. The World Bank Group’s engagement in India increasingly calls for integrated solutions that combine public and private financing, policy reform, institutional strengthening, and collaboration with IFC and MIGA.

Transport and Logistics Practice:

The Transport and Logistics Practice supports efficient, safe, resilient, and low-carbon connectivity across road, rail, urban transport, maritime transport, inland waterways, and aviation. Working with public and private sector partners, it combines investment and policy support to improve access, trade, economic integration, and the performance of transport services and supply chains.

In India, the Practice’s urban transport program promotes compact, connected, inclusive, and low-carbon development through better public transport, multimodal integration, transit-oriented development, electric mobility, safer streets, stronger institutions, and sustainable financing. The program brings together lending, analytics, technical assistance, policy dialogue, and partnerships with national, state, and city governments.

About the Position:

ISAT1 seeks to recruit an Urban Transport Specialist (GF), based in New Delhi, to support the preparation and implementation of urban mobility operations and analytical and advisory work in India and, as needed, elsewhere in South Asia. The position requires a strong combination of urban transport expertise, operational capability, client engagement, analytical judgment, and the ability to work effectively across disciplines and institutions.

The selected candidate will be expected to contribute materially to the design and delivery of complex programs, including public transport and institutional reform, urban rail and bus systems, integrated mobility, electric mobility, accessibility and inclusion, climate resilience, road safety, digitalization, infrastructure financing, and private sector participation. The Specialist will work closely with government counterparts, World Bank Group teams, development partners, consultants, and other stakeholders, and will report to the Practice Manager for Transport and Logistics in South Asia.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Urban Transport Specialist will perform a full range of technical, operational, analytical, and coordination functions, including but not limited to the following:

1. Urban Transport Operations

• Support and, as appropriate, lead or co-lead the identification, preparation, appraisal, and implementation of lending and non-lending activities in urban transport.
• Contribute to project design, results frameworks, implementation arrangements, cost and economic analysis, risk assessment, procurement planning, and implementation support.
• Help resolve implementation bottlenecks and provide practical, timely advice to clients on institutional, technical, contractual, and operational issues.
• Work with environmental, social, procurement, financial management, legal, and other specialists to ensure integrated and high-quality project delivery.
• Monitor progress, results, risks, disbursements, and agreed actions, and prepare concise, decision-useful reporting for task teams and management.

2. Technical and Policy Support

• Provide technical advice on urban mobility planning, public transport networks and operations, urban rail and bus systems, multimodal integration, first- and last-mile connectivity, walking and cycling, transit-oriented development, and demand management.
• Support reforms related to public transport institutions, governance, service contracting, fare policy, funding and financing, data systems, performance management, and service quality.
• Contribute to electric mobility programs, including public transport electrification, enabling infrastructure, institutional arrangements, and coordination with energy and private sector stakeholders.
• Integrate climate mitigation and resilience, road safety, gender, universal accessibility, social inclusion, and environmental considerations into transport strategies and investments.
• Assess opportunities for private capital mobilization and innovative financing, including PPPs, blended finance, guarantees, land value capture, and collaboration with IFC and MIGA, where appropriate.

3. Analytics, Knowledge, and Innovation

• Lead or contribute to analytical and advisory work, policy notes, investment frameworks, sector diagnostics, and city-level mobility studies.
• Collect, assess, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data; use evidence to diagnose mobility constraints, compare options, and formulate implementable recommendations.
• Promote the use of digital tools, geospatial analysis, transport modeling, open data, and other technologies where they improve planning, operations, monitoring, or user outcomes.
• Prepare clear technical reports, briefing notes, presentations, talking points, and other knowledge products for varied technical and senior audiences.
• Share lessons across projects, cities, countries, and Global Practice networks, and contribute to knowledge events and professional communities.

4. Client Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with national ministries, state governments, urban local bodies, transport authorities, operators, development partners, private sector participants, academia, and civil society.
• Participate in policy dialogue and technical discussions, providing evidence-based and practical advice that is responsive to client priorities and implementation capacity.
• Plan and support missions, workshops, consultations, training activities, and high-level visits, including timely documentation and follow-up.
• Coordinate effectively across World Bank Group practices and institutions to develop integrated solutions relevant to India’s urban transformation.

5. Team Contribution

• Work collaboratively in diverse, multidisciplinary, and geographically dispersed teams, contributing constructively to shared outcomes.
• Guide consultants and junior colleagues, review technical outputs, and contribute to quality assurance and capacity development.
• Support country and regional strategy work and other Transport and Logistics Practice priorities, including assignments outside the immediate urban transport portfolio when required.
• Undertake other related responsibilities assigned by the Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree or higher in transport planning, transport or civil engineering, urban planning, economics, public policy, finance, or a closely related field.

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in urban transport, with demonstrated experience in project preparation, implementation, and/or advisory work.

• Substantial experience in at least three of the following areas: public transport planning and reform; urban rail or bus systems; integrated and multimodal mobility; electric mobility; active mobility and road safety; transport institutions and policy; infrastructure financing or private sector participation.

• Experience working with national, state, or city governments on complex transport programs. Experience in India or comparable federal and rapidly urbanizing settings is highly desirable.

Technical and Operational Capabilities:

• Strong understanding of urban mobility systems, including the interactions among land use, accessibility, public transport, non-motorized transport, road networks, technology, institutions, financing, and user needs.

• Demonstrated ability to translate technical analysis into practical project design, policy advice, and implementable actions.

• Experience managing or supporting complex infrastructure or service-delivery projects, including coordination across technical, fiduciary, environmental, social, and institutional dimensions.

• Familiarity with economic and financial analysis, procurement and contract management, results monitoring, and risk management in infrastructure projects.

• Experience with World Bank or other MDB operations is desirable. Familiarity with IPF, PforR, or other development finance instruments would be an advantage.

Client, Communication, and Team Skills:

• Excellent client orientation and the ability to build trust, work through differing perspectives, and provide candid, evidence-based advice in complex institutional settings.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including the ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely to technical and senior audiences.

• Proven ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.

• Strong judgment, initiative, attention to detail, resourcefulness, and results orientation.

• Ability to mentor colleagues, manage consultants, and contribute to an inclusive and collaborative working environment.

Critical Success Factors:

• Sound understanding of India’s urban transport challenges, institutions, and political economy, with the ability to identify feasible pathways for reform and investment.

• Capacity to connect technical quality with implementation realities, financing constraints, institutional incentives, and user outcomes.

• Ability to move comfortably between detailed operational work and higher-level strategic and policy dialogue.

• Credibility with clients and colleagues, combined with humility, collaboration, and a strong focus on results.

• Commitment to sustainable, safe, resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon urban mobility.

WBG and Transport GP Competencies

The position requires strong alignment with World Bank Group Core Competencies, including Deliver Results for Clients, Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries, Lead and Innovate, Create, Apply and Share Knowledge, and Make Smart Decisions. Relevant Transport GP competencies include transport policy and institutions, general transport planning, transport systems and technologies, operational project management, project design for impact and sustainability, client orientation, and knowledge and communication.

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.