Senior Urban Development Specialist

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a difference in the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

While the position of Senior Urban Development Specialist resides with the Water and Urban Development Sector Cluster (WUD) within the Sectors Department 2 (SD2), you will be outposted to Papua New Guinea Resident Mission (PNRM) within the Pacific Department (PARD) for an initial assignment of three years. After this period, subject to business need, the role may be assigned at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines or at another resident mission. Relocation is required. All reasonable relocation expenses will be covered.

You will report to Country Director, PNRM, and Director, SD2-WUD. You will oversee junior team members and consultants.

Your Role

As Senior Urban Development Specialist, you will oversee operations in water supply, sanitation, urban flood management, solid waste management, urban policy and governance, municipal finance, affordable housing, and tourism. Working across the East Asia and Pacific region, including People's Republic of China, Mongolia, and ADB's 14 Pacific Developing Member Countries (DMCs). You will lead policy dialogue; formulate sector policies and strategies; lead the identification, preparation, processing, implementation and administration of loans, grants, and technical assistance (TA) projects; and provide technical support and knowledge solutions to relevant stakeholders.

For PNG, you will be designated as WUD's sector cluster lead and represent the sector cluster on PNG's Country Management Team. You will be responsible for ADB's business development in the sector cluster ensuring that operations remain responsive to country requests for assistance, and are aligned with the country's policies and strategies. You will ensure that ADB's sector cluster operations in PNG are well coordinated with other development partner assistance in the sector. You will also coordinate with development partners, maintain high-quality sector diagnostics and knowledge products, including updated sector cluster assessments, and oversee the satisfactory implementation of ADB's ongoing sector cluster operations.

You will:

Sector Strategy, Policy Dialogue, and Pipeline Development

• Lead policy dialogue with government counterparts, advising on sector reforms, institutional strengthening, and good practices to strengthen country water and urban development sector performance.
• Assess water and urban development sector policies, strategies, and programs with a view of ensuring comparability to international best practices, smart solutions, and technological advances, and responsiveness to development needs.
• Identify the priority areas in the urban development sector for ADB support based on government requests for assistance, and the modality and nature of the required assistance, i.e. investment and TA support.
• Provide guidance on inquiries related to the water and urban development sector development and governance reforms in PNG and other countries.

Project Preparation, Processing, and Administration

• Lead the preparation, processing, and administration of loans, grants, and TA projects in the area of water and urban development with due attention to country's development policies and projects' impacts on climate change.
• Coordinate with other Regional Departments (RDs), Office of Safeguards, and Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department in identifying, developing, implementing, and administering loans, grants, and TA projects for the water and urban development sector.
• In collaboration with Procurement, Portfolio and Financial Management Department (PPFD) project focal, propose appropriate contract modalities and support discussions on procurement issues including review of bidding documents and bid evaluation reports.

Integrated and Innovative Solutions

• Collaborate with other sector offices and departments, including Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD), and Office of Market Development and Public-Private Partnerships (OMDP), to propose integrated solutions in response to the region's needs.
• Identify and introduce innovative and smart solutions and international best practices in the design and administration of loans, grants, and TAs, and promote regional knowledge sharing between East Asia and Pacific DMCs.

Partnerships and Knowledge

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners for knowledge and project opportunities. Respond to external inquiries.
• Lead in generating and disseminating knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices, and country or region specific cross-learning in the urban development sector.
• 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.

Team Leadership and Other Responsibilities

• Lead, oversee, 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.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned and reflected in your workplan.

You will need:

• Master's degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, urban and regional planning, urban and environmental management, or related fields; or University degree and at least 5 years of relevant work experience may be considered.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in urban development and municipal service improvement and/ or water utilities, urban and/ or water sector cluster development, and in project preparation and administration of projects, practical knowledge, and experience.
• Preference to candidates with experience delivering projects and policies with integration of financial, economic, social, social, institutional, and safeguard requirements and experience of project design and execution.
• International experience working in several countries. Experience in the Pacific region is preferable.
• Broad experience preparing investment projects and analysis of relevant development policies, including knowledge on 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 or similar MDBs and/or bilateral development institutions' operations (economic, sector, or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area.
• Proficiency in expressing ideas in both spoken and written formats in English.
• Two years of relevant experience outside ADB within the past five years is required. Years as an ADB-engaged consultant or contractor are considered experience outside of ADB.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for Technical International 2 (TI2).

Additional Information

This is a re-advertisement. If you have previously applied (to ACES Reference No. 260403), you do not need to resubmit an application. Applications received in response to previous posting will be considered together with applications received in response to this advertisement.

Staff on probation are not eligible to apply. Applicants for promotion and for lateral transfer must have served at their position for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date (A.O. 2.03).

In the event that the staff appointed to a new category (i.e., from TL to TI) is rated at 2 or lower in the first two performance reviews after appointment at the new grade, they will return to the grade occupied immediately prior to their appointment in the new category.

This position is crucial to the Workforce Rebalancing Framework (2022-2027), a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing ADB's in-house expertise previously sourced from the external workforce. The role seeks seasoned experts with substantial field experience capable of leading policy dialogue, and projects focused on delivering knowledge solutions. Successful applicants may occasionally undertake short-term assignments in other departments or offices, when required.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew, initially for a period of up to 3 years, or up to the Normal Retirement Date (NRD), whichever comes earlier, for the purpose(s) and conditions determined by ADB, in accordance with Administrative Order No. 2.01 (Recruitment and Appointment). After the initial fixed-term period, ADB may choose to renew the appointment for up to an additional 3 years or not renewed. This decision will be made in the overall interest of ADB, based on factors including but not limited to the requirement of Staff's particular blend of skills and experience for the medium-term work program of the organizational unit, sufficient funding to cover the renewed period, and Staff's performance and suitability for employment. There is no limit to the number of renewals up to NRD. However, this appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment.

For staff on fixed term appointment, the current fixed term appointment will be terminated before the effective date of the new fixed term appointment.

Staff who are currently under regular appointments but will transition to this position will retain their regular appointment status.

All eligibility rules for housing loans and mortgage interest subsidy shall apply.

Any approved housing loan or mortgage interest subsidy prior to the change to fixed term appointment will continue during staff’s new appointment under the same terms and conditions, as applicable. The outstanding housing loan will be due and payable at the end of employment. All the other eligibility rules apply.

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