Job: Principal Urban Development Specialist

Location: Manila
Closing Date: Wednesday, 04 December 2013

Job Purpose:

Oversee the formulation and articulation of policy and strategies on urban development and urban environmental improvement (including, where appropriate, water supply, wastewater management, sanitation, drainage, solid waste management, housing), urban and regional planning, public-private partnership in urban service provision, urban/municipal management, and engaging Developing Member countries (DMC's) governments in policy dialogue. Conduct and oversee ADB's activities to support urban development policy and reforms. As leader of a team, assure the quality of project preparation and project administration and of overall results. Work within a framework of broad policies, principles and goals, applying a high degree of freedom in selection of work methods.

Expected Outcomes

a. Strategy and Planning

• Oversee the development of strategies on urban development and urban environmental improvement (including, where appropriate, water supply, wastewater management, sanitation, drainage, solid waste management, housing), public-private partnership, urban and regional planning, urban governance /municipal management and finance in DMCs, in consultation with relevant government agencies and Resident Missions (RMs) in the region.
• Oversee the review of urban development policy, related legal and regulatory framework and assess progress towards achieving sustainable economic development and poverty reduction in DMCs.
• Undertake and oversee policy dialogue with governments and other donor organizations on the urban development thematic area, promote efficient use of resources and encourage participatory approaches to development planning and financing.
• Lead in identifying, designing and processing loan and TA projects in a DMC's urban development sector, including the water supply, sanitation/sewerage, drainage, urban transport and roads, solid waste management, municipal management.
• Oversee the work in developing regional strategies and initiating regional projects in consultation with national and regional organizations and international financial agencies including the intra-regional exchange of experiences, best practices and lessons.
• Ensure and oversee proper coordination between Headquarters and Resident missions for consistency of approach, exchange of experiences, and continuous improvement of practices and integration of urban development policy commitments to the management of projects.

Serve as a focal point for operation innovations particularly in the fields of promoting public and private partnership, including development of new initiatives and operation modalities

b. Project management

• Ensure quality and compliance of lending and non-lending products and operations with respect to urban development policy and strategies.
• Lead preparation, administration of loan and TA projects in urban development, incorporating ADB's priorities, such as climate change, gender and social inclusion, and public-private partnerships.
• Provide guidance, advice and comment on urban development issues in the initiation and development of loan, TA projects and capacity building initiatives.
• Facilitate and oversee the effective liaison and coordination with development agencies on program loans and investment projects.
• Ensure key technical, economic financial and cross-cutting issues are incorporated into projects.

c. Policy and Project Evaluation

• Continuously assess urban development policies, strategies and programs with a view of ensuring comparability to best practices and responsiveness to development needs of DMCs.
• Ensure the development impact of the urban development portfolio through monitoring and evaluation.
• Undertake analytical and advisory work, including policy and institutional analysis, developing strategy options, inquiries into emerging urban themes, and capacity building programs to meet the urbanization challenges and increase the volume and development of urban development program and projects in DMCs.
• Ensure that new urban development policy and strategies are reflected in the urban development portfolio.
• Contribute to development of new policies, initiatives and operational modalities.

d. Knowledge Management

• Serve as a contributor to knowledge management, responsible for the planning through the preparation of knowledge management activities (e.g., workshops, publications) on issues that are relevant to the Developing Member Countries of South Asia region.
• Represent ADB and participate in government and development partners meetings and working groups on urban development, as assigned, for knowledge sharing and coordinating and promoting ADB's urban development initiatives.

e. Staff Supervision

• Mentor new staff in SAUW in the area of project processing and administration.
• Create and lead multidisciplinary teams and ensure the overall quality of its work.
• Supervise the performance of teams and individuals providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to team and ensure their on-going learning and development.

Educational Requirements:

Master's Degree, or equivalent, in urban and regional planning, urban or environmental management, business administration, economics or other related fields; Bachelor's degree, combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s may be considered in lieu of a master's degree.

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience in urban development and urban environmental improvement or related area, in the preparation of urban sector roadmaps, project preparation as well as in project administration.
• Multidisciplinary competence and thorough knowledge with various aspects of urban development, including urban governance, municipal management and finance, urban infrastructure and service delivery, and land management and ability to integrate cross-cutting themes of urban poverty reduction, climate change, private sector participation, capacity building, and environment and social dimensions including safeguards.
• Extensive experience and successful record of demonstrated performance and capacity as mission leader in processing complex loan and TA projects and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively conduct policy dialogue and interact and liaise with a broad range of stakeholders, including government officials, other development partners, civil society, and ADB Management and staff.
• Excellent oral or written communications skills in English.
• International experience working in development in several countries.

Core Competencies:

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Provides supervision to others in completing their technical tasks
• Called upon for advice and guidance based on expertise gained by working in different countries and organizations
• Contributes advanced knowledge and expertise to different parts of the Department

Client Orientation

• Proposes effective services and solutions to staff beyond presenting issues and past challenges
• Assists colleagues adapt to the cultural and business norms of diverse clients and country situations
• Gains respect for the breadth and depth of expertise demonstrated in effectively managing diverse clients and country situations
• Called upon to resolve client situations that may impact their long-term ADB relationship

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Resolves situations where client needs are not being met
• Shares past experiences from different projects, organizations, and countries to help achieve quality results
• Ensures that thorough analysis includes current and relevant factors from different countries and contexts
• Sought out for guidance and experience in overcoming the most challenging situations
• Draws on long-term relationships with stakeholders to help plan for and achieve results

Working Together

• Addresses team members not contributing to required standards
• Commits to delivering timely and high quality work to assist in the team's success
• Develops and maintains good internal and external peer and senior level relationships
• Helps teams understand common features to build rapport and overcome challenges

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Provides stakeholders with the level and quality of information required to achieve outcomes
• Encourages others to seek long-term solutions to address feedback opposed to focusing on immediate concerns or reactions
• Uses breath of multi-country and multi-client knowledge to equip clients and staff for more effective outcomes
• Designs and implements project and program knowledge and services

Innovation and Change

• Consistently seeks more effective and practical ways for the Departmental delivery of services, products, and processes
• Proposes new ways to improve the quality and relevance of products and services
• Includes the core benefits and reasons for change when developing comprehensive change roll out plans
• Influences and persuades decision makers by presenting business cases supporting the proposed changes

Immediate Reporting Relationships / Other Information:

• Supervisor: Director, SAUW
• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:
• Administrative Staff
• National Staff

Women are encouraged to apply.

More Info and Application