Urban Transport Specialist

Global Roles; New Delhi; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Roles in India seeks an Urban Transport Specialist to support urban mobility operations and advisory work across India and South Asia. You will lead or co-lead project preparation, design, evaluation, and governance reforms, collaborating with government and development partners to advance sustainable urban mobility.

The role requires a Master’s degree and at least 5 years in urban transport, with strong skills in planning, public transport reform, and financing.

Qualifications

• 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 areas: public transport planning and reform; urban rail or bus systems; 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.
• Excellent client orientation and the ability to provide candid, evidence-based advice in complex institutional settings.
• Excellent English communication skills, both oral and written.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Translate technical analysis into practical project design, policy advice, and implementable actions.
• Collaborate with ministries, urban local bodies, transport authorities, and development partners to deliver urban mobility projects.
• Monitor progress, risks, disbursements, and required actions; prepare concise reporting for task teams and management.
• Provide technical advice on urban mobility planning, public transport networks, and multimodal systems.
• Lead or contribute to analytical and advisory work, policy notes, investment frameworks, and city mobility studies.
• Mentor consultants and junior colleagues; contribute to capacity development and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Urban Transport Planning

Public Transport Reform

Urban Rail Systems

Bus Systems

Integrated Mobility

Multimodal Mobility

Electric Mobility

Active Mobility Concepts

Road Safety

Policy Advice

Infrastructure Finance

Private Sector Participation

Project Preparation

Project Implementation

Technical Analysis

Procurement Management

Results Monitoring

Risk Management

Client Engagement

Mentorship

Sustainable Urban Mobility

Low-Carbon Mobility

Development Finance Institutions

World Bank Group Operations

Education

Master’s degree or higher in transport planning, transport or civil engineering, urban planning, economics, public policy, finance

Job description

The Urban Transport Specialist will support the preparation and implementation of urban mobility operations and advisory work in India and South Asia. The role involves project design, client engagement, technical advice on urban transport systems, and collaboration with government and development partners to promote sustainable urban mobility.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills

• Urban Transport Planning
• Public Transport Reform
• Urban Rail Systems
• Bus Systems
• Integrated Mobility
• Multimodal Mobility
• Electric Mobility
• Active Mobility Concepts
• Road Safety
• Transport Policy
• Infrastructure Finance
• Private Sector Participation
• Project Preparation
• Project Implementation
• Technical Analysis
• Policy Advice
• Infrastructure Project Management
• Economic Analysis
• Financial Analysis
• Procurement Management
• Contract Management
• Results Monitoring
• Risk Management
• Client Engagement
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Mentorship
• Sustainable Urban Mobility
• Low-Carbon Mobility
• Urban Mobility Systems
• Transport Institutions
• Development Finance Institutions
• World Bank Group Operations

Languages

English