Lead Transport Specialist

Job #: req35998
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Transportation
Grade: GH
Term Duration:  3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Washington, DC, United States; Paris, France; London, United Kingdom
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 3/27/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges.  The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).  It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries.  As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges.  For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org.
Infrastructure Vertical
The WBG Infrastructure Vertical provides public and private solutions to operational teams and clients across the WBG to produce scalable impact. Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs by: (i) supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, (ii) policy environment, and (iii) enabling and mobilizing private sector capital. With 60 years of experience, the WBG is poised to support the sector becoming an engine of growth and jobs through improving policies and governance, foundational infrastructure and private sector investments. The WBG lending in the sector is expected to grow substantially. The Infrastructure VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.   For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org
The Transport and Logistics Department (KIT): The World Bank Group (WBG) Transport and Logistics Department is dedicated to enabling sustainable, efficient, and inclusive movement of goods and people worldwide. As a core part of the WBG’s mission, the department focuses on developing, financing, and advising on transport infrastructure and services that are vital for economic growth, regional integration, and poverty reduction.
Our work encompasses all modes of transport—including road, rail, maritime, and aviation—and covers both urban and rural environments. The department collaborates with public and private sector partners to design and implement innovative solutions that address emerging challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, technological advancements, and the need for improved supply chain resilience.
Operating within the Transport Knowledge Bank, the selected candidate will provide global sector leadership on private sector participation in transport sector. The Lead Transport Specialist will help shape strategic approaches, develop scalable models, and translate global experience and market knowledge into practical solutions for country teams, with the objective of accelerating the pipeline of bankable transport projects and scaling private capital mobilization. The position aims to strengthen the World Bank Group’s ability to mobilize private capital in the transport sector by bridging policy dialogue with governments and bankable transaction structuring.
The role will play a key part in guiding regional teams on policy dialogue, market creation, and transaction structuring.  The selected candidate will work closely with regional teams across IFC, IBRD and MIGA, bringing sector expertise, transaction structuring experience and policy advisory capabilities.
The position will also contribute to developing thought leadership and operational knowledge that can inform WBG engagement with governments and private investors across transport subsectors.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will undertake the following responsibilities:
1. Provide sector leadership on policy dialogue to unlock private investment in transport infrastructure:
• Guide regional teams in identifying policy, regulatory and institutional bottlenecks that limit private investment in the transport sector.
• Lead and support policy dialogue with governments to advance reforms enabling private sector participation in transport.
• Provide strategic advice on concession models, PPP structures, and market design in transport sectors
• Help define sequencing of reforms and investment opportunities to create viable pipelines of transport projects.
2. Lead the structuring of bankable private sector transactions in transport
• Provide strategic guidance to regional teams on structuring bankable projects and investment platforms in transport subsectors
• Advise on commercial structures, risk allocation, concession design, and financial structuring.
• Guide regional teams on early-stage project development and help shape viable transaction structures capable of attracting private investors.
3. Advance private capital mobilization and scalable investment models
• Identify and develop replicable models for private sector participation in transport infrastructure.
• Support the development of programmatic approaches and investment platforms to scale private capital mobilization.
• Contribute to expanding private capital mobilization across WBG operations.
4. Provide global knowledge Leadership to support regional operations and investments
• Leverage global experience and market intelligence to support regional operations and pipeline development.
• Capture lessons learned from transactions and translate them into practical guidance for teams.
• Contribute to strengthening the knowledge of transport products, operational toolkits, and sector guidance
5. Engage with private sector stakeholders
• Maintain strategic dialogue with private investors, infrastructure operators, and financial institutions active in transport sector.
• Bring market perspectives into policy dialogue and project structuring.
• Support regional teams in engaging with strategic sponsors and investors.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in finance, engineering, economics, business or similar relevant education
• At least 12 years of relevant experience in infrastructure finance, project finance, PPP advisory, or infrastructure investment.
• Strong experience in structuring infrastructure transactions involving private capital.
• Experience engaging with governments on infrastructure policy or PPP frameworks.
• Solid understanding of transport infrastructure sectors (ports, airports, logistics, rail, urban transport).
•Strong analytical and financial structuring skills.
• Credibility to engage with senior government officials and private sector investors.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Highly collaborative with ability to work across teams and institutions

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.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.