Senior Transport Specialist – Logistics

Senior Transport Specialist – Logistics

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. 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: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure

Transport and Logistics Department

Within the Infrastructure VPU, the WBG Transport and Logistics Department seeks to connect people to jobs, social services and income-generating opportunities, as well as to move goods between local, regional, and international markets, using cleaner, safer, more equitable and more resilient transport solutions, with a particular focus on private capital mobilization.  

The Department is composed of 3 units: (1) Policy and Regulations; (2) Solutions and Impact; and (3) Transport Trust Funds.

The Senior Transport-Logistics Specialist will serve as the senior logistics lead and report to the Manager, Transport and Logistics, Policy and Regulations. The role will provide thought leadership on logistics; lead the development of high-quality knowledge products and advisory services; support regional teams across the World Bank Group in designing and implementing logistics policies, regulations, and solutions; and contribute actively to the Knowledge and Solutions Groups for Logistics, Maritime Transport and Ports.

The Specialist will also advance private sector participation and private capital mobilization in logistics and supply chain management in the related transport sub-sectors (Ports, Railways, Trucking and Intermodal freight) by assessing and advising business cases and feasibility studies. The Specialist will be recognized as a go-to expert on cutting-edge developments in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, both on the public policy and private sector sides.

Key responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership and Flagship Research:  
• Serve as the World Bank Group’s senior technical lead on logistics and supply chain development, providing strategic guidance across freight transport, logistics infrastructure and services, trade facilitation, multimodal transport, and supply chain resilience.
• Identify emerging and key challenges and opportunities and shape the WBG’s logistics agenda through high-quality analytics, policy advice, operational solutions, and innovative financing approaches.
• Lead the development of policy, regulatory, institutional, and investment frameworks to improve logistics performance, competitiveness, sustainability, and private sector participation.
• Develop and maintain practical policy and regulatory solutions that regional teams can adapt to country and sector contexts, working closely with relevant Global Leads and regional teams.
• Define annual strategic priorities and implementation plans for the logistics agenda and report on progress to KIT management.
• Lead analytical work on emerging trends in logistics and supply chain development and support the formulation of policy, regulatory, institutional, and investment frameworks that improve logistics competitiveness and economic growth.
 
Operational Support and Private Sector Solutions: 
• Provide senior technical and quality assurance support to IFC/IBRD/MIGA regional teams across the project cycle (from upstream support on fundamental design issues to help extract lessons during the completion process), ensuring that operations and advisory engagements reflect global knowledge, sound technical judgment, and international good practice.
• Ensuring that the most relevant and up-to-date global knowledge informs the design and implementation of country engagements and helps resolve technical disagreements
• Advise on the planning, development, modernization, and optimization of logistics systems and infrastructure, including corridors, logistics parks and hubs, dry ports, intermodal terminals, distribution centers, free trade zones, and special economic zones.
• Assess logistics business models and investment opportunities across areas such as contract logistics, freight forwarding, trucking, rail freight, maritime logistics, e-commerce and last-mile delivery, cold chain, warehousing, and multimodal supply chains.
• Evaluate logistics network and growth strategies, including market demand, location and network design, fleet and warehousing requirements, operating models, technology deployment, and strategic partnerships.
• Support the assessment of commercial viability, private sector participation, and private capital mobilization opportunities in logistics and related freight sectors.
• Promote more efficient and sustainable logistics through digitalization, modal shift, fleet modernization and electrification, alternative fuels, and other decarbonization solutions.

Technical Leadership in Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions:
• Serve as the World Bank Group's lead technical expert on logistics systems and supply chain development, covering freight transport, warehousing, distribution networks, logistics infrastructure, trade facilitation, multimodal transport, and logistics services.
• Lead analytical, advisory, and operational support related to the planning, development, modernization, and optimization of logistics ecosystems, including logistics corridors, logistics parks, inland logistics hubs, freight villages, dry ports, intermodal terminals, free trade zones, special economic zones, and distribution centers. Also including strategies to attract logistics operators, manufacturers, distributors, e-commerce companies, and other private sector participants.
• Evaluate the growth and expansion strategies of logistics service providers by assessing geographic expansion opportunities, freight demand, customer requirements, fleet needs, warehousing requirements, network optimization opportunities, and modal alternatives.
• Lead technical assessments of logistics business models across a broad range of sectors, including e-commerce fulfillment, last-mile delivery, parcel and express logistics, contract logistics, cold-chain logistics, freight forwarding, trucking operations, rail freight, maritime logistics, and integrated multimodal supply chains.
• Assess clients’ proposals on logistics network design, including hub location strategies, warehouse footprints, fleet composition, service coverage, operating models, technology deployment, and partnerships with transport operators, infrastructure providers, customers, suppliers, and other strategic stakeholders.
• Assess opportunities to improve logistics efficiency and sustainability through digitalization, supply chain optimization, modal shift, fleet modernization, electrification, low-carbon transport solutions, alternative fuels, and other decarbonization measures.

Knowledge, Learning and Mentoring: 
• Lead flagship analytical and knowledge work on emerging trends and innovations in logistics and supply chain management, translating global experience into actionable solutions for clients and operational teams.
• Capture and disseminate lessons from WBG operations and convene the Logistics Knowledge and Solutions Group to facilitate exchange across regions and identify emerging issues.
• Assess gaps in technical skills based on business needs, and work with the KTI Management Team to internally develop these skills through formal or on-the-job training and through developing a solutions-focused learning curriculum
• Support technical staff in deepening their expertise  
• Regularly convene staff affiliated with the Knowledge and Solutions Group for Logistics to discuss emerging issues, share experiences across regions, and identify issues for management attention, ensuring balanced participation of field-based staff along with those based in HQ
• Convene field-based friendly training and dissemination events to ensure that best practice experiences are widely known and discussed within the World Bank Group
• Identify and promote opportunities for South-South and North-South peer exchange among clients facing similar development challenges
• Develop and deliver learning initiatives covering logistics policy, logistics infrastructure, supply chain management, freight transport, logistics technologies, free trade zones, multimodal logistics, and sustainable freight solutions.
 
Partnership and Outreach:
• Build relationships with internal and external partners (governments, logistics operators, infrastructure developers, logistics investors, freight carriers, e-commerce platforms, industry associations, and development partners) to promote effective collaboration across the WBG and promote innovation and best practices in logistics and supply chain development.
• Build and nurture existing relationships with external players to forge partnerships, draw on external knowledge and expertise, and support resource mobilization
• Represent the World Bank Group in relevant technical meetings, events and partnerships
• Participate in the organization of the flagship events (learning week, Transforming Transportation), especially sessions in areas of relevance to the Railways agenda
• Act as a public spokesperson for the World Bank Group’s perspective on relevant issues, including conferences, and meetings with partners and civil society
• Develop briefings, opinion editorials, blogs, etc. related to emerging opportunities and issues, World Bank Group engagements, and other strategic issues
 
Fundraising and Resource Mobilization:
• As part of the department’s fundraising coordination strategy, contribute to the growth of resources and expansion of donors of existing key transport trust funds 
• Participating in key donor-led events or those organized in collaboration with major donors to enhance visibility of the department’s work

Selection Criteria

• Master's or PhD degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transportation Engineering, Infrastructure Planning, or a related field.
• At least eight years of experience in operation and/or advisory of logistics, supply chain management, freight transportation, logistics infrastructure, or closely related fields, preferably for both public and private sector clients.
• Demonstrated ability to shape policy dialogue in logistics, including a strong record of engaging effectively with country counterparts, senior Bank management, and high-level government officials on complex or sensitive issues.
• Strong technical expertise and proven experience delivering complex analytical work in logistics.
• Experience evaluating logistics business models and commercial logistics operations in fields like network design, warehouse and distribution requirements, fleet strategies, e-commerce logistics, last-mile delivery, freight transportation, contract logistics, warehousing, or multimodal freight systems.
• Experience with sustainable logistics solutions, including fleet electrification, low-carbon freight transport, logistics decarbonization, and related technologies.
• Proven experience advancing private sector participation and private capital mobilization in logistics.
• Proven operational and development experience, including in policy and investment lending, with a strong track record of delivering complex operations and conducting policy dialogue.
• Excellent communication and representational skills, with demonstrated experience engaging senior stakeholders, media, and external constituencies.

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.

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