Senior Water Resources Management Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. https://ww.worldbank.org.

East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Region:

EAP is a large and diverse region, ranging from Small Island States of the Pacific to the Philippines and China! Despite substantial economic growth and poverty reduction, the EAP region faces huge development challenges. Growth has been uneven across and within countries, institutions still need strengthening, and most countries are heavily affected by climate change. The Bank plays a significant role on global public goods, including climate, biodiversity, water pollution, and health. The COVID pandemic, and more recently food and energy price increases are compounding the impact of the global economic slowdown. The World Bank Group is seen as a premier development institution in the Region, with a leadership role on analytical and advisory services as well as financing. 

East Asia and the Pacific Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eap

The East Asia Pacific Water Unit (SEAW1) has 25 staff based in various country offices and Singapore, supporting the current lending pipeline and on-going portfolio totaling $2.5 billion, in addition to supporting water related activities managed by other GPs (e.g. Agriculture, Environment, Energy and Urban).  The position will be located in the Jakarta Office where currently there are three water staff with experience ranging from water supply and sanitation to water resources management.  There are currently two large irrigation/water resources management projects under preparation. 

Job duties and accountabilities:

SEAW1 is looking to fill the position of a Senior Water Resources Management Specialist with substantial irrigation expertise to lead  or co-lead the policy dialogue on water issues with the Governments of Indonesia, Timor Leste, and possibly other countries in the East Asia and Pacific region.

• Provide technical leadership on the growing irrigation program in bringing forward solutions for the Planet Practice Group, in coordination with other Global Practices and the Country Management Unit

• Provide strategic direction for the water program and articulate it internally and externally, contributing to Business development

• Lead or co-lead operations that have irrigation and water resources management components, in all phases of a project (preparation and supervision) mapped to water (or other practices)

• Deliver analytical and advisory services, knowledge reports, technical assistance, capacity building and/or participate in lending and analytical and advisory activities for the Water Global Department and relevant Water GSGs

• Conduct dissemination and outreach for  Indonesian, regional and global internal/external audience

• Maintain liaison and dialogue with Government organizations, development partners, research institutions, private sector, and other sector-related institutions; and follow-up on specific operational project issues and/or sectoral dialogue;

• Interact closely with the team based in Jakarta and in other country offices in the region, to exchange knowledge and bring forward water solutions to clients, including with those in IFC and MIGA

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree with a major in a relevant field of education include: civil or environmental engineering, water resources management, irrigation and drainage, or other fields relevant for water sector development.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience, could include a proven track record in Irrigation and Drainage and Water Resource Management, related field.
• Demonstrates advanced ability in water resources planning, management and development, with depth in at least one subtopic; ability mitigate risk or overcome difficult challenges and provide policy-related decisions and advice.
• Demonstrates extensive experience with irrigation and drainage infrastructure and technologies and the ability to apply knowledge to policy related decisions and advice. Recognized leadership on irrigation and drainage infrastructure and technologies and ability to represent the Bank internationally

Integrative skills:

• Demonstrates ability to think and work across WBG, practices and sectors 
• Integrates divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent project/program/ strategy 
• Considers corporate commitments (e.g., MFD, climate, gender, citizen engagement) in project approach.

Policy dialogue skills:

• Possesses political judgment, diplomatic acumen, and negotiating skills
• Builds and sustains key stakeholder relationships with government and other key stakeholders
• Guides clients and/or development partners in identifying key operational issues and optional solutions with a demonstrated ability to bring together different perspectives 
• Leads task teams, participates in formal negotiations, and assists government in establishing priorities

Knowledge and Experience in development: 

• Demonstrates sound knowledge of World Bank’s Twin Goals and the complementarities among different World Bank Group member institutions. 
• Demonstrates deep understanding of policy making process and the role of own sector of expertise in that process.
• Fully understands Bank’s development initiatives and policies and practices related to lending and non-lending operations.
• Guides research efforts and translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies and for discussions with clients and development partners.
• Anticipates client needs and requests and guides the development/ offering of relevant tools to clients.

Communicating and influencing skills:

• Demonstrates the ability to influence and persuade others to accept ideas and suggestions (such as counterparts in government, international partner organizations, academia, and Bank colleagues, senior staff and managers). 
• Has ability to communicate and defend, orally and in writing, challenges and positions to colleagues and management.

Water Policy and strategy:

• Demonstrates a good understanding of water policies and strategies and their role in delivering outcomes to end users/customers.

Water Institutions: 

• Demonstrates good understanding of irrigation sector institutions and  WRM (ministries, regulators, service providers, community organizations) sector institutions and how they are best organized to deliver services to end users in a sustainable manner. This will include consideration of issues of governance and political economy.

Public and private partnerships:

• Demonstrates good understanding of the various models for partnering with the private sector in the delivery of sustainable services and associated regulation.

Water financing:

• Demonstrates good understanding of approaches to irrigation sector financing.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of financial instruments and financing options that are relevant to WRM.

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.