Job Purpose:

Lead the planning, development, and execution of new initiatives in the water supply and sanitation and urban/municipal infrastructure development and management, and relevant sector governance reforms across the Developing Member Countries (DMCs) of ADB. Lead, formulate, and engage in dialogue with the governments and stakeholders concerning water supply and sanitation, and provision of municipal services, urban development issue, including urban planning, urban and municipal infrastructure development and management, and urban environmental management. Lead in identifying, developing, processing, implementing and administering loans, technical assistance (TAs) projects and non-lending products and services (NLPS) in the assigned sector. Work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients.

Expected Outcomes

1. Policies, Strategy, and Planning

• Lead in the water supply and sanitation sector and development of urban sector policy and strategies for urban development, including issues in DMCs, in consultation with relevant government agencies to solutions, including issues related to legal and regulatory framework, in meeting urban development challenges on country, municipal and provincial levels, as well as innovative programs that would accelerate achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
• Undertake policy dialogue with governments and other donor organizations on water supply and sanitation areas, including in the urban development thematic areas, and promote efficient use of resources and encourage participatory approaches to development planning, financing and sustainability.
• Lead and participate in country teams and provide sector inputs for Country Partnership Strategy (CPS).
• Lead in conducting thematic work around the areas of water supply and sanitation and urban development sector in the context of sustainable inclusive economic development and poverty reduction.
• Lead and provide advice on climate change vulnerability and disaster risk assessments and mitigation for urban areas in relation to water supply and sanitation.
• Lead and undertake inter-regional studies and research to promote new technologies, policies and sector assessments.

2. Project Processing and Management

• Lead and support development, processing and administration of loan and grant, NLPS, and regional technical assistance (RETA) projects in the urban sector, including in water supply and sanitation areas.
• Liaise and coordinate with development agencies, lead and support water supply and sanitation and urban development sector operations of ADB in upstream portfolio development work, including targeted sector assessments, diagnostics and roadmaps.
• Lead in the identification, review and evaluation of water supply and sanitation projects, including urban development, possibly involving moderate to high levels of risk and complexity, as well as the recommendation of appropriate sector plans and the appropriate loan covenants and action plans.
• Ensure key technical, economic, financial, institutional and crosscutting issues are incorporated into projects.

3. Capacity Building

• Lead in conducting capacity building activities in water supply and sanitation sector policies and practices of Executing Agencies (EAs), including urban development.

4. Knowledge Sharing

• Develop and maintain a suitable network in the water supply and sanitation sector to keep abreast of the latest developments and issues.
• Substantially contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building around water supply and sanitation issues,
• Develop and maintain a knowledge database on the water sector covering (i) the overall structure of the service, the decentralization process, the role of municipal entities, a list of key service providers and financiers, investment needs over the short, medium and long term, investment trends and key enabling conditions to increase investments in the sector; and (ii) information on best industry practice including the type of technical and operational due diligence needed for project preparation.

5. Staff Supervision

• Take the role of mission leader and supervise the work of mission members and ensure the overall high quality of outputs and reports.
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

Educational Requirements:

• Master's Degree or post-graduate degree in Engineering, Science, Finance, Economics, Management or related disciplines. A university degree in water resources, hydrology, or civil engineering, preferably with complementary training/work experience in other subject areas in water supply and sanitation or other related fields.

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in urban development, urban sector development issues, or related areas of urban water supply, sanitation and wastewater projects with strong focus on operational and technical matters and in project administration, and relevant experience in design of multi-sector projects, practical knowledge and experience in integration of financial, economic, social, institutional and safeguard requirements and issues in project design.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• International experience working in development in several countries, preferably in the Asia Pacific region.

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
• The following staff positions report to the Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist:
  • Administrative Staff
  • National Staff
• Women are encouraged to apply.