Infrastructure Specialist

Job Purpose:

The position is responsible for supporting the processing and implementation of infrastructure projects and technical assistance (TA) in the Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs) covered by SPSO (currently identified as Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu) with particular attention to the poverty reduction and economic growth impacts of ADB’s assistance and country programming work in selected PDMCs. Work with broad policies and objectives, working directly with clients, with supervision for critical tasks.

Expected Outcomes

a. Project Processing and Administration
- Acting as a focal point for civil works and infrastructure work of SPSO and participating in and undertaking review missions for the supervision and administration of ongoing infrastructure projects.
- Reviewing and advising on the civil works and equipment specifications in the tender documents, and providing a wide range of service in the procurement processes for infrastructure projects or project components under administration by SPSO.
- Supervising and contributing to project implementation and preparing and contributing to the preparation of project completion reports.
- Undertaking and participating in missions for the formulation and processing of loans and TAs in the infrastructure sectors and providing inputs on technical aspects of project design, implementation arrangements, cost estimates and assessing the capacity of the executing and implementing agencies.
- Taking responsibility for processing and administration of TAs related to infrastructure management.

b. Thematic Work
- Advising and supporting infrastructure sector policy dialogue, researching suitable remedies or strategies and conducting appropriate policy dialogue with responsible government officials and other stakeholders.
- Conducting regional and country level surveys and analysis on key infrastructure issues and developing, in consultation with SPSO staff, national and regional strategies, institutional and policy reforms in support of the pro-poor and sector-wide approaches to reduction of infrastructure bottlenecks in the Pacific region.
- Liaising with ADB’s departments and PARD staff on Pacific-wide infrastructure issues.
- Acting as focal point for disaster risk management and lead mission for emergency projects related to natural disasters.

c. Strategy and Planning
- Supporting country programming in PDMCs covered by SPSO.

d. Knowledge Sharing
- Participate in and contribute to relevant internal and external training and conferences and other activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building.

e. Staff Supervision
- Provide leadership and support to reporting staff.
- 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 equivalent, in Civil Engineering or related fields. University degree in Civil Engineering or related fields combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree

Relevant Experience And Other Requirements:

- Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level;

• At least 8 years relevant experience;

- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
- Thorough understanding of multilateral development bank’s policies and procedures;
- Excellent leadership qualities and interpersonal skills; and
- Strong analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills.
- International experience working in development in several countries

Core Competencies:

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Regularly shares knowledge on new international best practice trends in comparator situations
• Proactively applies relevant international best practices to own work
• Convinces others to adopt international best practice by explaining the situational relevance and benefits

Client Orientation

• Helps colleagues work effectively with clients in different contexts and from diverse backgrounds and country situations
• Adapts own approach and style when interacting with clients, as opposed to requiring them to adapt
• Draws upon international best practice in exploring solutions with clients
• Confirms the clients’ understanding and agreement before progressing

Achieving Results and Problem Solving

• Draws on own and others’ multi-country experience to identify viable courses of action when conducting analyses
• Helps internal and external clients achieve quality results beyond presenting problems and precedent
• Highlights possible solutions for project issues based on relevant multi-country and/or multi-client experience
• Regularly contributes insights and experiences to colleagues in the Division to help them achieve quality results
• Overcomes unexpected difficulties and challenges to produce desired outcomes

Working Together

• Maintains collaborative relationships within the Department
• Works effectively with diverse colleagues in own and other Divisions and Departments
• Flexibly alters positions and adjusts previously stated points of view to support the group consensus
• Follows through on team priorities in the absence of a team leader

Communication and Knowledge Sharing

• Checks the audience’s level of understanding and awareness of required follow up actions
• Consistently seeks and addresses feedback on own performance
• Creates knowledge products endorsed for wider distribution based on lessons and multi-country experience
• Independently amends and clarifies messages and documents

Innovation and Change

• Actively supports work improvement and/or organizational change by work and deed
• Develops and adopts change plans to support Division initiatives on which one works
• Considers current and future client needs in proposing ideas
• Vocalizes early support for change
• Recommends inputs to new policies, systems and processes in immediate work area

Immediate Reporting Relationships / Other Information:

• Supervisor: Country Director
• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:
  • Administrative Staff
  • National Staff
• Women are encouraged to apply.