WBG Global Director, Transport and Logistics

WBG Global Director, Transport and LogisticsJob #: req38877Organization: World Bank GroupSector: TransportationGrade: GITerm Duration:Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP)Recruitment Type: International RecruitmentLocation: Washington, DC,United StatesRequired Language(s): EnglishPreferred Language(s):Closing Date: 11/1/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTCDescriptionAt the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit VPU Context: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. 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: Transport and Logistics Global DepartmentWithin the Infrastructure VPU, the WBG Transport and Logistics (T&L) 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 affordable, safer, cleaner and more resilient transport solutions, with a particular focus on private capital mobilization. The Department is composed of 65 staff and 3 units: (1) Policy and Regulations; (2) Solutions and Impact; and (3) Transport Trust Funds.Duties and accountabilities:The WBG Global Director will be accountable for modeling WBG leadership values and managerial behavior and ensuring that the department delivers on its commitments. Key responsibilities include:Strategic Leadership:• Provide vision and direction for the T&L department to deliver “thought leadership” (policy and regulations) and “scale and replication” (solutions and impact) for both public and private sector clients.• Lead new WBG approach to thought leadership and scaling for the Transport and Logistics department, including driving organizational change and the design & roll-out of Solutions. • Ensure a focus on Corporate Priorities, in particular Private Sector mobilization, Jobs and Sustainable Impact, as well as the delivery of the Economic Corridors strategy under preparation.• Collaborate with WBG Directors of other sectors, verticals, and, Regions, to deliver multi-sectoral solutions in Transport and Logistics.• Represent the VPU on WBG corporate strategic issues.Operational Delivery • Coordinate pipeline development across Regions, ensuring that the most promising WBG development solutions get scaled and replicated. • Oversee the delivery of timely, high quality investment and advisory services to public and private sector clients. • Exercise or contribute to decision making process on Advisory and Investment project as per the ADM Relationship Management• Foster a culture of partnership and trust, whereby all internal and external parties appreciate the mutual benefits of working together.• Lead coordination and collaboration with public and private sector partners across the WBG institutions and globally to strengthen delivery of solutions for impact.• Strategically engage with and manage senior-level relationships with governments, the private sector and other key stakeholders. This includes managing WBG relationships with selected key Global Clients.Global Engagement• Lead global engagement efforts, including participation in global education fora, G7/G20, COP, UNGA, and other advocacy and partnership initiatives.• Position the WBG as a global thought leader by understanding and influencing major directional trends.• Nurture the success and relevance of our flagship “Transforming Transportation” event, aiming in particular to boost the participation from the private sectorInternal Engagement and Capacity Building• Engage with operational counterparts to support a culture of WBG knowledge and delivery of joint public and private sector solutions to clients. Build internal understanding of WBG Transport and Logistics strategy, solutions and accountability framework.• Empower teams to work with WBG regions to develop client capacity, including facilitating "south-south" learning. Enhance the quality of client work, particularly for high-risk projects, and increase contestability across the WBG.Knowledge Management and Communications• Design an annual Knowledge Plan, with a focus on (i) meeting needs from internal and external clients and (ii) dissemination and actionability.• Cultivate an environment of openness that encourages innovation and rewards knowledge sharing and dissemination to drive impact.• Lead on communicating the results of engagements internally and externally, in coordination with the communications team.• Design, implement and deliver training, learning and capacity building programs for staff and clients, including the WBG Academy.People/Talent Management• Lead, mentor, and support a high-performing teams of Transport and Logistics professionals. Foster a culture of rigor, collaboration, and ethical leadership.• Drive and encourage technical excellence within the team by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients.• Foster and lead a strong and collaborative management team including Transport Regional Managers.• Coordinate talent management efforts for Transport mapped staff across the WBG.• As a member of the WBG Infrastructure Talent Council, collaborate with the Regional Directors to support talent management and career development for staff in Infrastructure and ensure a technically strong and diverse pipeline for technical and managerial leadership across the institution.• Coordinate and support management in developing and implementing appropriate strategies for global staffing, deployment, staff learning and development as well as career progression and talent and performance management.Resource Management• Manage the department’s budget to support the implementation of the Transport and Logistics strategy.• Ensure implementation of an appropriate risk management framework to meet unit’s objectives.Selection CriteriaThe ideal candidate for the role of WBG Global Director for Transport and Logistics will be a seasoned executive with a deep understanding of the T&L sector, strategic leadership in complex organizations, and the credibility to operate independently while influencing at the highest levels of both government and the private sector.Required qualifications and experience• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in economics, engineering, finance or another relevant field, with a minimum of 15 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility and complexity.• Recognized leader in the Infrastructure sector.• Demonstrated strong track record of public and private client relationship management, business delivery, investment experiences, portfolio management, strong environmental, social and governance risk and mitigation experience.• Demonstrated ability to represent the institution effectively in high-level policy discussions and global forums.• Proven thought leadership and technical understanding of the T&L sector, including, policy and regulations, product development, advisory, structuring.• Significant field-based experience working in client countries across regions, with deep familiarity with WBG operations and policies, or comparable areas in other international financial institutions.• Demonstrated ability to work across institutional and disciplinary boundaries, with diverse stakeholders to build consensus and drive results.• Proven track record of building and managing teams, achieving a mutually supportive, team-oriented mindset across a large unit or units, and creating an enabling work environment that delivers results.• Proven ability to effectively work with colleagues and integrate the work of multiple business units covering diverse activities.• Proven capability to lead and implement organizational change and reform initiatives, with a focus on improving efficiency, accountability, and clarity in roles, processes, and institutional culture.As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who: Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.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 CompetenciesWBG Five Managerial CompetenciesThe 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.