Director - Urban Resilience & Data Expert

Position

The position is open to candidates of all nationalities.

All nationals demonstrating 10 years of international work experience in at least 5 countries across 2 UN geographic regions (from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania) would be considered for international positions (International hire).

Objective of the position:

CDRI seeks experienced professionals to lead the formulation and implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives in critical infrastructure systems. The person recruited for this position (Urban Resilience & Data Expert) will be instrumental in developing activities aimed at strengthening the resilience of urban infrastructure systems and supporting data-driven decision-making across multiple countries in accordance with CDRI’s mandate.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Technical Assistance:

Develop technical assistance initiatives in coordination with sectoral departments/agencies in member countries, knowledge institutions, technical experts, and others to support strengthening resilience of urban infrastructure systems and enabling data-driven decision-making in critical infrastructure sectors. These initiatives could include:

• Mobilizing relevant technical experts from coalition members and partners to address specific needs in member countries.
• Designing, executing and managing technical studies.
• Inputs to the urban strategy and program implementation.
• Support the urban call for proposals across cities in member countries.
• Supporting the incorporation of innovative technologies and approaches in the urban financing, planning, design and implementation of projects.
• Ability to identify gaps in planning norms, bylaws and development guidelines and design interventions to support in addressing the same.
• Supporting the development of programs to mainstream disaster and/or climate finance.
• Introduce a life-cycle approach within planning and management of urban infrastructure resilience projects and initiatives.
• Coordinating closely with government agencies, development partners, private sector including insurance companies, and other relevant stakeholders on disaster resilient urban infrastructure and data initiatives and maintaining up-to-date information on their activities and programmes.

2. Urban Infrastructure Resilience:

• Facilitating risk assessments related to the design of urban infrastructure systems to identify physical risks related to natural hazards and climate change.
• Supporting the incorporation of innovative technologies and methods in the design of urban infrastructure.

3. Data & Technology:

• Guide in the development of data standards and cartographic templates.
• Support CDRI in enhancing its Global Infrastructure Risk Model and Resilience Index (GIRI).
• Identifying new technologies for infrastructure risk management and resilience and promoting them through CDRI projects and with CDRI members.
• Implementing the Data and Technology strategy of CDRI.
• Guide in the development of a roadmap, functional and technical specifications for CDRI geospatial and infrastructure risk management and resilience products, platforms, and tools.
• Lead the Data and Technology team through hiring of experts, goal setting, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.

4. Capacity Building:

Contribute to capacity-building initiatives in coordination with other experts within the Secretariat and partner organizations to deepen the understanding of resilience amongst urban sector, data, and technology professionals in member countries and within the CDRI Secretariat. Initiatives could include:

• Preparing policy and advisory documents related to resilient infrastructure.
• Support in leading the urban community of practice towards the development of guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Support in the development and delivery of training modules and other capacity-development initiatives documenting case studies and best practices.
• Building partnerships with academic and non-academic institutions engaged in capacity building and knowledge management in member countries.

5. Management:

Contribute to Secretariat’s management functions, including:

• Program and Project management.
• Developing Key Results Areas and Key Progress Indicators for the practice and program team.
• Reporting to CDRI governing bodies and funding agencies.
• Representing CDRI in global dialogues related to resilient infrastructure.
• Convening and conducting strategic consultations with external stakeholders, as required.

Skills

• Experience of being in the leadership position and managing a team to mainstream Urban DRR and Climate Change.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of urban infrastructure systems, data and technology solutions and applications for resilience.
• Extensive experience in urban planning, sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, resilience, land administration, local governance and nature-based infrastructure solutions.
• Experience in institutional building including design and implementation of systems for program, project and team management.
• Experience in fund raising and design of donor funded programs.
• Experience working with relational and object-based data architecture, coding and programing language.
• Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills with the ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into meaningful insights and programmatic recommendations. Experience in Earth Observations, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, GIS, Hazard Risk Modelling, Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping.
• Experience in designing and implementing early warning systems.
• Experience in collaborating with global urban resilience & international organizations including but limited UN-Habitat, UNDP, UNDRR, WUF, UNFCCC, WEF, Development Banks and national urban planning bodies in mainstreaming resilience standards, codes, and best practices for sustainable urban infrastructure development.
• Expertise in disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery planning for urban infrastructure, including rapid response strategies for critical infrastructure restoration, resilient water systems and climate-adaptive urban systems.
• Experience in formulation and implementation of programs and projects, managing teams, coordinating and engaging with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of project management software (e.g. MS project, Primavera) and demonstrated skills in designing and implementing project monitoring systems.
• Proven ability to work effectively and innovatively in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams and with an entrepreneurial approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and strategic planning skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Familiarity with international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement.
• Experience working in an international organization and with a diverse number of partners comprising Governments, the UN, multi-lateral systems, industry, financial institutions, and knowledge and research institutions in multi-country locations.

Qualifications:

• Master’s in urban planning, civil engineering, earth observations, geoinformatics, hydrology, geology, physical sciences, architecture, infrastructure planning, disaster risk management, environmental planning, public management, or an equivalent technical field relevant to disaster risk management (DRM) and urban resilience and other related fields. Candidates with international education are desirable.

Experience:

• 15+ years of relevant professional experience, including at least 6 years in a leadership role at the national or international level, managing urban infrastructure resilience projects/ initiatives, with specialized experience in data and technology applications.

Reporting Line:

• The incumbent will report to the Senior Director or the appropriate role per the approved organizational structure.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written.
• Knowledge of any of the UN's official languages will be an asset.

How to apply

If you have experience working in a similar capacity and want to make an active and lasting contribution to a global initiative spearheaded by India, please apply through the online application form only: https://cdri.world/work-with-us/#careers