Lead Housing Finance Specialist

If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, he/she will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a ‘X’ year renewable term appointment.

The Global Capital Market Practice – Non-Bank Financial Institutions Unit (FCMNB) of the Finance and Private Sector Development (FPD) Vice Presidency provides comprehensive support and advice to the Regional Units of the World Bank and leadership in knowledge management in the area of development of Non-Bank Financial Institutions. The work of this Group is organized around four product groups, including one dedicated to housing finance, which provides Regional cross-support, knowledge management services and conducts policy work with respect to housing finance and housing market development issues in emerging markets and developing countries.

A Lead Housing Finance Specialist is needed to strengthen the team and expand its expertise, as a growing number of countries request assistance for the expansion of their housing finance systems. The Lead Housing Finance Specialist will report to the Service Line Manager, Non-Bank Financial Institutions of the Capital Market Global Practice in the FPD Vice-Presidency.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 4 year term appointment.

Within the above context, the selected candidate will carry out the following duties:

• Advise the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in the area of international standards for the regulation and supervision of mortgage finance institutions and markets, and in other financial sector areas as requested

• Advise World Bank Regional Units (notably FPD Units and Social Development Network (SDN) Units) and governments of client countries with respect to:

- Development of housing finance market and systems based on adequate market infrastructure, legal, regulatory and supervisory framework, and funding and risk management tools, consistent with the broader stage of development of each country

- Sustainable development of primary and secondary mortgage markets including best practices in terms of regulatory and supervisory oversight practices

- Institutional strength of housing finance systems

- Financially sound and socially efficient policy instruments for affordable housing and subsidy programs

• Provide assistance to the Regional teams in designing and implementing housing finance projects by providing world-class technical support, leading projects as needed (in particular donor-funded technical assistance projects), exercising quality control over analytical economic and sector work and technical advisory work, serving as peer reviewer, and participating in Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) missions.

• Provide advice to Bank staff in terms of integrating worldwide industry developments, sharing international best practice, drafting key policy reports, research papers, sector reports, leading knowledge management activities and mentoring staff

• Act as spokesperson for the World Bank on housing finance related questions as requested

• Facilitate cooperative arrangements within the World Bank Group, including IFC, and with other international donors, specialized agencies and related professional associations.

• World-class experience in housing finance and substantial experience in emerging economies (demonstrated impacts of the applicant in various countries)

• PhD + 12 years or Master or equivalent +15 years in finance, economics or related discipline

• Expertise in affordable solutions for lower income households, including products such as rental finance, saving schemes, housing micro-finance, rent to buy leases, etc.

• Advanced analytical and synthesis skills in the housing finance area, and in its interrelationships with overall financial sector, real estate markets, urban development and poverty reduction agendas;

• Demonstrated capacity to reach consensus, prioritize decisions for operational results in complex environments (uncertain information, political implication, multi-sectoral integration, etc)

• Willingness to undertake extensive travel.

• Operational Project Management - Demonstrates expert knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies; ability to manage complex, multi-functional, cross-regional projects/programs including managing relationships with stakeholders & counterparties.

• Team Leadership - Creates and promotes an environment that values team performance and provides mentoring to other team leaders

• ESW/TA Policy, Strategic and Technical Analysis for Country/Sector Issues - Ability to lead the production of quality reports and policy papers in highly demanding environment

• One FPD - FPD Knowledge & Experience - Demonstrates expert knowledge of financial and private sector development issues; leads strategic discussions dialogues with stakeholders and counterparties.

• Client Orientation - Translates insight into practice across disciplines, hierarchies, geographies and organizational units in service of clients.

• Drive for Results - Ensures successful implementation and delivery of key programs and projects, ensuring that outputs positively impact results.

• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Creates a team climate of practical and innovative action, facilitating collaboration between competing interests and stakeholders.

• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Demonstrates command of all forms of communication and presents in a clear, objective and engaging manner in high-level settings; ensures knowledge is captured and shared in a variety of ways.

• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Serves as a trusted advisor to others on their decisions, ensuring alignment across units and optimal impact on the organization as a whole.

Lead Housing Finance Specialist