Job Description

E T Consultant

Job #: req39013 Organization: World Bank Group Sector: Transportation Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 10/31/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank, a member of 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 https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

The primary objective of the Shipping and Ports E T Consultant is to provide advanced shipping‑ and ports-economics expertise to support the mission of the Global Transport & Logistics Department, contribute to the implementation of two donor‑funded maritime projects, and strengthen the Knowledge Bank’s analytical and advisory work on shipping markets, ship–port efficiency, and investment‑relevant performance metrics. This support is also meant to contribute to the WBG’s renewed focus on developing and enhancing economic transport and trade corridors.

Under the guidance of the Task Team Leader(s), the Shipping and Ports E T Consultant will be responsible for the following core tasks:

• Providing continuous analytical assessment of global shipping markets, including freight, fleet, and capacity developments, to inform World Bank analytical work, knowledge products, and policy and investment dialogue in a cyclical and rapidly evolving market environment, with a particular focus on analytical and advisory work supporting global programs on maritime decarbonization, innovative financing solutions, energy efficiency, and digital ship–port interfaces.
• Conducting advanced economic analysis of endogenous and exogenous drivers affecting shipping markets, including freight rates, new building and demolition cycles, secondhand asset values, regulatory developments, fuel and technology transitions, and trade patterns, with a focus on implications for investment decisions, efficiency outcomes, and risk allocation.
• Contributing substantive analytical content to Knowledge Bank outputs, including drafting, editing, and producing original analysis for global reports, policy notes, background papers, technical annexes, and digital knowledge platforms under the two donor‑funded projects.
• Providing specialized market and economic inputs to maritime investment and advisory operations, including analysis of specific shipping segments, technologies, and business models, and the development and assessment of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to shipping‑related financing instruments, including environmental and emissions‑linked products such as sustainability‑ or carbon‑intensity‑linked loans.
• Playing a leading technical role in recurring Knowledge Bank publications and tools, including analytical updates and methodological contributions to products such as the Port Reform Toolkit (PRT), the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), and analytical work on ship–port efficiency and operational performance.
• Supporting the dissemination and uptake of analytical findings, including preparation of presentations, briefing materials, and technical notes for internal and external audiences, contribution to workshops and learning events, and facilitation of cross‑regional knowledge exchange related to shipping economics and maritime decarbonization.
• Contributing to business development and resource mobilization efforts, including analytical inputs to concept notes, project documentation, and donor proposals related to maritime transport, shipping finance, and decarbonization‑focused advisory services.
• Undertaking additional related tasks as required by the Task Team Leader(s), consistent with the objectives of the assignment.

Selection Criteria

The Shipping and Ports E T Consultant is expected to bring strong shipping‑economics expertise, analytical capabilities, and experience in policy‑ and investment‑relevant work in a development context.

• An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Transport, Maritime Studies, Engineering, Environmental Economics, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in shipping economics, maritime transport, ship or port finance, transport consulting, or related analytical and advisory work.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to advanced economic analysis of shipping markets, including freight, fleet, asset values, efficiency, and investment dynamics.
• Proven experience supporting policy, advisory, or investment‑related work for international organizations, development finance institutions, public authorities, or private sector clients.
• Experience contributing to donor‑funded projects, global analytical programs, or large multi‑stakeholder initiatives related to maritime transport or shipping decarbonization.
• Deep understanding of international shipping markets and economics, including market cycles, regulation, technology and fuel transitions, and their implications for investment and risk.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to translate complex economic and market analysis into policy‑ and investment‑relevant insights.
• Experience developing or applying performance indicators and analytical frameworks relevant to shipping operations, environmental performance, and shipping‑related finance.
• Experience contributing to, or technically leading inputs for, flagship analytical products, toolkits, or recurring publications in the maritime or transport sector.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with demonstrated ability to draft high‑quality analytical content and present complex material clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively and independently within multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams, and to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across institutional boundaries.
• Familiarity with World Bank analytical, advisory, or investment operations and Knowledge Bank products is a strong advantage.
• Experience working on climate, decarbonization, or sustainability‑related issues in the maritime sector is an advantage.

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 Competencies

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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.