Senior Specialist – Programmes

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is seeking a Senior Specialist – Programmes in New Delhi, India. This role involves supporting the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects related to disaster resilience. Candidates should have 10 years of international experience across at least 5 countries. Responsibilities include developing strategies for technical assistance and participating in capacity development and knowledge sharing activities.
1. POSITION(S) VACANT: Senior Specialist – Programmes, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), New Delhi (Two Vacancies)

2. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programs, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.

Mission

“To support countries to upgrade their systems to ensure disaster and climate resilience of existing and future infrastructure.”

Impact that CDRI Aims to Achieve

By 2050, over US$10 trillion of new and existing infrastructure investments and services are resilient to natural hazards and climate change through enhanced capacity, informed policy, planning, and management, leading to improved quality of environment, livelihood, and life of over 3 billion people.

CDRI Mandate & Value Proposition

CDRI has been envisioned and established as a global network to advance the agenda, support coordinated action among stakeholders, and focus on bringing voices from vulnerable geographies and populations to international policy forums. Internationally agreed-upon goals in the SFDRR, the SDGs, and the Paris Climate Agreement provide the foundational framework that guides the Coalition’s vision and mission.

As a global partnership, the Coalition aims to ensure that the investments of its members and partners are aligned and well-coordinated in support of the shared ambition of disaster and climate resilience of new and existing infrastructure.

Strategic Work Plan 2023-2026

CDRI’s Strategic Work Plan 2023-26 describes the broad contours of its priority actions and planned initiatives in the next four years setting out a clear direction for the Coalition to pursue a transformational agenda for DRI in response to a changing risk landscape and evolving on-ground realities of its members.

For more information about CDRI, please visit https://cdri.world/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

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:

The Senior Specialist – Programmes shall support the creation, design, implementation, and monitoring of studies and provide technical support relating to projects. This shall include disaster response and recovery support; innovation, institutional, and community capacity-building assistance; and standards and certification.

Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities include:

(1) Support in the development of strategies for technical assistance and cooperation for the respective domain/sectoral initiative in consultation with relevant government agencies, developmental partners, and other stakeholders.

(2) Actively participate in the programming and network activities, capacity development, knowledge sharing, staff mentoring, and updating the latest developments and issues related to the respective domain and CDRI member countries.

(3) Support to identify, prepare, appraise, and document projects/technical assistance to CDRI member countries.

(4) Lead the monitoring, periodic review, and progress reporting of project/program implementation, compliance with workplans and budgets, and the achievement of the desired project/sector outcomes.

(5) Ensure quality and consistency of reports, project documents, minutes, project briefs, back-to-office reports, and communications related to projects/programmes and respective domains.

(6) Ensure compliance of projects with CDRI’s policies, programme and operations manuals, project administration instructions, and assistance-related documentation.

(7) Support in the development and delivery of the assistance project/program pipeline by utilizing the domain/sector’s knowledge and experience.

(8) Create and maintain detailed activity workplans, budgets for the programme, and contribute to monthly/quarterly/annual planning, budgeting, and reporting. In addition, support activities related to MEL, progress reports, etc.

(9) Support and contribute to planning and documenting team progress meetings according to the programme’s activity plan.

(10) Support in preparing and monitoring the resourcing, quality, and risk management plan, in addition to managing contracts to ensure timeliness and quality of outputs (consultants, service providers).

(11) Support the Lead - Programmes in stakeholder management and overall programme coordination, and perform other duties as assigned and reflected in the workplan.

(12) Support task force, fact-finding, and appraisal missions, including, but not limited to, review of project/program designs, liaison with government officials, data and project/program costing, and implementation arrangements.

(13) Provide administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., including proposing agenda topics and content, identifying and proposing participants, preparing background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.

(14) Help organize, contribute to, support, and participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops, including country missions.

(15) Coordinate and support other CDRI teams/programmes for management of consultants, contracts, editing and design of technical documents, inputs for website/social media and institutional development etc.

(16) Performs other duties related to the CDRI, as assigned.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

Qualifications:

(1) Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Infrastructure Planning, Transport Planning/ Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Applied Sciences, Actuarial Sciences, or Economics.

(2) International education shall be an added advantage.

Experience:

(1) 8-10 years of experience in a relevant position at the national or international level.

(2) Specific experience in critical infrastructure sectors, resilience, and disaster risk reduction within essential sectors of infrastructure shall be given additional weightage.

(3) Experience of 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, is required.

Skills:

(1) Expertise in one or more of the following Critical Infrastructure domains viz. Power, Telecommunications, and Transport.

(2) Experience in developing technical documents and proposals on disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure.

(4) Proven experience in strategizing, developing, and implementing projects for international organizations in public or private sectors of developing countries.

(5) Contributing to proposals, cost estimations, scope of work, and tender documents while involving stakeholder groups.

(6) Excellent communication, interpersonal skills; Flexibility in demanding situations.

(7) Excellent research and technical writing skills in English.

(8) Ability to work independently, deliver timely and quality products; Proficiency in project management software, MS Office, and related applications; Experience in data analysis and big and GIS data.

(9) Working with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

(10) Skills in project development, implementation, and management.

(11) Multitasking, attention to detail, and ability to perform under pressure.

(12) Knowledge of disaster risk reduction and climate change concepts/ frameworks, SDGs, Sendai Framework for DRR and the Paris Agreement.

(13) Working with governments, international organizations, and alliances on multi-city initiatives.

5. REPORTING LINE:

The incumbent will report to the Lead Specialist or the appropriate role per the approved organizational structure.

6. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

(1) Fluency in English, both oral and written.

(2) Knowledge of any of the UN's official languages will be an asset.

7. SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Competitive.

8. LOCATION:

CDRI Secretariat, New Delhi, India.

9. CONTRACT DURATION:

Fixed Term Contract (3 years), extendable for up to another 3 years.

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS

1/1B Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar

New Friends Colony, New Delhi

Phone: 011-4081 9900; 4165 3612

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to submit their Cover Letters and Resumes by or before June 12, 2025 at the following link: https://bit.ly/Apply-SSP-CDRI-SAMS . The Cover Letter should be a maximum of two pages, discussing the candidate’s interest and suitability for the role. CDRI is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with strict confidence.

CDRI has ZERO Tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and gender/ racial discrimination. Any selection, therefore, will be subject to satisfactory reference and background checks.

[Note: Data Privacy (DPDPA Compliance): Personal data submitted by all applicants, including international candidates, for recruitment purposes, will be processed by SAMS in accordance with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA).]