Sector Head - Urban and Infra

We have partnered with a global consulting firm that delivers transformative insights, strategies, and solutions to drive sustainable, resilient, and inclusive global progress. As part of the continued growth of their Urban & Infrastructure practice, they are seeking an experienced leader to help grow their established business in India and overseas.

The team has been working across urban resilience, water & sanitation, energy, and mobility. It now embarks on a new journey - expanding its reach, capacity, and business while retaining its core agenda of providing transformative solutions to development challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management

• Lead projects on substantive and operational issues, ensuring optimization of human and financial resources, the highest quality standards, and complete client satisfaction
• Manage day-to-day project execution - implementation, monitoring, and documenting progress against client agreements
• Prepare work plans and produce timely financial and progress reports per client and organizational requirements
• Lead project planning - crystallize objectives, milestones, quality plans, and deliverables with support from involved teams
• Conduct field visits to project sites and provide technical feedback to improve deliverables
• Hire, guide, and mentor project teams; align project experience with individuals' career goals and ensure timely, effective delivery
• Facilitate procurement, approve requisitions, follow up on purchase orders and payments, and adhere to organizational policies on finance, procurement, and HR

Project Development

• Lead proposal and concept development with innovative, solutions-driven technical inputs
• Build and maintain partnerships with government, WB/ADB/UN agencies, private sector, foundations, and donors; support sourcing of funding and human resources by mapping sector developments, policies, and programmes
• Represent the organization in bidding processes, conferences, and workshops; position the organization as the preferred partner for clients and donors

Learning & Scaling

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing
• Develop innovative concepts, position papers, and terms of reference for key initiatives
• Contribute to knowledge management through blogs, articles, and publications
• Collaborate across practices, sectors, and regional units to operationalize plans and strategies; support partnership building with clients, donors, technical organizations, and collectives

Qualifications & Skills

Education

• Postgraduate in Urban Planning with Civil Engineering from a reputed institute

Experience

• Minimum 12 years in project management and execution in a consulting environment or equivalent, preferably with corporate, government, multilateral, and private sector clients
• Experience engaging Senior Leadership stakeholders in multinational and complex environments
• Proven track record in building portfolios, teams, and networks with clients, donors, and partners
• Proficiency in Urban Planning tools - GIS, AutoCAD, Adobe, report writing, and presentations
• Prior experience in City Planning, Infrastructure Planning, Public Service Planning, or related domains

Technical Skills

• Ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan, and execute projects end-to-end
• Proven skills in proposal writing, project management, client management, quality assurance, procurement, and monitoring
• Strong research, analytical, and knowledge management skills, including report writing and presentations
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; ability to engage sensitively with government officials, industry leaders, multilateral organizations, donors, and experts
• Ability to meet timelines and deadlines consistently

Social & Leadership Skills

• Leadership skills with a flexible, team-oriented approach; ability to align with established work culture and senior leadership
• Empathetic team-building and management; results-driven and people-oriented
• Strong ability to influence, negotiate, and build networks and partnerships
• Calm, composed, and good-humoured under pressure

Personality

• Ability to understand and withstand risk and pressure; proven seniority and credibility to advise project teams
• High personal and professional integrity; strong problem-solving attitude and ownership
• Holds self-accountable; manages resources efficiently and models organizational values
• Willingness to learn, adapt, and travel as required
• Builds strong relationships with a focus on impact; responds positively to feedback
• Collaborative and comfortable working in diverse, multicultural, and multi-ethnic environments