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Job Description

Project Overview

The Second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2) is a major infrastructure and institutional reform initiative being implemented by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC) with financing support from the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Government of Sindh. The program aims to improve water supply and sanitation services, strengthen utility performance, expand critical infrastructure investments, and support long-term sector reforms across Karachi. The project represents an investment of approximately USD 600 million and includes major infrastructure, institutional strengthening, and project management activities.

To support implementation of this large-scale, multi-stakeholder program, KW&SC will engage a Program Management Consultancy (PMC) team to provide strategic advisory, coordination, planning, monitoring, reporting, risk management, contract administration, and institutional strengthening support to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

Position Description

The Team Leader will serve as the senior representative and overall leader of the PMC team, providing strategic direction, program management oversight, and high-level advisory services to the Project Director (PD), Project Implementation Unit (PIU), and Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC). The Team Leader will be responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary experts, overseeing project planning and implementation support activities, managing stakeholder engagement, monitoring project risks, and ensuring timely delivery of program objectives, reports, and key deliverables.

This role requires an experienced infrastructure professional with demonstrated success leading complex, donor-funded water, wastewater, and infrastructure programs involving multiple stakeholders, contracts, and financing institutions. The Team Leader will guide project implementation while supporting compliance with international financing requirements, institutional reform goals, and project performance targets.

Please note: Local staff are required to be physically present in Karachi for at least fifty (50) percent of their allocated time input. International staff are expected to spend a minimum of fifty (50) percent of their time in Karachi to support the PIU.

IDG

*This is an anticipated position for a proposed project. Recruitment and employment are contingent upon successful project award and client approval.

Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Strategic Oversight

• Provide overall leadership and management of the PMC team and serve as the primary point of contact with the Project Director and PIU.

• Guide the delivery of all PMC services, ensuring alignment with project objectives, implementation schedules, budgets, and performance indicators.

• Provide strategic advice to senior project leadership on implementation challenges, risk mitigation, and project acceleration measures.

Planning, Coordination, and Risk Management

• Oversee development and maintenance of the project master schedule, ensuring alignment across consultancy, construction, and institutional activities.

• Lead coordination among government agencies, financiers, consultants, contractors, utility stakeholders, and project steering structures.

• Establish and maintain effective risk management processes, including monitoring strategic, operational, contractual, financial, and implementation risks.

• Provide early-warning recommendations regarding potential schedule delays, cost overruns, compliance issues, and project bottlenecks.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Oversee monitoring and evaluation activities, results framework reporting, and performance tracking across all project components.

• Direct preparation of monthly dashboards, quarterly progress reports, annual reports, and implementation support mission materials.

• Ensure accurate reporting of physical progress, financial performance, safeguards compliance, and achievement of project outcomes.

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

• Support institutional development, organizational strengthening, and capacity-building initiatives for PIU and KW&SC staff.

• Promote knowledge transfer, development of standard operating procedures, management systems, and organizational best practices.

• Lead efforts to strengthen project management systems, governance processes, monitoring frameworks, and program sustainability.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Oversee program-level reviews of quality assurance and quality control systems across project activities.

• Ensure compliance with financing partner requirements, contractual obligations, environmental and social standards, and applicable regulations.

• Provide strategic recommendations to improve implementation quality, efficiency, and project outcomes.

Procurement, Fiduciary, and Contract Management Support

• Provide senior advisory support for strategic and high-value procurements, contract administration, and implementation oversight.

• Support review of procurement documents, evaluation processes, contract negotiations, and contract performance monitoring.

• Advise project leadership on contract risks, claims management, amendments, disputes, and implementation issues.

Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills in complex, multidisciplinary project environments.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capabilities across government, utilities, financiers, consultants, and contractors.

• Advanced program and project management expertise.

• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving abilities.

• Experience managing large-scale water, wastewater, or urban infrastructure investments.

• Demonstrated ability to identify and manage complex implementation risks.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive reports and presentations.

• Strong understanding of donor-funded project requirements and international development environments.

• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multi-stakeholder settings.

• Fluency in English.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.

• Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Water and Wastewater Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a closely related discipline.

• At least 20 years of professional experience in large-scale water, wastewater, utility, or infrastructure projects.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in senior PMC, Program Management, Project Director advisory, or equivalent leadership roles on major infrastructure programs.

• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex stakeholder environments.

• Prior experience overseeing project planning, implementation support, monitoring and evaluation, risk management, contract management, and reporting functions.

• Membership in, or eligibility for membership in, a recognized professional engineering body.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as Team Leader, Project Director Advisor, Program Director, or Chief of Party on donor-funded infrastructure projects.

• Experience with World Bank, AIIB, ADB, DFIs, or other international development financing institutions.

• Experience supporting large-scale urban water supply, wastewater, sanitation, or utility reform programs.

• Experience working in South Asia, Pakistan, or comparable emerging-market infrastructure environments.

• Familiarity with FIDIC-based contract administration and management frameworks.

• Experience managing projects involving institutional reform, utility strengthening, and organizational transformation initiatives.

• Track record of delivering projects with significant capital investment values and multiple concurrent contracts.

• Experience overseeing environmental and social compliance frameworks within major infrastructure programs.

Amount of Travel Required

20% - 40%
Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.
Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.
Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.
Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position
Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.