Strategic Infrastructure Expert At UN Development Programme

Leave a Comment / Saudi Arabia / By

Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).

VA No. VA25/121

Position Title: Strategic Infrastructure Expert

Duty Station: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

National or International Consultancy: National or International Consultancy

Duration: 8 Months (with possible extension based on performance, continued need, and budget availability.

Vacancy Date of Issue: 20 November 2025

Vacancy Closure Date: 03 December 2025

Expected Starting Date: 7 January 2026

Project Description

The project will provide a strategic framework for UNDP and UN-HABITAT to provide substantive technical assistance, advisory, and quality assurance services to the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMaH) to deliver on the following six initiatives of the Spatial Planning and Visual Appeal Program that are the focus of this project:

  • The Regional Plans, Local Plans and Urban Codes under MoMaH’s jurisdiction are efficiently and effectively delivered following international best practices.
  • The National Urban Policy for KSA is developed and its implementation enabled, setting the overarching framework for cross-stakeholders’ contribution and alignment in support of sustainable, resilient and inclusive urbanization.
  • Local planning departments are empowered and enabled through a new Operating Model for Planning Departments.
  • The municipal system is improved and restructured, updating settlements boundaries, revising classification and categorization of Saudi human settlements, and optimizing service delivery towards efficiency and sustainability.
  • The Saudi Planning framework is restructured, planning tools are redefined, updated and improved in line with the new classification and categorization.
  • The existing MoMaH Urban Design Studio is upscaled in a fully-fledged Urban Lab and capacitated to spearhead and device innovative tools and projects-based satellite Labs in support of MoMaH’s mission.

Scope of Work

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMaH), are leading the redrafting of Saudi Arabia’s National Spatial Strategy (NSS). The NSS defines the spatial framework for achieving Vision 2030 and beyond, integrating spatial, economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainable national development. The updated NSS will align with two complementary initiatives carried out:

  • The Spatial Planning Act (SPA) – establishing the statutory spatial planning hierarchy.
  • The National Urban Policy (NUP) – defining policy priorities for urban development and governance.

Infrastructure systems—transport, logistics, energy, utilities, and digital connectivity—are among the key drivers of spatial transformation. Understanding their national structure, interdependencies, and territorial implications is essential to achieving balanced regional development, spatial connectivity, and economic diversification.

Within this context, the Strategic Infrastructure Expert will provide specialized technical expertise in analyzing, modeling, and integrating infrastructure systems into the spatial framework and policy recommendations of the NSS.

As part of the NSS Drafting Team, the Strategic Infrastructure Expert will provide analytical, technical, and strategic inputs related infrastructure networks, interconnectivity, accessibility, and territorial resilience. He / She will collaborate closely with the Chief Technical Advisor (UNDP), Chief National Advisor, Analytics Team, GIS Team, relevant MoMaH and DASC departments, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services (MOTLS), the Ministry of Energy (MoE), and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) and other ministries and national and regional level bodies.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Infrastructure Systems Diagnosis Output: Infrastructure Systems Diagnostic Report contributing to the NSS baseline analysis
  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of national infrastructure networks, including transport, energy, water, digital connectivity, and utilities.
  • Guide the mapping of the existing and planned infrastructure systems using data from MOTLS, MoE, MEWA, SDAIA and others.
  • Identify bottlenecks, service gaps, and regional disparities in accessibility and connectivity.
  • Analyze the relationship between infrastructure investment, regional growth, and settlement development.
  • Strategic Infrastructure Modeling and Scenario Analysis Output: Strategic Infrastructure Scenarios Report and technical input to GIS-based spatial models
  • Develop infrastructure development scenarios aligned with Vision 2030 programs and beyond (Infrastructure Strategy, National Transport Strategy, Energy and Water Strategies).
  • Guide the modelling of accessibility and connectivity improvements under different infrastructure investment pathways.
  • Identify strategic corridors, logistics hubs, multimodal networks, and critical infrastructure linkages influencing regional competitiveness.
  • Assess implications of these scenarios on spatial equity, environmental sustainability, and resilience.
  • Integration with the National Spatial Framework Output: Input to the NSS Draft Strategy Document and thematic maps on infrastructure and connectivity
  • Support the NSS drafting process by integrating infrastructure analysis into spatial structure maps and strategy chapters.
  • Define the hierarchy of infrastructure systems—national, regional, and local—and their alignment with settlement systems and economic clusters.
  • Recommend priority investment areas and infrastructure corridors supporting balanced development and spatial inclusion.
  • Contribute to policy recommendations on infrastructure governance, coordination, and planning integration with the SPA and NUP frameworks
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Institutional Coordination Output: Technical presentations, stakeholder feedback reports, and revised infrastructure analysis as needed
  • Participate in technical workshops, bilateral consultations, and Steering Committee meetings.
  • Present findings, scenario results, and recommendations to national stakeholders and the NSS Technical Committee.

Institutional Arrangement

The Strategic Infrastructure Expert will report directly to the Chief Technical Advisor (UNDP) and liaise on a daily basis with the NSS technical team and relevant MoMaH departments. Collaboration with the GIS, Spatial Planning, Environmental, and Infrastructure Experts will be continuous throughout the NSS project.

Duty Station

The assignment will be office-based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Required Qualifications:

Minimum Education Requirements

A Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Infrastructure Planning, Urban

and Regional Planning, Transport Planning, or any other closely related field.

Minimum Years of Relevant Work Experience

  • A master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience or a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 12 years of relevant work experience.
  • Proven experience in national or regional infrastructure master planning or strategic investment frameworks.
  • Experience working with multisector infrastructure datasets and GIS-based spatial analysis.

Required skills

  • Strong analytical, modeling, and communication skills.
  • Proficiency with infrastructure planning and analysis software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, or equivalent).
  • Knowledge of accessibility and connectivity assessment methods.
  • Ability to produce high-quality maps, policy briefs, and technical reports.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

  • Experience with international development organizations (UNDP, World Bank, etc.) is an asset.
  • Familiarity with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, National Transport and Logistics Strategy, and Infrastructure Strategy is an advantage.

Required Language(s):

  • Fluency in the English language is required.
  • Fluency in the Arabic language is an asset.

Professional Certificates:

An asset if acquired in relevent fields.

To review the full job description, please click on the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SzPCS8CQ0aR8oioC4tT7y8SFeDD-OttD/view?usp=drive_link

How to apply

  1. CV must be submitted online in PDF either througha. SOC’s portal via the following link: https://jobs.my-soc.org/apply/20251120202118/j1fHbPMokm2aRpsTC7FSE0VXvb. Or submit your CV to jobs@starsorbit.org (Please write UNDP Saudi Arabia / Strategic Infrastructure Expert
  2. During submission, please use the English language only.
  3. Indicate clear years of experience with each job (Month/Year)
  4. If the candidate is currently employed by a government institution, he/she must be able to provide an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the consultancy.
  5. Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.
  6. By submitting your application, you have read the Terms of Reference for this position and agree that any false, wrong, or incomplete information might lead to your disqualification in this recruitment process.