Background

 The population of Riyadh city is nearing 5 million and urban development is continuously expanding. This growth poses challenges to the Municipality of Riyadh (AMANA) to deliver public service to the citizens. The city’s road network is expanding, where AMANA, the Ar-Riyadh Development Authority and the Ministry of Transport implement their road program. A new public transport system will include metro railway lines with subsidiary bus transportation. The traffic management of the city is also undergoing modernization where the Traffic Police introduced modern traffic violation detection and enforcement devices. Further traffic management measures include the development of intelligent transport systems and enhancing the road design and traffic engineering. The many development efforts by different agencies call for coordination to avoid fragmentation since the transportation system shall serve the people of the city across jurisdictional lines. In the field of Intelligent Transport Systems, the Ministry of Transport and the Ar-Riyadh Development Authority  and Amana have to develop ,design and implement an  ITS applications on the road infrastructure. To yield best benefits of smart traffic management techniques Intelligent Transport Systems need high levels of integration to service traffic and transportation information for the entire transport network to users. ITS on Riyadh roads shall contribute to improve traffic management, enhance road safety, improve parking management, and provide public transport services information;

Saudi Arabia is a high-income country with very high average human development indicators. Although, it has made good progress in the past decades towards various socio-economic measures; the environmental issues continue to be a major risk for sustainability. The Ninth Development Plan (NDP; 2010-14) has the overall theme of sustaining development targeting enhancing the kingdom as “a developed, thriving and prosperous economy, built on sustainable foundations.”

The AMANA has asked UNDP for assistance in addressing this project capacity building in the field of Intelligent Transport Systems, to develop an architectural framework for ITS that defines applicable ITS service domains and service groups. Further, in view of the given challenges of the city’s developing transport sector ITS services applications shall be identified in coordination with all concerned stakeholders and be formulated in an ITS Integration and deployment Plan for the city of Riyadh. This plan may than guide the coordinated implementation of ITS in Riyadh.  

This position is located in the UNDP Project at the Riyadh Municipality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The expert works within a team of UN experts under the overall supervision of the National Project Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assists the Riyadh AMANA in developing and implementing the Deployment and Integration Plan for Intelligent Transport Systems of Riyadh and in other related matters regarding traffic engineering and transport management. The incumbent functions include:

  • Identifies and evaluates issues, prepares work programmes, terms of references, proposals for sector policies, and other papers as deemed necessary in working towards the overall project objectives and for developing and implementing intelligent transport systems;
  • Preparing and facilitating workshops and seminars, and cooperate with concerned departments and consultants, and monitors and coordinates related project activities;
  • Undertakes survey initiatives; guides data collection; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions;
  • Prepares various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, etc;
  • Coordinates substantive support to meetings and workshops, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc;
  • Perform any other task requested by Riyadh AMANA.

Competencies

Professionalism:

  • Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks;
  • Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of the project activities;
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment;
  • Shows pride in work and in achievements;
  • Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
  • Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
  • Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
  • Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
  • Remains calm in stressful situations.

Planning& Organizing: 

  • Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
  • Identifies priority activities and assignments;
  • Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
  • Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
  • Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
  • Promotes a learning and knowledge shared environment;

Teamwork:

  • Works collaboratively with project staff and AMANA officers to achieve organizational goals;
  • Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
  • Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
  • Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings;
  • Facilitates the development of individual and multi-cultural/team competencies;
  • Ability to provide substantive training and mentoring, and manage teams;
  • Ability to convey results of project/research to team, and providing accurate guidance in its implementation.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification:

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in transport planning and traffic engineering, or related fields.

Years of Experience:

  • The incumbent shall have professional knowledge and experience related traffic engineering of larger cities and developing and or implementing intelligent transport systems for roads;
  • The incumbent shall have at least 10 years of progressive professional experience relevant to the work area. 

Language Requirements

  • Fluency in speaking and writing in English;
  • Working knowledge of Arabic considered an asset.