Environmental and Social Specialist
Vacancy Number: 2246
Department/Unit: Sustainability and Climate Change
Date of Issuance: May 9, 2025
Deadline of Applications: June 9, 2025
Required Languages: English
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Job Category: Professional
Recruitment Status: International
Job Profile
The Environmental and Social (โESโ) Specialist provides support in the tasks and activities of the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit. The Environmental and Social (โESโ) Specialist will assess, monitor and review projects, provide advice to the Unit and Project teams and support the design and/or implementation of appropriate E&S instruments, all in accordance with the departmental strategy and framework, in order to ensure compliance with ESG policy and procedures. The climate risk aspects of projects will also be covered by the E&S Specialist to the extent possible. This role, within the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit (SCCU) will include environmental and social due diligence of lending programs, both for private and public sector operations. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring compliance of projects with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy both at the time of project preparation and implementation. The incumbent supports the Director, SCCU in developing Environmental and Social (ES) due diligence templates, capacity building of staff and enhancement of policy documents.
Duties and Responsibilities
Assessment
Assesses the environmental and social risks and impacts associated with OPEC Fund investments (Public and Private Sector) against OPEC Fundโs ESG Policy. Supports the design and/or implementation of appropriate E&S instruments such as an environmental and social risk management framework, ESIA, ESMP, ESMS, RPF, RAP among others.Assesses the climate risks and aspects related to climate finance in projects.Compliance management
Defines steps required to ensure compliance with the above standards (ESG Policy et. al.), develops recommendations for client actions and drafts relevant project documentation/TORs. Coordinates with the Project Management Unit of the Borrower to ensure that the implementation of E&S commitments are complied with satisfactorily.Data collection & analysis
Provide inputs to or prepare diverse operational products/outputs (e.g. technical reviews, due diligence assessments, case studies, back to office reports, etc.) if needed.Supervises the environmental and social performance of client companies through the review of monitoring reports and site visits to supervise environmental and/or social aspects of clientsโ operations.Conducts desk reviews of the project details and relevant E&S documents during project preparation.Training delivery
Assists in the training on environmental and social issues to OPEC Fund clients, operational staff and other specialists. Participates in knowledge management events and forums, and disseminates/shares information with the Team Members.Field visits:
The role requires the willingness and ability to travel frequently, sometimes to remote field locations with limited amenities.Information and business advice
Contributes to the procurement of Lendersโ/project level Environmental & Social Advisors/Consultants and supervises their deliverables.Performs any other duty as may be assigned by Director, Sustainability and Climate Change Unit.Qualifications and Experience
Advanced degree (Masters) in environment or natural sciences/ humanities/social studies. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in environmental and social due diligence assessments.Experience from reputable development finance institution/s with a strong E&S practice in both Private and Public Sector Projects.Fluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French or Spanish is an added advantage.Competencies
Subject Matter Knowledge - The in-depth understanding and expertise in specific fields relevant to the OPEC Fund's operations and the individual's role.Collaboration and Teamwork - The ability to effectively work with colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared goals.Sense of Responsibility - The ability to demonstrate ownership and accountability in tasks and outcomes; uphold reliability and commitment to fulfilling responsibilities. Communication - The ability to relay ideas, information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety of audiences.Cross-Cultural Sensitivity -The ability to take into account the variety of the human experience and how it contributes to the workplace and to demonstrate respect for diverse cultures and viewpoints.Ability to Work Under Pressure - The capacity to remain composed, focused and productive when facing tight deadlines, high-stakes situations and demanding workloads.Customer Centricity - The ability to focus on comprehending and addressing customer needs; consistently deliver exceptional.