Senior Environmental Specialist Job #: req32560 Organization: World Bank Sector: Environment Grade: GG Term Duration:ย 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English, French Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 4/18/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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ย Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
REGIONAL CONTEXT:
The World Bank and West and Central Africa:Africa is a diverse continent brimming with opportunities. From clean energy and climate-smart agriculture to home grown digital innovations, African countries are accelerating their efforts to develop sustainably. Home to a 1.2-billion-person market and the worldโs largest free trade zone, Africa offers human and natural resources that have the potential to yield inclusive growth and wipe out poverty in the region, enabling Africans across the continent to live healthier and more prosperous lives.
Yet these vast opportunities are tempered by persistent gaps in education, health, and skills, which have Africa only reaching forty percent of its estimated human development potential. Moreover, conflict, food insecurity, population growth, pandemics, and the disruptive forces of climate change threaten to curtail or even reverse the progress that has been made over the past decades. Africaโs economies have been severely affected by the fall-out from the COVID19 pandemic.ย ย The WB West and Central Africa Region is committed to helping the countries in West and Central Africa realize their considerable development potential and become more competitive in the global economy by focusing on the following priorities:
Unit Context:
AFWDE plays an important role in advising the Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa (AFW) and supporting AFWโs management ensuring the highest quality for AFW operational deliveries. AFWDEโs work program ranges from strategic and operational guidance for regional management, to in-depth operational advice to task teams, work on project preparation quality, pipeline delivery management, portfolio management and monitoring, regional risk management, support on regional and corporate priorities, and operational learning and knowledge sharing for regional staff.AFWDE serves as the secretariat for the Regional Operations Committee (ROC) and includes the team members of the Regional Environmental and Social Standards Advisor (RSA) office which ensures that lending operations supported by the World Bank comply with applicable environmental and social policies (ESF and Safeguards).ย
The RSA team work program includes: collaborating with Regional management and Practice Groups to address environmental and social issues in operations; executing the mandate and accountability of the RSA as defined in the Accountability and Decision Making (ADM) Framework; conducting training workshops on social and environmental policies and standards for Bank staff and clients; carrying out periodic thematic studies of environmental and social policies management during project implementation; contributing to corporate initiatives such as the safeguards reform process and the development of dissemination of technical good practice guidance materials for Bank staff as well as contributing to the capacity building of Bank staff and borrowers.ย ย Job duties & responsibilities:
AFWDE is seeking an experienced and practical Sr Environmental Specialist to join the unit and the RSA team to support its work program including, but not limited to, pipeline and portfolio management, support on regional priorities, internal knowledge sharing, and client capacity building.ย ย As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Sr Environmental Specialist will support the implementation of the Bankโs Standards and Policies, support the use of sound environmental assessment methodologies across sectors and countries and will reinforce building environmental sustainability into project design and implementation.ย In addition, the Specialist will champion an integrated approach to risk management across the portfolio and be an advocate for innovative approaches and solutions.ย
The Sr Environmental Specialist will report to the Manager for AFWDE and for day-to-day coordination will work under the direction of the RSA. S/he will have the following responsibilities:
Review new Investment Policy Financing (IPF), Program-for-Results (PforR), and where relevant Development Policy Financing (DPF) operations to ensure that environmental issues are properly addressed as required by the World Bankโs Environmental and Social Policy and Standards as well as international good practice documents.
Support oversight of select projects by providing advice on Borrower environmental documents, guidance on implementation of mitigation measures, and recommendations to project environmental specialists. Advice will cover a range of environmental management issues including regional, strategic and cumulative assessments; environmental management frameworks and plans; stakeholder engagement plans; as well as measures related to natural habitats conservation, natural resource management, pest management, forest management, dam safety and international waterways management, occupational health and safety, pollution control, and environmental remediation.ย Guidance will be informed by the Banksโ ESF, the safeguards policies, and international good practice on environmental issues.ย ย Contribute to efforts to manage the pipeline and portfolio by leading portfolio reviews and providing recommendations for action.Provide expert guidance to Task Teams on environmental risk management, impact assessments and mitigation measures as well as current good international practice on environmental issues,Play a key role in developing and implementing regional initiatives to enhance implementation of the ESF, includingย ESF simplification efforts.Contribute to efforts to build client capacity and use country systems through, for example, supporting the development of training material, delivering client training, and promoting use of relevant analytical work to streamline ESF processes.ย Work closely with the learning focal point to identify, develop, and deliver demand-driven training for relevant staff including environmental and social specialists, operations officers, quality assurance teams, etc.Provide input to briefing material for regional discussions including those on pipeline and portfolio management, regional management discussions, etc.ย ย As part of the RSA Team, the Sr. Environmental Specialist will interact regularly with colleagues in HQ and in field offices in the effective conduct of her/his work. Mission travel is expected.Selection Criteria
The Senior Environmental Specialist must be a team-oriented professional with proven ability to carry out complex tasks as part of a multi-disciplinary team; capacity to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities and to meet strict deadlines; and ability to work with and advise task teams and key stakeholders on social risks and impacts.
Advanced degree (masterโs or PhD) in Environmental and Natural Sciences and Engineering with expertise in one or more relevant thematic areas of environmental engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, ecology, zoology, botany occupational health and safety related to infrastructure, or environmental risk management; and deep experience in applying this knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice.At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in Bankโs ESF and safeguard policies with a sustained record of achieving high quality results.Operational experience in environmental risk management i.e., preparation and/or review of project environmental impact assessments (or equivalent), environmental and social management plans, environmental and social risk management capacity assessments, and institutional strengthening measures.Demonstrated area of expertise with environmental issues like biodiversity, climate change, dam safety, OHS, etc. is highly desirable.Demonstrated familiarity with ESF simplification and streamlining process.Demonstrated familiarity within the social risk management space i.e., resettlement, Indigenous peoples, stakeholder engagement, FCV contexts, gender, FIs, etc.Excellent knowledge of the World Bankโs environmental and social policies and standards and working knowledge of the World Bankโs operational policies i.e., IPF, PForR and DPF.Demonstrated maturity and sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to convey complex messages succinctly and diplomatically.Proven capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, and ability to represent the Department with internal and external stakeholders and interact effectively with Senior Management.Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Knowledge of French is a requirement.Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.Excellent workflow management and task organization skills; able to coordinate all aspects of the workflow of assigned responsibilities.Ability to coach/mentor more junior staff.World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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