Senior Environmental Specialist

 Description

The World Bank Group (WBG) 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

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN REGION

The WBG serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing middle and upper-middle income clients to IDA countries, to small Caribbean states, and to one fragile state. Despite immense resources and dynamic societies, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region’s people living in poverty. The region is extremely exposed and vulnerable to many natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods that can ravage entire regions, and devastating hurricanes.  It is also among the most vulnerable due to high population density in the areas where these disasters strike and the need for better risk management practices.

ENVIRONMENT NATURAL RESOURCES & BLUE ECONOMY GLOBAL PRACTICE

The sustainable management of the environment and natural resources is vital for economic growth and human wellbeing. When managed well, renewable natural resources, watersheds, productive landscapes, and seascapes can provide the foundation for sustained inclusive growth, food security and poverty reduction. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment

To advance this agenda, the Environment Natural Resources & Blue Economy Global Practice (ENB GP)  has five key business lines consisting of lending and non-lending services in (1) Forests, Watersheds and Sustainable Landscapes (Green Business line); (2) Marine, Coastal, Aquatic Resources and Ocean Health (Blue Economy Business line); (3) Pollution Management and Environmental Health (Pollution Management Business line); (4) Environmental Economics, Policies and Institutions Business line, and (5) Environmental Risk Management Business line:delivery of effective environmental risk management and sustainability by managing risk at the project level and creating opportunities to advance sustainable development. This includes provision of high-quality and timely services to investment projects across the Bank, including those under the previous safeguard policies and the effective implementation of the Environment and Social Framework (ESF) that has been in effect for all new investment projects since October 1, 2018.

The ESF responds to new and varied development demands and challenges that have arisen over time. It brings the World Bank’s environmental and social (E&S) protections into closer harmony with those of other development institutions, and makes important advances in areas such as transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation, and accountability – including expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms. The framework helps to ensure social inclusion, and explicitly references human rights in the overarching vision statement. The ESF is made up of the World Bank’s vision for sustainable development, the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing, and ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). These set out the mandatory requirements for the World Bank, in relation to the projects it supports through Investment Project Financing (IPF), and for Borrowers.

The activities of staff working on environmental safeguards/environmental risk management within the ENB GP include leading or contributing to analytical work and policy dialogue, as well as supporting lending operations and building client capacity across all sectors in areas related to environmental sustainability, environmental risk and impact assessment and management, pollution prevention, control and management, resource efficiency, occupational and community health and safety, biodiversity conservation, stakeholder engagement, among other issues. 

Unit Context

The Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Unit for LCR (SLCEN) comprises around 50 staff, with half based in Country Offices and the remainder based in Washington DC. Close to half of these staff work on environmental safeguards and environmental risk management, with the remainder working primarily on lending and knowledge products.  The skills and expertise of these staff include: economics, pollution management, forestry, fisheries management, landscapes management, watershed management, and natural areas protection.  

If you are a highly qualified Senior Environmental Specialist, we urge you to apply to join our team as a staff member based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Your specific role will include the following tasks:
 
i) Strategic Dialogue and Analytical Leadership
• Provide policy and strategic leadership, quality assurance and vision to the achievement of our climate and green growth agendas across Haiti, thus positioning the WBG at the forefront of the agenda;
• Advise, at a high-level and technical manner, government and Bank staff on environmental risk management and green growth, focusing particularly on forestry, landscape management, the blue economy and broader adaptation agendas;
• Coordinate and conduct environment and environmental risk management policy dialogue with the client and relevant development partners active across Haiti;

ii) Environmental Risk Management (ERM)
• Coordinate work in ERM across the country in close collaboration with Social Risk Management counterpart(s) by leading staff and consultant deployment, budget management, quality control and client training;
• Provide direct support on environmental risk management to high- and substantial risk projects across the portfolio. You will be asked to provide a range of technical support to Bank-financed projects and activities, including the following potential areas:
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);
• Environmental Management Plan (EMP);
• Environmental Management Frameworks;
• Other forms of environmental assessments/analysis;
• Environmental risk analysis and management;
• Occupation health and safety management;
• Environmental, occupational health, and safety laws, regulations and requirements;
• Bank environmental risk management policy requirements, namely the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and Operational Policies (OPs/Safeguards);
• Define and implement strategies to support client to assure compliance in Bank financed projects;
• Design and implement mitigation strategies in areas of risk;
• Project design in order to improve environmental benefits and welfare impacts, as well as to meet project outcomes;
• Engineering principals, practices, and methods and their application to environmental work; and
• Environmental management and pollution control, including wastewater treatment, hazardous and solid waste, air pollution, environmental monitoring systems, public health impacts, environmental remediation, soil and groundwater investigation and remediation, emergency and contingency planning and response, environmental management systems, and health and safety management systems.

Selection Criteria

• A Masters or PhD Degree in environmental risk management, natural sciences, law, environmental engineering or other relevant discipline;

• A minimum of eight years of full-time relevant experience, with demonstrated experience in policy dialogue and environmental risk management, environmental impact assessment (especially in infrastructure sectors);

• An ability to articulate an environment and environmental risk management agenda;

• Knowledge of World Bank operational policies and procedures, and familiarity with and leadership of different financing instruments, including DPOs and IPFs, as well as our Environment and Social Framework (ESF) and environmental safeguards, policies, and procedures;

• Understanding of the environmental regulatory and institutional framework in LCR countries, with a particular knowledge of Haiti desired;

• Proven project management skills, including client management, scheduling and budgeting, financial management, procurement, and project team management;

• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams;

• Experience with the planning and conduct of training programs for external and internal audiences concerning environmental risk/safeguards management;

• Willingness to work at the forefront of development challenges in a situation of fragility, conflict and violence (FCV). Previous experience working in FCV situations is strongly desired;

• Excellent writing and communication skills; Fluency in written and oral French and English;

• Willingness to travel extensively, including to high-risk areas;

• Knowledge of relevant software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

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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