Senior Environmental Specialist

 Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.

Unit Context

The Regional Environment and Social Standards Adviser (RSA) within the Office of the Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region is seeking an experienced and hands-on Senior Environmental Specialist whose primary role is to support the RSA in overseeing the application of the Environmental and Social policy and standards and environmental and social safeguards policies in the Bank’s investment lending operations – Investment Project Financing (IPF), Program for Results Operations (PforRs) and Development Policy Operations– and non-lending operations – advice and analytics, including Reimbursable Advisory Services.

As part of the RSA Team, the Senior Environmental Specialist will also interact regularly with colleagues in Headquarters and in field offices, in the effective conduct of her/his work. A willingness to share knowledge, draw on expertise and help create a supportive work environment is therefore critical.

Duties and Accountabilities

As part of a multi-disciplinary RSA team of E&S specialists, the Senior Environmental Specialist will support the RSA in overseeing compliance review and quality assurance with the Bank’s E&S policies (ESF and safeguard policies) in the design and implementation of Bank-supported operations, including determining project risk ratings, monitoring high risk operations and projects for which E&S corporate oversight is provided by the RSA, advising and promoting consistency in the application of these policies across the Bank; supporting borrower and staff capacity building.

The Senior Environmental Specialist will report to the Manager for Development Effectiveness and for day-to-day coordination will work under the supervision of the RSA. The Senior Environmental Specialist will have the following responsibilities:

• Providing guidance on the application of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework policy and standards, as well as the Bank’s safeguard policies relating to the assessment of environmental and social issues, risks and impacts
• Reviewing new Bank investment project proposals to ensure that environmental issues are properly addressed as required by the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework policy and standards, and international good international industry practice documents (WBG EHS Guidelines)
• Reviewing new Bank PforR proposals to ensure that environmental issues are properly addressed as required by the World Bank’s PforR policy
• Providing preparation and implementation support to high risk and/or complex projects to help ensure that task teams and clients fully understand and implement Bank procedures, policy requirements, and quality standards. This could include working closely with the project teams, and participating in site visits and meetings with Government officials’ stakeholders, and advising teams and clients on a range of E&S issues
• Providing expert advice to Task teams on environmental risks management and comments and guidance on E&S instruments, including environmental impact assessments (including regional, strategic and cumulative assessments), environmental management frameworks and plans (including those for monitoring, reporting and evaluation); stakeholder engagement plans; instruments 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
• Coordinating with the E&S GPs to rollout environmental risk management and training, and participating in knowledge and learning initiatives
• Coordinating and supervising consultants working on the RSA team and ensuring high quality of inputs   
• Acting for the RSA as needed
• Contributing as required to the broader work of MNADE on improving environmental sustainability

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 and to meet strict deadlines; and ability to work with and advise task teams and key stakeholders on environmental risks and impacts.

• Solid experience of World Bank Group safeguard/ESF
• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in environmental or natural sciences, engineering or other relevant discipline
• At least eight (8) years of full-time relevant professional experience with a sustained record of achieving high quality substantive results
• Experience in environmental risk management, preparation and/or review of project environmental risk and impact assessments, environmental management plans, capacity assessments and institutional strengthening measures
• Good knowledge of the World Bank’s environmental and social policies and standards
• 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 partners and interact effectively with Senior Management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French; Arabic desirable
• 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

Required Professional Competencies

• Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions – Solid understanding of environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations
• Environmental and Natural Sciences and Engineering – Demonstrates strong knowledge of 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 experience in applying this knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Possesses political judgement, diplomatic acumen and negotiating skills; builds and sustains key stakeholder relationships with government and other key stakeholders
• Integrative Skills – Demonstrates ability to think and work across WBG practices and sectors; integrates divergent viewpoints of multiple external and internal stakeholders into a coherent strategy/program/project
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Fully understands the Bank’s development initiatives and policies and practices related to lending and non-lending; Guides research and translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level

WBG Core Competencies

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions with others.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries – Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the WBG and brings differing ideas to the forefront.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
• Make Smart Decisions – Recommends and takes decisive action.

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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