Environmental Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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.

As a development organization, environmental and social sustainability are at the core of the World Bank’s mission and development operations.  Likewise, the World Bank has made environmental and social sustainability central in its day-to-day operations. To support this commitment, the World Bank has empowered the Corporate Responsibility Program (CRP) to support the integration of environmental and social governance (ESG) principles into the Bank’s internal operations. Its current role can be summarized in three categories: 

(i)  catalyzing inter-unit collaboration on sustainability initiatives;
(ii)  enhancing transparency about the Bank’s environmental and social commitments, practices, and performance to outside stakeholders, such as civil society organizations and the impact-investor community; and 
(iii)  promoting sustainable staff behaviors by sponsoring campaigns, knowledge products, and events. 

The Program operates as a cross-institutional partnership based in ENB and working closely with other units that touch on the corporate responsibility agenda, including CCG, ECR, GCS, HRD, HSD, ITS, SPA, WFA, the IFC, MIGA, and more. It is overseen by the World Bank Group Corporate Responsibility Oversight Committee, co-chaired by the World Bank Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnership and the World Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer. The Program is guided by 10 Corporate Sustainability Principles, developed in FY17 and endorsed by the World Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer.   

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Environmental Specialist’s responsibilities fall primarily in the area of communication, knowledge management and staff awareness on corporate environmental sustainability, strengthening institutional alignment on corporate sustainability issues (ex: reducing environmental impact in energy, water, waste, GHG emissions, and supply chain) through advice, research, data management, related project management, and communication. The specialist will be expected to contribute to training and awareness-raising on the WB’s corporate environmental and social sustainability-related mission and in promoting greater institutional transparency on these issues.  (S)he is expected to proactively identify issues and opportunities which may improve corporate performance or may provide strategic advantage to the WBG. The Environmental Specialist will also be expected to represent the Bank upon request with external partners related to corporate responsibility and corporate environmental management. 

1.  Promote Greater Institutional Transparency through Reporting and Communication with internal and external audiences

•  Update and maintain communications plan that is aligned with CRP’s strategic objectives.
•  Lead communications initiatives with central communications (ECR).
•  Support the larger reporting needs of the organization on corporate environmental and social responsibility. 
•  Contribute to the writing, production, and dissemination of the World Bank reports on sustainability, such as the sustainability review, Global Reporting Index, etc. and any additional related materials e.g., websites, briefing notes, etc.
•  Work across the institution to position WBG as a responsible corporate citizen, promoting institutional achievements in corporate responsibility.  
•  Develop and maintain sustainability dashboard
•  Help develop, execute, and monitor the impact of the team’s communications strategy and campaigns about the Program’s work and goals. 
•  Assist with designing communications products and support other project work (writing, analysis, etc.) as needed.
•  Support development of online campaigns around key projects. 
•  Edit and update CRP website; edit documents for style, grammar, and tone.
•  Advise on ESG Research Group questionnaires received by the WBG
•  Staff engagement: contribute to intranet articles, blogs etc. 
•  Implement staff awareness campaign on air travel with key partner GCS travel and ECR. 
•  Lead development of online campaigns around key projects.
•  Write and circulate monthly News You Can (Re)use newsletter using Adobe Campaign.
•  Contribute to the bi-weekly ENB newsletter. 
•  Write blogs, intranet stories, and social media posts.
•  Design flyers, reports, and banners.
•  Edit and update CRP website and intranet site.

2.  Oversee Corporate Communications, Knowledge, and Learning for the Corporate Responsibility Program 

•  Coordinate communications initiatives with central communications (ECR). 
•  Help develop, execute, and monitor the impact of the team’s communications strategy and campaigns about the Program’s work and goals. 
•  Manage the design and development of communications, knowledge, and learning products, such as one-pagers, dashboards, etc.  
•  Support development of online campaigns around key projects 
•  Edit and update internal and external CRP websites and associated content
•  Manage one or more event management and design consultants.

3.  Promote internal and external training and awareness of the WB’s CR-related mission.

The CR program sponsors staff education events to raise individual awareness of greening issues and opportunities to support sustainability initiatives.  In support of training and communication, the Environmental Specialist will

•  Identify opportunities for and forge strategic partnerships both inside and outside the WBG to improve dialogue and strengthen the WBG’s overall image and corporate sustainability awareness.  
•  Give presentations and/or represent the CR team or the Bank to internal and external target audiences, when requested to do so.  
•  Develop training materials for staff orientation sessions and develop and maintain communication platforms and materials for WB corporate environmental champions.
•  Coordinate relevant training opportunities for key business partners on sustainability.  
•  Liaise with Community Outreach Program on special initiatives. 
•  Oversee event planning for key annual events, including Earth Week, Earth Hour, Bike to Work Day, America Recycles Day, and others.
•  Edit documents for style, grammar, and tone.
•  Support other project work (writing, analysis, etc.) as needed.
•  Conduct training and capacity-building efforts as needed. 

4. Coordination with Country Offices

•  Support Country office sustainability champions with sustainability initiatives.
•  Lead sustainable country office assessments, keep information updated.
•  Update and maintain communications on Country office Sustainability activities.

Competencies:

•  Has a good familiarity with environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations relevant to corporate sustainability.
•  Able to find relevant information/data and examine similar policy questions in multiple regions and to distill operationally relevant recommendations/lessons from this analysis.
•  Understands core issues and knows where to get additional expertise when needed.
•  Contributes new insights to understand situations and develops solutions to resolve complex problems. Adapts as circumstances require and manages impact of own behavior on others in context of WBG’s values and mission. Identifies and pursues innovative approaches to resolve issues.
•  Appropriately involves others in decision making and communicates with key stakeholders at various levels. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches displaying a sense of mutuality and respect. Integrates WBG perspective into work.
•  Drive for Results – Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results and has the personal organization to do so.
•  Sound judgment and Analytical Decision Making – Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work. Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.
•  Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion – Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team’s work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.

Selection Criteria

•  Minimum Education: MA/MS in Communications, Knowledge management, Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, Corporate Sustainability Management or equivalent.  
•  Minimum Years of Relevant Experience: 5 years’ relevant experience in one or more professional disciplines, or equivalent combination of education and experience
•  Demonstrates full familiarity with the World Bank Group’s organizational structure, complementarities among different Bank Group agencies, with an ability to apply this knowledge.
•  Strong environmental knowledge, research and analytical skills.
•  Experience or knowledge of key issues surrounding corporate sustainability.
•  Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and exceptional ability to write, communicate, and operate under pressure and tight deadlines with accuracy and professionalism.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills with experience working across boundaries, and with multiple stakeholders, in building collaborative alliances for results.
•  Self-motivated and creative, with excellent project management and organizational skills and proven ability to perform multiple tasks.
•  A sharp analytical mind, good political judgment and diplomatic skills, and proven ability to work across teams and issues.
•  Ability to hold colleagues accountable for delivering against agreed-upon work programs.
•  Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Campaign, Canva, and other relevant design applications.
•  Knowledge of digital platforms, including web content management systems and social media.
•  Familiarity with the Associated Press Style Guide and/or the World Bank Editorial Style Guide.
•  Strong planning, organizational, and time management skills.  
•  Desire to function in a team and contribute towards a common goal. 
•  Flexible and creative approach to problem solving.  
•  A sharp analytical mind, good political judgment and diplomatic skills, and proven ability to work across teams and issues.
•  Ability to hold colleagues accountable for delivering against agreed-upon work programs.

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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