Senior Environmental and Social Dev Specialist

<!–

Description

–>

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56.1 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity, as economies grapple with unprecedented levels of uncertainty and volatility. 

IFC is looking for a dynamic, motivated, and detail-oriented Senior Environmental & Social (E&S) Specialist to provide cross-regional E&S leadership. This professional will provide support to clients and IFC’s investment and advisory teams on E&S risk management across sectors, especially infrastructure and manufacturing, agribusiness and services in alignment with IFC Performance Standards and Sustainability Policy with the aim to enhance E&S outcomes of IFC-supported investments and advisory mandates. 

Responsibilities:

Early Screening, Due Diligence, Portfolio supervision :

• Lead or contribute to review of E&S issues/risks in new investments and select advisory engagements in the real sector, and in the identification and development of risk mitigation measures and value-add solutions, including through transaction structuring, that support clients in addressing identified issues throughout IFC’s project cycle.
• Clear and proactive guidance to IFC investment teams on E&S risk management in project decision-making and processing throughout the investment cycle.
• When leading E&S assessments, ensure effective and efficient use of staff, consultants, and resources, ensuring the timely completion of deliverables. Provide guidance and support to team members.
• Proactively monitor portfolio clients and engage with clients and investment departments to achieve compliance with contractual E&S requirements. Clearly document and communicate any outstanding or emerging gaps between client performance and IFC requirements, and related risks to IFC.
• Support industry teams and clients in response to Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) requests, leading discussion with CAO and IEG officers.
• Contribute to portfolio analysis to identify systemic issues and assess trends, including any issues of policy nature and propose policy adjustments as needed.
• Contribute to global / regional supervision program reviews and periodic reports.

Upstream and Advisory Services :

• On the basis of new business processing and portfolio analysis, help identify systemic bottlenecks existing in the market that prevent adequate E&S risk management. In collaboration with Upstream officers and advisory teams, help develop upstream activities by using technical experience and expertise.
• Work proactively to identify opportunities for ESG advisory engagements that result in greater development impact and value for the client; provide expert input into new IFC advisory offering.
• Participate in strategic decision making (as needed) regarding IFC role in advisory support to enhance E&S risk management and ESG capacity building sector clients. Where relevant support the development of appropriate solutions.

Knowledge Management :

• Participate in cross-regional and global teams responsible for the preparation of policy interpretation notes on E&S topics and contribute to the corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned from project work.
• Participate in forums or conferences to showcase IFC experience, approach and value proposition (which includes serving as a panelist or moderator for internal and external events).
• Prepare management briefs of relevant E&S matters.
• Provide guidance/mentor more junior staff and Short-Term Consultants (STCs) working on E&S risk management and supervise the timeliness and quality of their work, in coordination with the ESG Regional Manager.

Selection Criteria: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental, health and safety management/engineering, environmental/social sciences, or other relevant discipline. 
• Minimum of 8-11 years of professional experience working on E&S risk management in the international context, with strong preference for experience in the private sector working in infrastructure, energy and/or mining sectors.
• Experience working on E&S Policies and Standards, including those of World Bank Group and other international financial institutions (IFI).  Demonstrable familiarity with IFC Performance Standards is an advantage.
• Experience in supporting the development of sustainable finance.
• Working experience in emerging markets, ideally in fragile and conflict-affected environments.
•  Willingness to travel regularly in emerging market countries.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse information sources, and draw conclusions from sometimes limited data and develop solutions in potentially tense or conflicting situations.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail.
• Proficiency in English is essential.  Additional language skills in Arabic and Russian is desired.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to communicate persuasively on complex issues with a wide range of internal and external parties (including senior staff, management, IFC’s accountability mechanism and clients) and present E&S risks and management solutions in a manner that non-experts can understand. 
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team, influence and negotiate point of view within teams.
• Exemplary project management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• High personal integrity and emotional intelligence, with demonstrated ability to handle sensitive matters in a discreet and respectful manner.
• Diplomatic approach and calm under pressure.

<!—

<!–

–>