Environmental Specialist Job at The World Bank Group

The World Bank Group - Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Environmental Specialist

Job #: req21369
Job Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Environment
Grade: GF
Term Duration: 3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

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.

The Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB)

• Global Practice 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) Safeguards/ 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 safeguards services across the Bank, including current safeguards policies and the effective implementation of the new Environment and Social Framework (ESF) that was roll out on October 1, 2018.
• The ENB Global Practice in Sub Saharan Africa includes four units. The hiring unit, SAWE4, covers Western and Central Africa; and manage operations in a variety of areas such as natural resources management, coastal zone management, forestry, pollution, climate change, landscape and terrestrial and marine natural resources, in three country management units. In addition, the unit, like other ENR GP units provides environmental safeguards and ESF services across all sectors and projects. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• SAWE4 is seeking a highly qualified Environmental Specialist who will work on all aspect of ESF/Safeguards, providing environmental risk management support to World Bank projects and possibly identify new business opportunities on ENB in the Nigeria Country Management Unit (CMU).
• The selected candidate will be based in the World Bank office in Abuja, Nigeria and will provide support to one of the largest World Bank portfolios in Africa. The selected candidate will have reporting relationship to the Country Director and the Practice Manager based in Washington DC. The specialist would provide environmental impact/risk management project support in the following areas: 
• During project preparation: assess the project’s potential environmental footprint and determine which of the Bank’s safeguards policies and/or ESS will be triggered; guide the borrower/project implementation agency in process of preparing the necessary safeguard instruments and review them for quality; contribute well-written summaries of key safeguards instruments for inclusion in project documentation; and assist in the preparation of Environmental and Social Risk Classifications (ESRCs) and Environmental and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs). This will also entail helping staff or client to assure the quality of project documentation before submission to the Regional Safeguards Adviser (RSA)/Environment and Social Standards Adviser (ESSA) Secretariat for review and approval.
• Provide expert guidance and support for the screening of Bank projects for environmental risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities and identify risk management opportunities/strategies including labor influx, occupational health and safety and climate change mitigation and adaptation in Bank projects
• In accordance with the Bank’s ESF, determine the appropriate Environment and Social (E&S) Risk classification and review the risk classification assigned to the project on a regular basis. In determining and managing E&S risk, use the ESSs related guidance and good practice notes, as well as internationally accepted good industry practice for informed decision making.
• Ensure compliance of all project financed activities, including those relating to associated facilities with the WB’s Safeguards policies and the ESSs and the Bank Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines, as well as Good International Industry Practice (GIIP).
• During both preparation and implementation: go beyond narrow policy compliance to looking for opportunities to improve the environmental outcomes of the project. Work closely with the project task team and especially the Social Safeguards Specialist assigned to each operation and provide back up support as required. 
• Using the ESCP as a key tool, provide expert advice to borrowers/recipients on the assessment of environmental and social risks, evaluate all relevant information, recommend solutions and ensure detailed, targeted management and action plans are developed and steps taken for projects to comply with the Bank’s ESF
• Work with Regional ESF/Safeguards Coordinator, as well as with other dedicated environmental safeguards specialists and STCs; and foster cross-sectoral collaboration with the Social Team.
• Identifying and developing new business in ENB in the CMU using pollution abatement, environmental Management, Forestry, and Biodiversity as entry points, and
• Contributing as required to the broader work of ENB GP on improving environmental sustainability.
• Participate in review meetings and represent SAWE4 in relevant Bank-wide initiatives; represent the Bank in donor meetings on the environment; and contribute to knowledge generation and diffusion within the region and beyond.
• Regularly complete all project related reporting requirements in Bank system and provide project related synopsis to management as and when required.

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s Degree or above in Environment Engineering, Environmental or Natural Resource Science, Environmental Policy, or similar relevant disciplines.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the environmental sector, including proven experience in environment, health and safety (EHS); environment impact assessment; risk assessment; occupational, health and safety (OHS); due diligence, environmental site assessment, and compliance audits.
• Good knowledge of environmental legislation, regulatory and institutional arrangements in African countries. Knowledge of the EIA process, procedures and legislation in Nigeria countries will be an advantage.
• Experience with the application of the World Bank’s environmental safeguards policies; and ample knowledge of the ESF and applications.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international standards and codes of practices in the environment sector including WBG Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proven leadership and management capacity
• Well-developed interpersonal, communication and writing skills, including ability to write concisely and translate technical knowledge and ideas into fluent, understandable, French and English;
• Having worked as a Task Team Leader (TTL) and work experience in an FCV locations is a plus

Technical Competencies:

• Environmental implications on Policy, Institutions, and Operations -Solid understanding of the implications of environment on policy, institutions, and operations.
• Analytical Tools for Environmental and Social Sustainability - Extensive experience conducting environmental analysis, deriving results that resonate with the client; ability to coach others in the application of the tools.
• Participation and Consultation - Extensive experience conducting environmental and social development consultative and participatory approaches, deriving results that resonate with the client; ability to coach others in the application of the interventions.
• Environmental Safeguards - Experience successfully applying the social safeguard policies.
•  ESF – Knowledge of 10 Standards and the mechanics of ESCP and ESRC
• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-practice areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-practice work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.