Senior Environmental Specialist/Safeguards

The Senior Environmental Specialist will support implementing the World Bank’s environmental and social risk management policies with a focus on environmental risk management for the Cote d’Ivoire Country Management Unit’s portfolio and building national systems and capacity. The role involves leading environmental due diligence, monitoring compliance, and capacity building in environmental risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead or advise SAWM2 team members for the environmental due diligence of World Bank projects under preparation with substantial or high risk for the Cote d’Ivoire CMU in close collaboration with World Bank task teams and government counterparts.
• Ensure effective integration of World Bank environmental and social requirements, including ESF, Safeguards Policies, World Bank/IFC/MIGA Performance Standards, World Bank Group EHS Guidelines, and other international good practice standards.
• Lead or advise SAWM2 team members for the environmental due diligence of World Bank projects under implementation with substantial or high risk for the Cote d’Ivoire CMU to ensure compliance with applicable World Bank environmental and social policies.
• Proactively monitor and supervise environmental and social performance with a focus on environmental performance of World Bank investments.
• Document any outstanding or emerging gaps between project performance and World Bank environmental and social requirements and provide guidance on corrective actions.
• Prepare and implement environmental and social impact assessments, management plans, public consultation plans, and specific plans related to biodiversity, natural resource management, waste management, health and safety, and dam safety.
• Lead implementation of E&S overview assessment action plans and support country system strengthening and capacity building for environmental risk management.
• Collaborate with other World Bank teams to integrate environmental, health and safety risk management capacity into sectoral programs.
• Support E&S PM and Lead environmental and social specialists to address new corporate priorities, escalate issues, report on portfolio risk management, and mentor environmental staff.
• Participate in cross-practice teams and provide inputs for policy notes, Country Partnership Frameworks, sector studies, and research on environmental risk management.
• Contribute to a one WBG approach for E&S risk management and the use of AI within the unit and for external clients.
• Engage in the Bank-wide professional community of E&S staff.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Environmental science, Geography, Environmental engineering, natural resource management or related disciplines.
• At least eight (8) years of full time relevant professional experience in environmental risk management in an international context, such as for international financial institutions, other development partners, engineering/construction companies, consultancy firms or the private sector with a sustained record of achieving high quality substantive results.
• Demonstrated experience applying internationally recognized environmental and social policies and standards, including those of the World Bank ESF, Safeguard Policies, World Bank/IFC/MIGA Performance Standards, and other international financial institutions (IFI).
• Extensive experience in environmental risk management, preparation and/or review of project environmental risk and impact assessments, environmental management plans.
• Extensive experience in the management of the environmental, health and safety risks of large infrastructure, e.g. roads and highways, dams, irrigation schemes and large water conveyance systems.
• Proven experience in country system strengthening and capacity building related to environmental risk management.
• Proven ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations civil society.
• Strong analytical skills related to environmental risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to communicate persuasively on complex issues with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and present environmental risks and management solutions in a manner that non-experts can understand.
• Ability to coach/mentor more junior staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French essential.
• Experience with private sector related to environmental risk management a plus.
• Willingness to travel extensively, including to remote rural areas.

Skills

• Environmental Risk Management
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Management Procedures
• Environmental and Social Policies
• World Bank ESF
• World Bank Safeguard Frameworks
• IFC Performance Standards
• MIGA Performance Standards
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Integrated Environmental Management
• Country System Strengthening
• Capacity Building
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Environmental Risk Analysis
• Negotiation Skills
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Environmental Due Diligence
• Compliance Monitoring

Languages

English, French