Environmental Safeguards Specialist / Senior Associate, Washington

• Organization: IDB - Inter-American Development Bank
• Country: United States
• City: Washington
• Office: IDB Washington
• Follow @UNjobs

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) | 1300 New York Avenue, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20577, USA | Tel: (202) 623-1000 | Fax: (202) 623-3096

Closing date: Sunday, 2 October 2016

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Environmental Sr. Associate/ Specialist
Environmental Safeguards Unit (VPS/ESG)
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) works to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through financial and technical support for countries working to reduce poverty and inequality, IDB helps improve health and education, and advance infrastructure. It aims to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. IDB is today the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides loans, grants, and technical assistance; and it conducts extensive research. IDB maintains a strong commitment to achieving measurable results and the highest standards of increased integrity, transparency, and accountability.
The Environmental Safeguards Unit (ESG) of the IDB is responsible for the assessment and management of environmental and social impacts and risks in Bank operations. ESG also develops and disseminates knowledge to enhance the management of impacts and risks in such a way as to benefit clients and stakeholders and to foster sustainable development in the region.
Description
ESG is seeking a highly motivated Environmental Specialist to join our group of highly qualified environmental and social professionals that provide technical support, direction and leadership in promoting the Bank's strategic social and environmental priorities and ensuring that IDB financed projects and other activities are socially and environmentally sustainable. The environmental specialist will be expected to undertake due diligence of Bank operations and lead the design and implementation of safeguards for Bank operations in accordance with the requirements of the Bank's environmental and social safeguard policies and international best practices. The environmental specialist will also be expected to contribute to the development of new approaches, guidance, and knowledge products, and to effectively disseminate the products of the Unit to build capacity among clients and stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Identify safeguard risks and impacts in Bank operations, programs, and sector strategies and provide recommendations on approaches to mitigation, including

• Reviewing and screening operations for compliance with safeguard policies
• Maintaining and improving safeguard management processes, systems, and tools
• Providing technical inputs in sensitive, high-risk operations or for projects that offer an opportunity for innovation and/or the achievement of significant improvements in the policies or procedures of key government agencies.

2. Advise internal and external clients on sustainability in the design, preparation, and implementation of Bank operations, including

• Managing and conducting environmental and social safeguard due diligence
• Supervising projects to ensure implementation mitigation measures
• Engaging with project teams and clients to communicate key issues and enlist cooperation to address them.
• Developing and maintaining communication and relationships with clients

3. Assist clients and stakeholders in the consistent application of safeguard policies
4. Assist ESG in achieving and developing best practice standards in environmental and social management, by:

• Providing technical support and guidance to others in area of specialization
• Contributing to the design, delivery and dissemination of training and knowledge products to facilitate the application of safeguards
• Supporting the dissemination of good practices through the organization of conferences, workshops, publications, and partnerships; organizing and conduct training sessions on environmental safeguards issues for IDB staff, executing agencies and consultants.
• Participating in Country System initiatives
• Contributing to the development and improvement of safeguard management processes, policies, systems, methodologies and tools

5. As required, may represent ESG in internal and external events and activities.
6. Guide, coach and mentor junior staff to develop technical expertise.
Education

• Master's degree or equivalent in environmental science, environmental management or related field; a PHD is desirable.

Experience

• At least 4 years of relevant experience and expertise, preferably in the infrastructure/transport sector, built through working with multilateral financial institutions, international non-government organizations, government agencies, or the private sector with an understanding of approaches to environmental and social safeguards.
• The candidate will have demonstrated experience in Latin America and the Caribbean in assessing and managing the environmental and social impacts of projects.

Languages

• Proficiency in at least two of the Bank's Official languages (English, Spanish, French or Portuguese).
• Demonstrated excellence in analytical, writing and communication skills.

Technical Competencies

• Technical Sector Dialogue: Engages in policy dialogue based on solid knowledge of the sector, development challenges of client countries, and IDB policies, strategies and guidelines.
• Sector Development: Takes actions to promote sector priorities based on country and regional needs and key IDB priorities.
• Economic and Sector Work: Develops and applies economic and/or sector analytic work to support the preparation of country, sector and regional strategies and country dialogue, loan operations and technical assistance programs.
• Project Analysis and Design: Conceptualizes, prepares and participates in the approval of projects and programs (loans and technical cooperation), in coordination with other team members and the respective authorities.
• Change Management: Formulates and implements integrated change proposals to contribute to sector modernization and transformation in borrowing countries.
• Project Supervision: Effectively supports the execution of projects and programs to maximize their results.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Designs and implements effective monitoring and evaluation methodologies for projects and programs.
• Knowledge Management and Dissemination Effectively shares and disseminates economic/sector knowledge and learning experience to enhance the relevance of the IDB to borrowing countries and the region.

Core Competencies

• Collaboration, Teamwork and Inclusion: Works cooperatively with others independent of background (e.g., gender, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, background, perspective) or organizational role, and takes a team-based and inclusive approach to projects and decision making.
• Innovation and Creativity: Develops imaginative ideas and solutions through creativity, experimentation and critical thinking.
• Communication and Influence: Communicates effectively and leverages relationships and strategies to influence others.
• Client Focus: Understands client needs and provides services that meet their expectations for quality and performance; meets the Bank's expectations for ethical behavior.

A candidate has been pre-identified for this position and may apply. However, this remains a competitive process and other qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will be duly considered.
The IDB offers a competitive benefits and compensation package.
The IDB is committed to diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities in employment. We embrace diversity on the basis of gender, age, education, national origin, ethnic origin, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and HIV/AIDs status. We encourage women, Afro-descendants and persons of indigenous origins to apply.