Environmental and Social Development Specialist | World Bank Expert in Sustainability

IFC is looking for an enthusiastic and driven Environmental & Social (E&S) Development Specialist with excellent communication, interpersonal, and analytical abilities to support its Financial Intermediary (FI) operations in Europe. This role involves offering E&S advice to clients as well as investment and advisory teams, ensuring alignment with IFC’s Performance Standards (PS) and Sustainability Policy. The objective is to foster compliance while maximizing the positive impact and value-added benefits of IFC-backed business activities.

Rules and Responsibilities

• Lead or contribute to the review of E&S issues and risks in new investments and select advisory engagements in the Financial Intermediary sector (including Banks, Funds, NBFIs and Micro Finance Institutions).
• In Financial Intermediaries work on IFC investments throughout the project cycle covering early review, appraisal, public disclosure, board review & approval, commitment & disbursement and project supervision and delivering fully drafted project related internal and external reports.
• Lead or contribute to identification and development of E&S risk mitigation measures and value-add solutions that support clients in addressing identified issues.
• Perform analyses on the development and implementation of clients’ Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS).
• Support formulation of E&S legal conditions for IFC projects.
• Monitor portfolio clients and engage with these clients and investment departments to achieve E&S compliance, documenting and communicating any gaps in client performance vs IFC requirements, and related risks and opportunities.
• Support industry teams and clients in response to Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) requests where needed.
• Support analyzing and reporting internally portfolio data, missing information and support follow up on pending issues.
• Support client E&S capacity-building.
  

Check: Join the World Bank as an Environmental Specialist 2025 : Opportunities for Impact

Selection Criteria for Environmental & Social Development Specialist

• Advanced degree (Masters) in science, engineering, or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum of seven years professional experience working on E&S management, monitoring and/or due diligence, with a preference for financial sector experience in Europe.
• Experience working with IFC/World Bank/E&S Policies and Standards specifically IFC Performance Standards.
• Willingness to travel regularly.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and summarize diverse sources and draw conclusions from limited data.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely on complex E&S issues in spoken and written form.
• Proficiency in English essential, with other languages spoken in the region as an advantage.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team, influence and negotiate point of view within teams.
• High personal integrity and emotional intelligence, with the ability to handle sensitive matters in a discreet and respectful manner, respond diplomatically and remain calm under pressure.
  

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