Environmental & Social (E&S) Specialist

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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. 

IFC is seeking a dynamic, motivated, and detail-oriented Environmental & Social (E&S) Specialist with strong communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills to provide support on social aspects of the infrastructure and Public Private Partnership (PPP) transactions in the Central America and Caribbean, Colombia and Mexico (CCM) region. This professional will provide E&S guidance to clients and investment and advisory teams on E&S matters vis-à-vis IFC Performance Standards (PS) and Sustainability Policy, with the aim of promoting compliance and enhancing the impact and additionality of IFC-supported business activities.

The position will report to the ESG Regional Manager for the CCM region.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Lead or contribute to reviewing E&S issues and risks in new investments and select advisory engagements in the infrastructure and PPP sectors, with a focus on social issues.

For Direct Investments (Infrastructure): 

• Lead or contribute to identifying and developing E&S risk mitigation measures and value-add solutions that support clients in addressing identified issues.
• Provide clear and responsive guidance to IFC investment teams on E&S risk management in project decision-making and processing throughout the investment cycle
• Prepare concise public disclosure documents for new investment and support formulation of E&S legal conditions for IFC projects.

For PPP Transaction Support:

• Define tailored measures to manage identified E&S issues and risks and value-add solutions and formulate E&S input to PPP transaction process and tender documentation
• Coordinate E&S consultants and subject-matter experts to provide integrated and coherent E&S advice and explain such advice to internal and external stakeholders.
• Define the scope of work for E&S Studies, support the selection of consultants for the development of such studies, and review interim and final deliverables for alignment with IFC Performance Standards, accurateness, and completeness
• Provide clear and responsive guidance to IFC transaction teams on E&S risk management in project decision-making and processing throughout the advisory cycle.
• When leading the 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 them and their 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 and opportunities.
• Contribute to portfolio analysis to identify systemic issues and assess trends of a policy nature, and propose policy adjustments as needed.
• Contribute to regional supervision program reviews and periodic reports.
• Support industry teams and clients in responding to Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) requests where needed, including discussing them with CAO and IEG officers as needed.
• Provide capacity building to clients and their consultants on conducting E&S Impact Assessment studies, developing Stakeholder Engagement Plans, Resettlement Action Plans, and other E&S studies, as the case may be.
• As needed, 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.
• Prepare management briefs of relevant E&S matters.
• In coordination with the regional manager, provide guidance to Short-Term Consultants (STCs) working on E&S risk management and supervise the timeliness and quality of their work.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in sociology or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum of ten years of professional experience working on E&S management, monitoring, and/or due diligence, with a preference for private sector experience in LAC in the infrastructure and PPP sectors, with a focus on social issues such as grievance management, community/stakeholder engagement, resettlement and livelihood restoration, labor standards and conditions and engagement with Indigenous Peoples.
• Working experience in emerging markets, ideally in fragile and conflict environments.
• Experience working with IFC/World Bank E&S Policies and Standards.
• Willingness to travel regularly.
• Exemplary project management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and summarize diverse sources, draw conclusions from limited data, and develop solutions in potentially tense or conflicting situations.
• 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.
• Experience in engaging directly with community members, CSOs, and NGOs.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish is essential, with Portuguese skills an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate persuasively 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 points of view within teams.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28892&site=1