Safeguards Specialist

The position of Safeguards Specialist (Biodiversity) is assigned to the Office of Safeguards (OSFG). You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

OSFG has the following four teams: (i) Policy and Technical Services, (ii) Regional Operations Services 1, (iii) Regional Operations Services 2, and (iv) Private Sector/Pacific Operations Services and you will be assigned to one of them depending on needs and your qualifications and expertise.

You will report to the Director and will supervise junior staff members.

As a Safeguards Specialist (Biodiversity), you will provide advice on safeguard policy issues, undertake environmental due diligence and provide technical and procedural inputs to projects to ensure compliance with ADB’s safeguard procedures during project preparation and implementation. You will be involved in hands-on implementation of projects, providing solutions; and periodic review and roll-out of ADB safeguards policies, including training ADB staff and developing member countries and clients. It is also expected that you will provide technical leadership and knowledge on environmental impact assessment focusing on assessing and managing biodiversity-related impacts and risks.

Safeguard Policy Compliance Due Diligence and Monitoring:

• Review ADB financed program and projects and advise ADB operations departments on safeguard policy requirements covering environmental safeguards. Support operations departments to identify necessary mitigation measures and corrective actions, taking into consideration international good practices.
• Support borrower clients in design and implementation of biodiversity management plans, biodiversity conservation and biodiversity offset measures, among other task
• As requested, join “OneADB Teams” and conduct safeguard review missions and operation support missions for complex and sensitive projects, including sovereign and nonsovereign projects with biodiversity impacts and risks.
• Advise management on project compliance and independently identify to OSFG management on projects with high environmental safeguards sensitivity and those involving biodiversity and ecosystem services impacts.

Capacity Building:

• Develop and administer biodiversity related technical assistance (TA) and training and capacity building programs for ADB developing member countries and private sector clients.

Project Development:

• Help develop projects with specific safeguards or environment or biodiversity focus.

Policy Review and Knowledge Sharing:

• Periodically contribute to the policy reviews to ensure that ADB’s safeguard policy continues to meet international good practices including in challenging areas those related to biodiversity impacts and risks management, and cross-cutting issues.
• Help develop ADB operations manuals, staff instructions or the preparation of guidance and tools.

Qualifications:

You will need:

• A University degree in in ecology, environmental science, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in ecology or a relevant field; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience including international work experience in environmental assessment and management and at least 5 years specialized biodiversity-related experience. International experience working in several countries.
• Experience working on projects that potentially impact natural or critical habitats or areas with priority biodiversity features and developing biodiversity action/management plans, which includes an understanding of, and preferably experience in, offset requirements to achieve no net loss or a net gain and conservation measures.
• Good coordination and project management skills.
• Experience in development or implementing environmental management plans.
• Experience creating learning products or knowledge products or in delivering Safeguards training.
• Comprehensive knowledge of environmental, social development and cultural issues as related to biodiversity management and international good practices on these fields.

Source: https://www.adb.org/careers/250144