Senior Environment Specialist – IS 5  

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Regional Operations Services 1 (OSR1) within the Office of Safeguards (OSFG). OSFG was established to implement and monitor ADB’s safeguards policy and procedures. It advises and supports ADB management operational departments, and relevant parties, including borrowers/clients in delivering development solutions in compliance with ADB’s safeguards policy. The Office of Safeguards has four teams: (i) Policy and Technical Services, (ii) Regional Operations Services 1, (iii) Regional Operations Services 2, and (iv) Private Sector/Pacific Operations Services.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.
 

Job Purpose

The Senior Environment Specialist provides management and technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and capacity building to ensure compliance of assigned programs and projects with ADB’s policy on safeguards and climate change, and leads, monitors, and reports on compliance during project implementation. The incumbent will lead the conduct of thematic studies, policy dialogue and sector work to support climate action, promote low-carbon and climate-resilient development, and enhance positive environmental contributions of development and mitigating its adverse environmental impacts. The incumbent will work directly with clients in broad policies and objectives.

The incumbent will report to the Director and will supervise national staff (NS) and administrative staff (AS).

Responsibilities

Project Management
• Coordinates ADB’s Climate Change Program, in particular relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, from safeguards perspective, and work closely with operational and sector departments to enhance the quality of loans, TA projects, and non-lending products and services, especially relating to climate change and safeguards
• Participates as mission member responsible for environment and climate change aspects in the identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision, completion and evaluation of loans, grants, and TA projects related to (i) urban development and water sector, (ii) human and social development sector, and (iii) public management, finance sector, and trade sector.
• Contributes to project or program identification and scoping, take the lead in rapid environmental assessment (REA), environmental safeguard categorization, and definition of environmental safeguard due diligence requirements.
• Within project teams, takes responsibility for obtaining ADB and DMC environmental safeguard compliance approvals.
• Supervises scoping, preparation, review and appraisal of environmental safeguard documents (initial environmental examination; environmental impact assessment, environmental assessment and review framework, programs safeguards system assessment, environment and social management system, etc.) to ensure conformity with ADB’s requirements in substance and format.
• Ensures full compliance with environmental safeguards policy requirements, and coordinates timely disclosure of environmental safeguards documents.
• Conducts climate change risk screening, supervises in-depth climate risk assessments, and monitors implementation of climate adaptation elements for assigned projects and programs.
• Ensures that meaningful consultation with affected people and relevant governmental and non-governmental institutions is being conducted during processing and administration of programs and projects.
• Engages, guides, and manages consultants to assist in conducting such work, including through undertaking of field surveys and studies and having consultations with DMC stakeholders, and provide quality control over their work.
• Identifies opportunities for ADB assistance aimed at operationalizing policies on environmental safeguards; community and occupational health and safety; climate change; resource-efficiency; and other environmental dimensions.
• Acts as mission leader as needed for the identification, processing and administration of TA grant projects with significant environmental protection and climate resilience dimensions, including supervising consultant and ensuring the high quality of outputs.

Strategy and Planning
• Ensures compliance of assigned programs and projects with ADB and DMC environmental policy and regulatory frameworks during processing and implementation.
• Ensures compliance of assigned programs and projects with ADB and DMC environmental policy and regulatory frameworks during processing and implementation.
• Leads thematic work around the areas of climate change and environmental sustainability for (i) urban development and water sector, (ii) human and social development sector, and (iii) public management, finance sector and trade sector in assigned countries, and low-carbon and climate resilient development.
• Acts as environment focal point for (i) urban development and water sector, (ii) human and social development sector, and (iii) public management, finance sector and trade sector in assigned countries, and provide expert advice to interdepartmental working groups on environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Conducts policy dialogue with, and provide guidance and advice to DMCs on environmental and climate change issues and in building and strengthening their capacity for environmental planning and management.
• Leads review and strengthening of country environment safeguard systems, as appropriate.
• Leads in identifying and resolving environmental issues, particularly compliance risks for complex/sensitive projects, including responding to documentation/reporting requirements of Office of the Special Project Facilitator (OSPF) and inspection panels.
• Coordinates with resident missions (RMs) for consistency of approach, exchange of experiences, and continuous improvement of environment management planning and implementation practices for ADB investment projects.
• Leads the strategies for environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient and climate resilient development in developing member countries (DMCs) in consultation with relevant government agencies and Resident Missions (RMs).
• Takes the lead in integrating environmental and climate change issues into country operations by coordinating preparation of inputs to country strategy, (i) urban development and water sector, (ii) human and social development sector, and (iii) public management, finance sector and trade sector work in assigned countries, and ensuring that environmental and climate change dimensions are adequately reflected in country strategies, sector work and projects.

Knowledge Sharing
• Keeps abreast of the latest institutional and policy developments in international and national environmental management, resource efficient and low-carbon development, climate change adaption, as well as health and safety in (i) urban development and water sector, (ii) human and social development sector, and (iii) public management, finance sector and trade sector.
• Coordinates and contributes to the sectors and thematic studies, including climate risk assessments, environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments, and prepare knowledge products related to environmental issues.
• Leads activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building on environment issues in assigned countries.
• Acts as resource person on environmental development issues.

Staff Supervision
• Provides leadership and support to reporting staff
• Supervises the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance
• Ensures the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in, environmental sciences, environmental engineering; or equivalent; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in environmental policy, environmental management, environmental safeguard, climate change adaptation and mitigation. International experience working in several countries.
• Familiarity with a multilateral institution’s policies and procedures.
• Proven application of expertise within a specific area, or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area.
• Ability to utilize and share relevant knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community
• Ability to act as a mentor to the more junior team members, providing guidance on projects or processing of loans/technical assistance.
• Ability to act as a coach to develop capabilities/potential of more junior colleagues.
• Ability to act as a team leader when required with supervision from supervisors.
• Strong interpersonal skills with all types of internal and external clients/stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
 

Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 5.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.

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