Senior Environmental Specialist/ Engineer

Job #: req21715

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Environment

Grade: GG

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Rabat,Morocco

Required Language(s): English, French

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 4/4/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
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Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice (GP)

Sustainable environment and natural resources management (ENRM) is at the heart of the WBG’s poverty agenda. Biodiversity and natural resources constitute the social safety net of the poor, representing a food bank and often their only source of livelihood. Sustainable ENRM promotes a green, clean, and resilient world where natural resources – from forests to fisheries, freshwater, oceans, coastal zones and ecosystems – are managed to support livelihoods and strong economies. Sustainable ENRM builds a world better prepared for shocks and global challenges, helping countries limit their exposure to resource scarcity, more-volatile weather patterns, and the long-term consequences of climate change.

The Environment, and Natural Resources and the Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice has been set-up to deliver on the opportunities, benefits and outcomes offered by enhanced management of the environment and natural resources.

The Environment, Natural Resources and the Blue Economy Global Practice has three broad and distinct functions:

Provides clients with lending and non-lending services aimed to support the GP’s three core business lines, namely: (i) Forests, Watersheds and Sustainable Landscapes; (ii) Marine, Coastal and Aquatic Resources; and (iii) Pollution Management and Environmental Health. The GP’s activities also include a focus on Clean and Resilient Growth through its work on environmental economics and support to institutional development.Supports effective environmental risk management and sustainability by managing risk at the project level and creating opportunities to advance sustainable development, in part through the implementation of the World Bank’s environmental policies.Works closely with other sectors, including by leveraging financing, to mainstream environmental considerations into their policies, strategies, and operations.

On August 4, 2016, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) to help protect people and the environment in the investment projects it finances. This effort is one of several key initiatives, including procurement reform, and the climate and gender strategies, recently undertaken by the World Bank to improve development outcomes. The ESF responds to new and varied development demands and challenges that have arisen over time.

It brings the World Bank’s environmental and social (E&S) protections into closer harmony with those of other development institutions, and makes important advances in areas such as transparency, non-discrimination, social inclusion, public participation, and accountability – including expanded roles for grievance redress mechanisms. The framework helps to ensure social inclusion, and explicitly references human rights in the overarching vision statement.

The ESF is made up of the World Bank’s vision for sustainable development, the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy for Investment Project Financing, and ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). These set out the mandatory requirements for the World Bank, in relation to the projects it supports through Investment Project Financing (IPF), and for Borrowers.

Unit Context

The Middle East and North Africa Region ENB Unit (SMNEN) comprises of about 32 staff, based in the various country offices in the Region as well as in Washington, DC. All report to a Practice Manager (PM) based in Washington, DC. The unit manages a full spectrum of environment, climate change, green growth and natural resource, pollution management lending and non-lending tasks, as well as the environment safeguards function throughout the Region.

The SMNEN unit seeks a seasoned Senior Environmental Specialist/Engineer for the role of ESF Focal Point for the Maghreb as well as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Focal Point for the MNA Region. She/He will be based in Rabat, Morocco and will cover a wide range of high-risk operations across the Maghreb, with a focus on environmental risk management (Safeguards/ESF). In addition to providing hands-on project support, the Sr. Environmental Specialist/Engineer will lead policy dialogue around E&S issues and prepare and deliver ESF trainings across the countries and will provide mentoring to country-based staff in the Maghreb. As She/he will serve as the OHS Focal Point for the MNA region, the Sr. Specialist/Engineer will specifically support and guide on OHS specific aspects. She/he is expected to provide technical leadership on OHS and be able to advise management, task teams, and clients on Health and Safety (H&S) issues, risk management, and trainings.

The Senior Environmental Specialist/ Engineer will also lead the dialogue and will closely coordinate and collaborate with the Operations Policy & Country Services (OPCS), ESF Implementation Unit, E&S Standards Advisor (ESSA), and E&S PMs and teams, and to improve H&S risk management and performance, and to work with procurement colleagues and teams in the review and evaluation of bidding documents to make sure that H&S measures documents, as well as just-in-time advice to teams and clients. She/He will be tasked to prepare and deliver annual MNA OHS training series to Task Team Leaders.

The Senior Environmental Specialist/ Engineer is required to contribute to ENB’s business lines, thus demonstrated skills and experience, particularly on the blue and green agendas, will be important. The Senior Environmental Specialist/Engineer will lead dialogue with governments and other stakeholders and contribute to strategy products and business development. She/he will support the implementation of the Blue Economy program in the Maghreb.

Strong operational experience and outstanding business development skills (including experience with IPFs and PforRs) are required, along with demonstrated leadership skills, client engagement skills, a track record of engagement with NGOs and development partners, experience managing complex operations and multisectoral work and experience with fund raising and management of Trust Funds. Team building and leadership skills are desired with proven ability to mentor more junior staff.

Duties and Accountabilities

As the Senior Environment Specialist/ Engineer, the responsibilities would be the following:

Be the ESF Focal Point for the MNA ENB Unit in the Maghreb. Be the OHS Focal Point for the MNA Region for the SMNEN unit.Provide expert guidance and support for the screening of World Bank projects for environmental risks (especially for projects with high-risk ratings), impacts, and vulnerabilities and identify risk management opportunities/strategies mainly on occupational health and safety and, also including, but not limited to, labor influx, climate change adaptation and mitigation in World Bank operations. Review the risk classification assigned to projects on a regular basis, ensuring prompt notification to the PM during preparation and implementation of a project where there is a proposed change in risk classification to or from High Risk, or for a Project where ESSA corporate advice is being provided. Review, at the concept and appraisal stages, the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS), Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) and E&S instruments disclosed prior to appraisal for all Projects, for ESSA clearance and concurrence. Review, during the implementation stage, environmental instruments prepared by the client following Board approval for Projects classified as Substantial, Moderate or Low Risk. For projects with High-risk rating, review environmental instruments and recommend them for submission for ESSA clearance.Follow up to complete quality assurance in the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), clear documents in a timely manner as per ADM business procedures.Lead policy dialogue around E&S issues and prepare and deliver ESF trainings across the countries and provide mentoring to country-based staff in the Maghreb. As She/he will serve as the OHS Focal Point for the MNA region, the specialist/engineer will specifically support and guide on OHS specific aspects. She/he is expected to provide technical leadership on OHS and be able to advise management, task teams, and clients on Health and Safety (H&S) issues, risk management, and trainings. The Senior Environment Specialist/Engineer will work closely with OPCS, ESF ISU, ESSA, and E&S PMs and teams, and provide to improve H&S risk management and performance, and to work with procurement colleagues and teams in the review and evaluation of bidding documents to make sure that H&S measures documents, as well as just-in-time advice to teams and clients. She/He will be tasked to prepare and deliver the annual MNA OHS training series. The Senior Environment Specialist/Engineer is required to contribute/lead as needed to ENB at the business lines particularly on the blue and green agendas. Lead dialogue with governments and other stakeholders and contribute to strategy products and business development. Provide training on the ESSs and their provisions and implications for project preparation and implementation to World Bank Clients, WBG staff and other interested / relevant parties (e.g. NGOs, academia). Support and drive on the implementation of the Blue Economy Program in the Maghreb. Lead on analytical work, in close coordination with the MNA Blue Economy (BE) Team to advance on the policy dialogue, foster business development and secure timely implementation of the ongoing portfolio and therefore being the in-country anchor in regards to follow and dialogue as per the overall BE program engagement and reporting lines.

Selection Criteria

Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in environmental engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, natural resource management, sustainable landscape management, marine and coastal zone management, fisheries, environmental policy, environmental or civil engineering from a recognized university.Working on high-risk infrastructure projects, solid experience in working in FCV settings is a plus.Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the environmental sector, including solid experience in occupational, health and safety; risk assessment; due diligence, environmental site assessment, and compliance audits.Knowledge of international standards and codes of practices in the environment sector, including World Bank Group Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs).Sound knowledge of World Bank’s safeguards policies, the ESF, and/or IFC Performance Standards/MIGA Environmental and Social policies or similar standards as well as its stakeholders, especially the challenges and opportunities for borrowing countries would be an advantage.Good knowledge of environmental legislation, regulatory and institutional arrangements in MNA countries in general and that of Maghreb in particular.Being ESF accredited is required.Field experience in both assessing project site vulnerabilities/risks, as well as supervising/inspecting/monitoring projects during implementation to mitigate and monitor environmental impacts is required. Strong operational experience and outstanding business development skills in the capacity as TTL (including experience with IPFs and PforRs) are required. IPF TTL accreditation is required and PforR accreditation would be an added plus. Demonstrated leadership skills, client engagement skills, a track record of engagement with NGOs and development partners, experience managing complex operations and multisectoral work and experience with fund raising and management of Trust Funds are key. Team building and leadership skills are desired with proven ability to mentor more junior staff.Demonstrated ability to lead high quality analytical tasks that include environmentally-related data and information. Experience in developing countries/emerging economies is a strong advantage. Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including to developing countries and possibly remote, fragile and conflict affected areas, is required.Collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations/civil society, as well as project investors and their staff. Excellent verbal and written English and French language skills are required. Knowledge of other languages will be an advantage. Good team player who can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, motivate and lead group efforts and network effectively across boundaries.

World Bank Competencies for Senior Environmental Specialist/ Engineer

Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions. Has a solid understanding of the environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations needed to support development and for the success of the project. Knows the client’s strategy and structure and can assess impact on the project. Can credibly and effectively engage with a range of environmental institutions to support project outcomes. Explains to clients and other stakeholders the risks to the project when environmental laws and regulations are deficient or not enforced. Supports client efforts to address such weaknesses.Environmental Sciences. Has direct experience in the environmental sciences, including deeper experience in at least one area. Has extensive experience with applying this knowledge to projects, studies, and other deliverables. Develops novel approaches to mitigate risk or overcome difficult challenges. Has experience applying this knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice.Communication. Has ability to translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies. Interacts with clients at the policy level and organizes and manages policy development initiatives in collaboration with other development agencies and donors. Ensures consistency and conformity to World Bank standards. Mentoring and Developing People. Builds informal mentoring network within own immediate work unit, and proactively provides mentoring and coaching to others within team or in other departments. Contributes to training exercises. Manages behavior to have a positive impact on others.Due Diligence. Demonstrates understanding of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework and applies the Framework to identify and address environmental issues and risks. Works independently to undertake environmental due diligence and provides input to the project team on environmental issues/risks with minimal supervision. Proactively determines risk mitigation measures. Demonstrates effective time and resource management skills. Provides effective and timely guidance to clients on environmental issues/risks, and actively participates in discussions with clients on environmental matters.Portfolio Monitoring. Leads the monitoring of the environmental performance of assigned projects. Anticipates potential issues and formulates corrective plans for identified environmental problems. Engages effectively with clients to achieve compliance and leads discussions on environmental matters.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

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