Local recruitment: Environmental Analyst

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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

Unit and Country Context

The Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Unit for Africa East and Southern Region (one of four Environment units in Africa) has about 40 staff.  Half of these staff work on environmental safeguards/environmental risk management.  The other 50 percent work primarily on lending and knowledge products in client countries.  About 50 percent are based in the country offices. The balance is based in headquarters in Washington DC and travel to the region frequently.  The skills of these staff include leading analytical work and policy dialogue, economics, and supporting lending operations in a range of areas including pollution and waste management, air quality improvement, integrated coastal zone management, forestry, fisheries management, landscapes management, watershed management, Occupational and Community Health and Safety, and natural areas protection.  

The position

This position for an Environmental Analyst – Risk Management Engineer based in Washington DC.  This is a junior professional position expected to provide administrative and analytical support to the monitoring and quality control of the safeguards portfolio for the East and Southern Africa region of the World Bank. This position is for one year, possibly two (based on business needs and performance) and will not be extended beyond that period.   As such, this position is an ideal position for a recent graduate (BSc or MSc) who is seeking to gain some work experience working on environmental risk management (safeguards) in an organization that is a recognized leader in this field and working with an experienced team before returning to graduate school for further studies.

 Environmental Analyst – Risk Management Engineer – will have the following key responsibilities:

The Analyst – Environmental Safeguards and Risk Management – will have the following key responsibilities as agreed with his/her Practice Manager based on an annual Result Agreement:

· Work closely with the Practice Manager, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) and the Regional Safeguards Coordinator for East Africa who are responsible for assigning safeguards tasks and ensuring quality of the safeguards work in the East Africa Region.

· Under the guidance of the Practice Manager, ENB, East Africa, build and maintain the key spreadsheets/databases used for managing and monitoring the environmental safeguards/ESF portfolio for East Africa, including task assignments, budget planning, budget utilization, contract management, project scheduling and document flow management. 

· Manage the contracting for a large team of consultants working on environmental safeguards.

· Designing a GIS based monitoring system for environmental safeguards management, geotagging the safeguards monitoring of projects.

· Helping safeguards teams with initial safeguards screening using available biodiversity and pollution management databases and screening tools.

· Conducting preliminary quality control checks, under the guidance of senior staff, on documents such as environmental impact assessments, including regional, strategic and cumulative assessments; environmental management frameworks and plans, including plans for monitoring, reporting and evaluation; public consultation plans; and specific plans related to natural habitats conservation, natural resource management, pest management, forest management, dam safety and international waterways management; such advice will be based on thorough analysis of baseline conditions, project scope and impacts, requirements from national legal and institutional frameworks, and compliance with the WBG’s operational policies and Environmental and Social Standards

· Actively seek to learn World Bank Group procedures, and contribute to their improvement, by participating in training offered, by developing a personal training program, keeping abreast of research and development knowledge in the environment and natural resources sector, and relevant safeguard management process. Coordinate and carry out other tasks as requested by the relevant Manager such as for example, contribute to the organization of training or knowledge sharing events, and help the country office staff with various tasks specific to the management of the office.

Selection Criteria

• BSc or MSc degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering or another environmental science qualification is required.
• Fluency in English is required (writing, speaking, listening and reading).
• Strong computer based modeling skills using GIS and database management tools is required.
• A demonstrated capacity to collaborate on multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability take initiative to work independently with limited supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

The following would be an advantage but not required:

• Knowledge and experience in environmental assessment and management of environmental compliance in investment projects would be an advantage.
• Sound knowledge of World Bank’s safeguards policies, the ESF, ESSs and/or IFC Performance Standards/MIGA Environmental and Social policies or similar standards would be an advantage.
• Experience working in different developing countries would be an advantage

Competencies for Environmental Analyst:

·  Environmental Engineering – Good theoretical understanding of fundamental concepts of environmental engineering.

· Environmental Sciences – Good theoretical understanding of fundamental concepts of natural science (soil science; water; ecosystems; conservation; agriculture concerns, etc.).

· Environmental Safeguards and Risk Management – Basic knowledge of environmental safeguard policies and risk management.

· Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions – Basic knowledge of environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET appointment of three years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.