Senior Environmental Economist/Specialist

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.

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The Environment (ENV) Department has five key business lines consisting of Lending and non-lending services in (1) Forests, Watersheds and Sustainable Landscapes (‘Green Business line’); (2) Marine, Coastal, Aquatic Resources and Ocean Health (‘Blue Economy Business line’); (3) Pollution Management and Environmental Health (‘Pollution Management Business line’); (4) Environmental Economics, Policies and Institutions Business line, and (5) Safeguards/ Environmental Risk Management Business line:  delivery of effective environmental risk management and sustainability by managing risk at the project level and creating opportunities to advance sustainable development. This includes provision of high-quality and timely safeguards services across the Bank, including current safeguards policies and the effective implementation of the new Environment and Social Framework (ESF) that was rolled out on October 1, 2018

The ENV Department in Sub Saharan Africa consists of four units: Two in West and Central Africa Region, and two in East and Southern Africa Region. SAWE4 covers parts of West and Central (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Gabon). The unit manages operations and analytical activities in a variety of areas such as natural resources management (including land, coastal and marine resources), pollution and climate change. In addition, the unit, like other ENV GP units provides environmental safeguards and ESF services across all sectors and projects.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Environmental Economist/Specialist with a strong track record in operational leadership, including TTL accreditation for IPFs, ideally also DPOs and with experience in PforRs. The candidate must have successfully led complex, multi-sectoral operations across regions, with a proven ability to engage with clients, the private sector, and external partners. Experience in managing trust funds is essential, along with a history of coordinating cross-disciplinary activities within diverse organizational structures. Other area s of interest for this position includes demonstrated ability to lead high-quality analytical tasks that include environmentally related data and information, linking those analyses to country development priorities and economic impacts, and ability to identify long-range goals and objectives, develop strategic approaches, and conceptualize multi-year plans to operationalize and implement these strategies using Bank instruments. Experience working in multiple regions, including FCV countries, as well as leadership and mentoring skills, are critical for this position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Environment Economist/Specialist will be based in Washington, DC and will be leading and/or supporting a broad and evolving portfolio of lending and policy dialogue in all ENV business lines. The position requires frequent travel across the country, including FCV settings. The selected candidate will work under the supervision of the Practice Manager for SAWE4 based in the WB’s Washington Office.  He/she will have the following main duties and responsibilities:

• Lead the identification, design and implementation support of environmental lending programs and projects.
• Lead and support strategic dialogue and with a big emphasis on business development, working across all ENV business lines. Facilitate, engage in, and shape policy dialogues, identifying clients’ priority needs for lending, analytical support, and advisory services in relation to natural resource economy, including fisheries and forestry. 
• Support country team with ENV inputs to preparation of country strategy products (SCD, CPFs, PLRs, etc.).
• Provide and mobilize technical assistance in support of client needs to improve capacity for NRM, from within the Bank’s global network and outside.
• Working across sectors, engage with other practices, practice groups and entities of the WBG to innovate and develop impactful programs. Collaborate closely with World Bank Global Practices and IFC/MIGA colleagues on joint projects and with other colleagues from other multilateral development institutions.
• Mobilize grant and/or climate co-financing for IBRD/IDA operations or standalone grants.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership of programmatic ASAs/deliverables that span a range of environmental and NRM topics. 
• Coordinate and carry out other tasks as requested by the Manager, such as contributing to the organization of training or knowledge sharing events.
• Support the Practice Manager in the WPA preparation and discussion with the country teams.
• Prepare briefs and talking points on key ENV issues and report, as needed to PM, on progress of ENV activities,
• Lead and/or contribute to inputs from ENV on government’s strategic planning; and
• Participate in Country and Planet Team meetings. 
• In collaboration with the Regional Manager, coach and mentor unit staff working in the country office.

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree or above in Applied Economics, Environmental Economics, Finance, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management, environmental engineering or another environmental discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of international professional experience in the environment and natural resources management sector, including proven experience in ENV business lines.
• Quantitative training in economics, econometrics or quantitative economic modeling. 
• Candidates with macroeconomics and fiscal management training focused on environment and natural resources policy as well as with the intersection with jobs are also encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge and experience working on integrated economic and ecosystem modeling would be an advantage 
• Familiarity and some work experience with Natural Capital Accounting, particularly in the context of the System of Economic and Environmental Accounts (SEEA) 
• Environmental Economics – Deep technical knowledge of economic concepts relevant to environment.
• Deep knowledge of the environment sectors, policies, and institutions, including forestry, Sustainable land management, and/or fisheries. 
• Proven track record of leading preparation and implementation support with strong operational experience (including being TTL-accredited for IPFs; ideally also DPFs, experience with PforRs, as well as TF and ASAs), with solid skills in client engagement and a track-record in leading regional/multisectoral work. 
• A demonstrated track-record in managing complex operations, engagement with the private sector and multisectoral work and fund-raising for and management of trust funds is important. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-quality policy-relevant analytical tasks linked to country development priorities and economic impacts and translate analytics into policy and operational relevant actions.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate activities involving multiple disciplines and organizational units. Demonstrated track record managing a portfolio of large-scale investment projects, is required. 
• Having worked as TTL/co-TTL for a CCDR is a plus. 
• Ability to identify long-range goals and objectives, develop strategic approaches, and conceptualize multi-year plans to operationalize and implement these strategies using Bank instruments. 
• Strong results orientation, with ability to follow up multiple work-streams simultaneously working under tight timelines.  
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions.
• Field experience in project preparation and supervision, working closely with client and stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-quality analytical tasks that include environment related data and information, linking those analyses to country development priorities and economic impacts.
• Excellent inter-personal and team leadership skills and ability to easily interact with people of diverse backgrounds and seniority inside and outside the World Bank, including clients and partners. 
• Experience working in FCV is required.
• Strong country office experience would be a plus.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including to remote, fragile and conflict affected areas, is required.
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills are essential; and French language skills would be highly desired. 
• Good team player with experience as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team, and proven ability to motivate and lead group efforts, and network effectively across boundaries.
 
Competencies

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients. 
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders. 
• Integrative Skills – Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector. 
• Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions – Familiarity with environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations. 
• Environmental Sciences – Depth in at least one area: water; ecosystems; forests; conservation; agriculture concerns, etc. 
• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions. 
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs. 
• Collaborate within Teams and Across Boundaries – Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives. 
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients. 
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward

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.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.