Environmental Engineer

 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

The Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice (ENB GP) is located within the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Practice Group. We provide expertise, technical assistance and financing to help low- and middle-income countries manage land, sea and freshwater natural resources in a sustainable way to help create jobs, improve livelihoods, enhance ecosystem services, decrease pollution and increase resilience to climate change! Over 360 ENB staff working across the globe help set developing countries on a clean, green growth trajectory for resilient economies and healthy communities.

ENB has five key business lines consisting of lending and non-lending services in (1) Forests, Landscapes and Biodiversity; (2) Blue Economy; (3) Pollution Management, Environmental Health and Circular Economy; (4) Environmental Economics, Policies and Institutions; and (5) Environmental Risk Management. 

ENB has three broad and distinct functions:

1.Provide clients with lending and non-lending services aimed to support the GP’s key business lines
2.Support 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 risk management policies; and 
3.Work closely with other sectors to mainstream environmental considerations into their policies, strategies, and operations.

The SEAE1 unit, covers three country units (China & Mongolia, Indonesia & Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands). We are one of two ENB units in the East Asia and Pacific Region (EAP) and comprise around 40 staff, with 70 percent based in Country Offices. The rest of the team is based in Washington DC. This position would be based in the Honiara office, working as part of the Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island ENB team.

Country Context:

The World Bank member countries of the Pacific Region are the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. Five of these countries are considered to be fragile states. The World Bank’s existing portfolio in the Pacific is about 95 projects with a value of US$3.0 billion. New lending is about 14 projects in FY24 with a value of US$428 million. The portfolio is heavily focused on infrastructure development, particularly ports, roads, hydropower, solar power, coastal reinforcement; human resource development, particularly health and education; and natural resource management in such areas as fisheries. Within this context, the Solomon Islands portfolio includes 14 projects for a value of US$434 million.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will report to the EAP SEAE1 Practice Manager based in Singapore and the Country Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Focal Point based in Sydney. 

The Environmental Specialist’s role will be to oversee and support compliance with the WBG’s safeguards policies and ESF, ensuring that environmental sustainability is integrated into project design and implementation! The specialist will work regionally in the Pacific program, and nationally (in Solomon Islands).

• Provide advice to clients on environmental risk management in World Bank-financed projects.

• Work closely with the ESF Country Focal Point, ensure the effective integration of environmental due diligence into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported projects.

• Provide expert advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management with regards to the preparation of all environment-related due diligence, assessment and management materials. This includes environmental impact assessments (both project-specific and regional), strategic and cumulative assessments; and specific plans related to occupational health and safety, natural habitats conservation etc.

• Provide environmental input in project documents in accordance with the Bank operational policies and assist with managing timely and proper disclosure procedures and public consultation requirements for all required environmental assessment and management instruments.

• Working closely with World Bank procurement specialists, provide expert guidance to clients in tendering and contracting specialized consultant services for environmental risk assessment and management tasks. This includes the preparation of terms of reference for due diligence and management activities, and assistance in selection, contracting and supervision of consultants.

• Develop and roll-out technical training and capacity building programs and events for clients related to environmental risk management, including WBG safeguard policies and ESF requirements.

• Participate as a team member in various projects, including participating in identification missions; seeking and developing opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and policies into various investment project operations. In addition, maintaining regular dialog with the client and enhancing their capacity for understanding of and compliance with environmental policies; and contributing to mission outputs and reports.

• Other assignments as and when required.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in environmental engineering, environmental science, environment or natural resource management, or related fields. 

• A minimum of five years of full-time relevant professional experience in the environmental risk management sector.

• Knowledge and experience in environmental assessment and management of investment projects involving large scale civil works, extractive or industrial activities.

• Field experience in both assessing project site vulnerabilities/risks, as well as supervising/inspecting/monitoring projects with significant environmental dimensions and/or risks during implementation to mitigate and monitor environmental impacts.

• Collaborative, experienced in working in a broad range of cultural contexts, with multi-disciplinary teams, and with the ability to work independently with limited supervision.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Willingness to travel extensively in the Pacific and Papua New Guinea and possibly to other countries is necessary, including to remote rural areas.

• Familiarity with WBG’s safeguards policies, ESF and/or IFC’s Performance Standards/MIGA Environmental and Social policies or similar standards will be advantageous.
 

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.