Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The WBG 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 https://www.worldbank.org.

The Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal support to internal and external World Bank clients on operational, advisory and corporate matters. LEGVP provides legal services required by the World Bank and plays an active role in all the World Bank's activities. In addition, LEGVP helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the institution's Articles of Agreement, as well as its operational policies and procedures. Organizationally, LEGVP includes geographically based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank's lending operations, Policy and Advisory Practice Groups which provide advice on operations policy, environmental and international law, development finance and structured finance and guarantees and Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate finance, administrative and institutional matters for the World Bank.

Department Context

The Environmental and International Law Practice Group (LEGEN) provides support to internal and external Bank clients to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development, in accordance with Bank policies and relevant international laws. LEGEN’s work program includes providing legal advice and services to the Bank’s Regions, Global Practices, Climate Change Group and other Vice Presidencies, on the operational aspects of environmental and international law in Bank-financed projects, including those on environmental and social safeguards; climate change; knowledge creation and knowledge sharing; and development of policies and procedures relating to environmental and international law. Environmental topics include environment and natural resource issues such as climate change, biodiversity, pollution, international waters and water resource management, as well as social issues such as resettlement and indigenous peoples.

Duties & Accountabilities:

The Senior Counsel will play a key role in providing advice on climate change law and policy as well as on transactional legal support for carbon finance. The Senior Counsel will also support the Bank’s portfolio of projects on environmental and natural resource law issues as well as environmental and social safeguard policy issues. Working under the supervision of the Chief Counsel, LEGEN the Senior Counsel will:

1. Provide policy advice and transactional legal support to the Bank’s climate agenda in the context of the Climate Change Action Plan and Bank-administered funds, facilities or initiatives including the Transformative Carbon Asset Facility, the Carbon Initiative for Development among others. The Senior Counsel will also be called upon to:

(i) draft and participate in the negotiation of emission reduction purchase agreements and related agreements for the acquisition of emission reductions for the various World Bank-administered funds;

(ii) assist with designing and drafting term sheets and instruments pertaining to the establishment of new World Bank-administered carbon funds/ climate facilities and legal agreements with governments and private entities participating in such funds/facilities;

(iii) review information memoranda and other communications and documents prepared by the World Bank for new World bank-administered carbon funds/climate facilities;

(iv) draft and participate in the negotiation of emission reduction purchase agreements and related agreements for the acquisition of emission reductions for the various World Bank-administered carbon funds and related agreements with host countries concerning the use of such emission reductions to meet Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, and other applicable requirements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);

(v) assist with advising clients on legal and policy issues involved in the creation and implementation of World Bank-administered carbon funds/climate facilities, including, but not limited to, the requirements of World Bank policies and procedures, business objectives, management of conflict of interest issues and compliance with relevant laws; and

(vi) provide general legal support to, and in particular, the Climate Change Group the Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice and the Sustainable Development Vice Presidency of the World Bank. This will be done in the context of the Bank’s Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2025 and the goals of the Paris Agreement.

2. Serve as Environmental, Social and Natural Resources Legal Advisor. In close collaboration with the Chief Counsel, LEGEN, the Senior Counsel will be responsible for contact with a wide range of staff and managers in the Sustainable Development Vice Presidency (SDVP), identifying legal advice and assistance that LEGEN can provide to clients. This work will include helping establish areas where the Bank can support capacity building and advising Bank programs that provide this support in Bank borrower countries.

3. As needed, act as LEG adviser regarding World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguards/Standards. The Senior Counsel would, in close consultation with the Chief Counsel, Environmental and International Law, with Lead Counsel and other appropriate LEG staff, provide timely advice on the legal aspects of environmental and social safeguard policies, including providing technical guidance to Bank staff, and to act as a LEG resource in special-risk projects and issues of the development and interpretation of safeguard policies. The Senior Counsel will help ensure the development of a consistent and sound LEG position on significant issues relating to the application of safeguard policies and the new Environmental and Social Framework with a dedicated focus on labor and working conditions, the Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines and relevant international legal instruments. In special or high-risk projects, the Senior Counsel would be available to join the task team if so requested.

4.  Work across a wide range of Bank units. The Senior Counsel will work and interact frequently with:

* Lawyers and managers in LEG VPU.

* Counterparts within Regional operational units, Sustainable Development Vice Presidency (SDVP) and Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS).

* Management and staff at HQ and in the field, as required.

Selection Criteria

Academic qualifications and experience:

* Law degree: JD or LLB, LLM (required) SJD or PhD (optional) and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction, with at least 8 years of relevant experience desirable.* Expertise in climate change law and policy

* Expertise or familiarity in environmental and natural resources law.

* Legal transactional experience.

* Ability to work collaboratively, to build trust among peers and colleagues, to respond quickly and consistently to key issues.

* Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives.

* High degree of persuasiveness and diplomacy to generate consensus, especially on divisive legal issues.

* Language skills. Fluency in English, both written and oral, is required, with additional fluency in French, Spanish and/or Portuguese desirable.

General Competencies:

* Ability to communicate and defend, orally and in writing, difficult and complex issues and positions to senior Bank management, government officials and civil society groups

* Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues

* Demonstrated ability to effectively mentor/guide staff and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure transfer of knowledge/skills

* Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries

Other competencies required:

* Legal Drafting, Research and Communication:  Proven ability to draft transactional documentation (e.g., loan agreements or other financial agreements), briefs and variety of legal instruments and related documents independently.  Conducts research as necessary to acquire insight and information.  Is aware of the need for precision and focus on quality. Uses a writing style that is clear and precise.

* Legal Reasoning: Breaks down problem into their component parts.  Articulates the implications of situations in a step-by-step way. Remains objective when reviewing problems or situations to understand the issues.  Makes sure he/she possesses all the facts.

* Multilateral Development Banks’ Legal and Policy Framework: Knowledge of the Multilateral Development Banks’ legal framework and policies and procedures is desirable but not mandatory.

* Independence: Carries out work with due care, preparing accurate documents and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts are fairly presented without seeking to obfuscate (either through too much information or withholding relevant information).  Interprets information in an objective manner, exercising professional skepticism when required. Does not divulge or exploit confidential information.

* Professional Maturity: Understands others and the reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarifying others' points of view so that progress can be made particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Proven ability to deal sensitively and effectively across organizational boundaries, as a team member, in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.

* Recommends and takes decisive action: Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBG’s strategy. Evaluates risk and anticipates the short and long-term implications of decisions. Commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.

* Deliver Results for Clients: Adds value by constantly looking for a better way to get more impactful results; sets challenging stretch goals for oneself. Immerses oneself in client experiences and perspective by asking probing questions to understand unmet needs. Demonstrates accountability for achieving results that have an impact. Identifies and proposes solutions to mitigate and manage risks.

* Client Orientation: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.

*Flexibility: Able to adapt strategy, and objectives; making corresponding structural or organizational changes as needed, to move the work forward and meet the needs of the situation.

* Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries: Ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues in multidisciplinary teams, brings differing ideas into the forefront, integrates and initiates collaboration across boundaries.

* Pressure: Ability to handle demands related to the delivery of multiple tasks within demanding and occasionally conflicting time constraints.

* Lead and Innovate: Contributes to new insights to understand situations and develops solutions to resolve complex problems. Adapts as circumstances require and manages impact on own behaviors on others in context of WBG’s values and missions. Identifies and pursues innovative approaches to resolve issues.

* Create, Apply and Share Knowledge: Leverage departments and WBG body of knowledge by applying lessons learned and expertise. Actively invests in knowledge and seeks feedback. Builds personal and professional networks within and beyond the work group.

* Make Smart Decisions: Seeks diversity of information and inputs, research possible solutions, and generates recommended options. Identifies and understands risks and proposes recommendations. Based on risk analysis, makes decisions in a timely manner within own area of responsibility, considering the interests and concerns of stakeholders.

* Professional Maturity: Understands others and the reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarify others' points of view so that progress can be made, particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Is never condescending or arrogant.

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.

This vacancy is archived.

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