Senior Environmental and Social Specialist Sector Lead: Services

Job #: req11649

Organization: IFC

Sector: Environment

Grade: GG

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 5/7/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Sustainability Advice and Solutions Department (CEG), includes approximately 200 staff and consultants. CEG supports IFC's investment, advisory and upstream departments to manage ESG risks associated with their activities and find solutions to client issues on the basis of our Environmental and Social (E&S) Performance Standards (www.ifc.org/performancestandards) and the Corporate Governance Methodology (www.ifc.org/corporategovernance). CEG further utilizes this expertise and operational experience in emerging markets to encourage the effective adoption of these standards by companies and investors across emerging markets.

IFC currently has a varied portfolio of around 230 service sector investments and undertakes due diligence on approximately 50-60 prospective new investments in these sectors annually. Business activities supported include short-term trade finance lines through banks or traders, and secondary education, health services (from general hospitals to specialized clinics), city and resort hotels, retail, and residential, commercial and industrial property. Clients vary from multinational corporations to small local businesses. The portfolio is globally diversified, though IFC actively seeks more business in less developed and fragile and post-conflict countries.

CEG has a second line of defense environmental and social (E&S) risk-management role, undertaking E&S due diligence (ESDD) of prospective IFC investments, and providing E&S monitoring oversight at both the individual client and portfolio levels. CEG frequently leads the ESDD function when IFC participates in lenders' consortia. CEG works closely with IFC's recently created E&S Policy and Risk Department (CES) which provides an E&S third line of defense in particularly high-risk transactions.

Duties and Accountabilities :

The Sector Lead: Services will be the most prominent CEG staff working day-to-day on IFC's investment and advisory transactions and the primary point of contact for CEG with investment professionals working in these sectors. The position will report to CEG's Chief Environmental Specialist who manages CEG's global E&S transaction support. Key accountabilities include:

Transaction Processing Support

  • Quality assurance reviews and clearance of E&S specialists' ESDD and other written appraisal products, seeking to ensure that the ESDD is correctly scoped, adequately detailed, comprehensive and well documented, that issues arising are treated consistently for all clients and that IFC's client requirements arising from ESDD are well-calibrated to appraisal findings and risk, and are consistent with Performance Standards requirements and IFC precedent;
  • Supporting specialists, through appraisal preparation, coaching on sectoral E&S issues, negotiations with clients and investment departments and board presentations;
  • As required, developing and delivering training to IFC clients, investment staff and CEG specialists on E&S issues relevant to the services sectors;
  • Responsible for the delivery of ESDD and Supervision of a select portfolio of clients, particularly for elevated risk transactions.

Upstream and Advisory Services

  • Quality assurance reviews and support to E&S specialists' review of Upstream Projects and High and Medium Risk Advisory Implementation Plans and Supervision reports;
  • Identify systemic bottlenecks existing in the market that prevent adequate E&S risk management in the Services sectors. Contribute substantively to upstream activities by using technical experience and expertise;
  • In close coordination with regional upstream officers, act as a sounding board for Global Upstream managers and CEG Business Partners on potential E&S risk in early upstream engagements;
  • Screening of E&S specialists' proposals to provide E&S Advice to clients, to ensure proposals are appropriate, meet clients' priority challenges and are consistent with departmental objectives.

Sector Co-ordination, Global Consistency, Knowledge Management & Leadership

  • Sectoral E&S oversight and contribution to sectoral knowledge base, including preparation of sectoral portfolio reviews and recognizing emerging E&S issues in the sectors, and associated risk mitigants;
  • Strategic liaison with other DFIs on emerging issues and consistency of approach across the manufacturing and services sectors;
  • Representing CEG and IFC in external forums or conferences to showcase IFC experience, approach and value proposition, which includes serving as a panelist or moderator for internal and external events related to this thematic area;
  • As needed, coordinate with IFC's legal department to determine adequacy of E&S provisions, lead discussions on necessary updates in legal templates;
  • To recruit and manage a roster of consultants to provide specialist subject-matter and capacity support;
  • Contribution to annual performance appraisals of E&S specialists.

Selection Criteria

  • Graduate/advanced degree in relevant discipline(s);
  • Minimum of twelve years of relevant professional experience, including private sector experience in sustainability and proven relevant E&S risk management experience in a range of services sub-sectors;
  • International experience required with experience in developing countries preferred. Willingness and ability to travel frequently to developing countries;
  • Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse information sources, and draw conclusions from sometimes limited data;
  • Ability to communicate effectively and concisely in spoken and written English is essential. Additional language skills are advantageous;
  • Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills including the ability to relate well with a wide range of internal and external parties and develop solutions in potentially tense or conflicting situations;
  • Exemplary project management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines;
  • Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail;
  • Pragmatic, solution-oriented, problem solver with a high degree of responsiveness and proactivity, coupled with the ability to recognize when a solution is not available;
  • Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team, influence and negotiate point of view within teams, superior mentoring skills;
  • High personal integrity and emotional intelligence, with demonstrated ability to handle sensitive matters in a discreet and respectful manner. Diplomatic approach and calm under pressure;
  • Knowledge of IFC's Sustainability Framework and Performance Standards.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

cfU9CwB-owT1v

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you