Principal Environmental Specialist - South Asia

Principal Environmental Specialist - South Asia

Job # : req34265 Organization : IFC Sector : Environment Grade : GH Term Duration :  3 years 0 months Recruitment Type : International Recruitment Location : New Delhi,India; Kathmandu,Nepal; Colombo,Sri Lanka Required Language(s) : English Preferred Language(s) : Closing Date : 9 / 29 / 2025 (MM / DD / YYYY) at 11 : 59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.The International Finance Corporation (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 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit .IFC is seeking a Principal Environmental and Social Development Specialist to provide leadership and guidance to IFC’s South Asia region E&S team, clients, investment, and advisory teams on environmental risk management vis-à-vis IFC Performance Standards with the aim of promoting compliance with IFC’s E&S standards and enhanced impact and additionality of IFC-supported investments and advisory mandates. The Principal Environmental and Social Development Specialist will support in strategic decision making about environmental and social risk management across the lending portfolio, promote building environmental sustainability into project design and implementation, support the use of sound environmental and social assessment methodologies across sectors and countries, and lead knowledge and learning initiatives. This position will report to the South Asia E&S Regional Manager.  Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice and lead complex and challenging environmental and social risks and impacts in new investments and select advisory engagements.
• Lead E&S project teams for large and complex new investment and select advisory and PPP projects, ensuring effective E&S risk management support to teams and Management, and sound solutions to clients.
• Support teams and clients to proactively respond and find solutions to stakeholder grievances submitted to client, IFC or CAO.
• Proactively monitor the environmental and social performance of multiple high-risk portfolio projects and clients.
• Distill broader E&S risk trends in IFC’s portfolio; provide input to portfolio analysis and trends at portfolio management reviews.
• Support the Regional E&S Regional Manager in facilitating and coordinating operations, including acting as delegated official in the absence of the Manager and engagement with the DC based risk team CES,
• Consistently demonstrate high visibility and leadership on ESG in the region.
• Provide guidance and leadership through mentoring and coaching staff and consultants to ensure high quality of work performed by the team.
• Support the Regional E&S Manager and Regional Industry Leads with annual performance assessments of E&S staff based and working in South Asia through regular and timely feedback.
• Participate in strategic decision making regarding IFC role in advisory and upstream support to enhance E&S risk management performance. Where relevant support the development of appropriate solutions.
• Provide expert input into the preparation of policy interpretation notes on environmental topics and contribute to the corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned from project work.
• Represent IFC at relevant external technical forums; develop position paper(s) in the area of expertise.

Selection Criteria

WBG Culture Attributes :

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.

3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

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.