Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank Group

The World Bank Group – Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Environmental Specialist

Job ID: req31606
Location: Abuja
Sector: Environment
Grade: GG
Terms Duration: 4 years 0 months

Description

• 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.
• 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.
• Nigeria’s diverse landscapes, from forests to coastlines, are rich in natural resources but face increasing pressure from deforestation, land degradation, and air pollution. Effective land management and sustainable forestry practices are crucial to preserving these ecosystems, while the emerging Blue Economy offers opportunities to protect and sustainably harness coastal and marine resources for economic development.
• We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Environmental/Natural Resources Management (NRM) Specialist with a strong track record in operational leadership, including TTL accreditation for IPFs (ideal also with DPO experience).
• 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 fund-raising and managing large-scale investment portfolios is essential, along with a history of coordinating cross-disciplinary activities within diverse organizational structures.
• 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.
• 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.
• The role requires expertise in conducting high-quality analytical work that connects environmental data with national development priorities and economic outcomes, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Familiarity with Bank instruments, innovation in project development, and a strong ability to build client trust are key.
• 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 Specialist will be based in Abuja, Nigeria will be leading and supporting a broad and evolving portfolio of lending and policy dialogue in all ENV business lines.
• He/she will also support operations in Watershed Management, Sustainable Landscapes, Biodiversity, Forestry, Climate Change, Blue Economy, and Brown/Pollution.
• The position requires frequent travel across the country, including to States with FCV situations Working in close collaboration within the various activities within the country program and having significant experience in large-scale programmatic engagement including in operational cross-sector collaboration within and beyond the Planet Group, therefore providing strategic and operational leadership for SAWE4’s operational program, both Projects and Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) which shall also include a focus on business development.
• 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:
ENV Nigeria CMU Program Support:

• Support the ENV managed tasks;
• Prepare briefs and talking points on key ENV issues and report, as needed to CMU and PM, on progress of ENV activities;
• Represent ENV at workshops and events;
• Lead and/or contribute to inputs from ENV on government’s strategic planning; and
• Participate in CMU and Planet Team meetings. 

Lending and Non-Lending:

• Lead the identification, design and implementation support of natural resource management (NRM) lending programs and projects, including through leading preparation of operational design elements of IPFs and DPFs, with a primary focus on forests, sustainable landscape management, and blue economy programs contributing to climate resilience and the delivery of global public goods (GPGs). 
• Lead and support strategic dialogue and with a big emphasis on business development, working across all ENV business lines.
• Provide intellectual leadership and technical expertise on one or more business lines. 
• Lead ENV inputs to preparation of country strategy products (SCD, CPFs, PLRs).
• Contribute to and/or lead analytical inputs in support of Assess and advise on policy frameworks, particularly regarding land-use/forestry/fisheries and NRM, including the valuation and payment for ecosystem services and GPGs including the operationalization of the CCDR. 
• Support capacity building and knowledge sharing opportunities with and for key partners, through for example the development and delivery of training and knowledge-sharing events in support of the Knowledge Compact. 
• Provide and mobilize technical assistance in support of client needs to improve capacity for NRM, from within and outside the Bank’s global network. 
• Working across sectors, engage with other practices, practice groups and agencies of the WBG to innovate and develop impactful programs in the context of the Evolution Road Map.
• Maintain effective communication and coordination with regional, national, and local partners, including government, civil society, academic/research institutions, the private sector, and bilateral and multilateral development partner agencies. 
• Innovation, business development, partnerships, mobilization of finance, and collaboration across institutions will all be key focus areas of this position.
• In collaboration with the Regional Manager, coach and mentor unit staff working in the country office.
• Mobilize grant and/or climate co-financing for IBRD/IDA operations or standalone grants.
• Task lead or contribute to the preparation and implementation of complex grant-financed operations.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership of programmatic ASAs/deliverables that span a range of environmental and NRM topics. 
• Co-lead or be a technical specialist on the PASAs or ASAs led by other GPs and PGs. 
• Collaborate closely with World Bank Global Practices and IFC/MIGA colleagues on joint projects and with other colleagues from other multilateral development institutions.
• Coordinate and carry out other tasks as requested by the Manager, such as contributing to the organization of training or knowledge sharing events.
• Operate as the Nigeria ENV Focal point for the CMU – which requires also the follow up on the WPA and ensuring contributions to documents, updates are developed in a timely manner in consultation with all the ENV colleagues working on the Nigeria portfolio.
• Support the Practice Manager in ensuring portfolio/pipeline quality and development of new business.
• Maintain and build a positive working environment for the ENV team, including coaching and/or mentoring of staff, and lead or contribute to team-building activities.
• Support the Practice Manager in the WPA preparation and discussion with the CMU concerning the Nigeria engagement.
• Maintain close relationship with/provide support to CMU regarding ENV topics and activities. 
• Lead/coordinate ENV feedback and inputs to country, regional or global products. 
• Actively participate in CMU/CO meetings and coordinate closely with the Planet Sector leader.
• Maintain and build a positive working environment for the ENV team, including coaching and/or mentoring of staff, and lead or contribute to team-building activities. 
• Support work program allocation to optimize resource use and talent.

Country and sector engagement dialogues:

• Engage in the preparation of country strategy products (SCD and CPFs);
• Provide strategic leadership and participate in sector dialogue and business development relative to, NRM, Watershed, Landscapes, Forestry, Biodiversity, Pollution Management, Environmental Health and the Circular Economy, Blue Economy, Climate Change and overall environmental agenda; 
• Support in-country environmental risk management reviews and thematic supervisions, prepare reports, and disseminate lessons learned. 
• Maintain effective communication with government counterparts (and development partner community and NGOs), and other local agencies and organizations on the World Bank activities on relevant topics and provide local perspective and insights; 
• Advise clients in the Government and staff on environmental and natural resource policy and technical matters; and 
• Assist in the coordination, design, and delivery of knowledge management and training activities.

Tasks

• 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. 
• Supervise the implementation, in collaboration with Task Teams, of investment projects in Nigeria’s Environment and NRM portfolio including land degradation and restoration, forest management, community strengthening in natural resource management, rural development, landscapes management, climate change and NRM.
• Provide strategic support to team leaders of projects on safeguards and ESF both during preparation and implementation and engage with client on upstream dialogue to build client capacity.
• Identify and participate in knowledge exchange opportunities focusing on above mentioned issues between Nigeria and other countries in the Africa region.
• Lead and/or assist the teams working in the landscape portfolio in Nigeria maximize the value of blue economy, sustainable landscapes, biodiversity, and natural resources.
• Review and provide advice for operational and analytical work on blue economy, fisheries, landscapes, NRM and the links to poverty reduction and development in Nigeria.
• Contribute to ENV and corporate tasks related to blue economy, fisheries, forests, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Nature-based tourism.
• Participate in project implementation support missions, elaborate mission aide-memoires, ISRs and ensuring timely execution of mission’ action plans.
• Contribute to NRM portfolio related business and pipeline development (e.g. policy lending, program for results, prevention of conflict and resilience investment program, regional integration programs, etc.), as well as donor dialogue, private sector engagement and identification of additional funding opportunities. 
• Promote, through ongoing and future portfolio, community-based approaches, and planning processes.
• Explore and promote approaches for equitable, productive, and sustainable natural resource management outcomes in conflict affected and sensitive areas. 
• Proactively participate in other key Department’s dialogues (agriculture, urban water etc.,) and represent ENV in such dialogues. 
• Share technical knowledge with clients and partners on different environment and NRM topics (blue economy, brown issues, climate change, forestry, agroforestry, biodiversity, etc.,).
• Build relationships and facilitate effective communication with other development partners, NGOs, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
• In coordination with the ENV coordinator, support the CMU and the Department in NRM country dialogue and corporate commitments. This includes participating in developing and implementing sector strategy and assist in country-specific policy work (CEA, SCD, CPF, etc.,)
• Represent the Bank in discussions with governments, donors and other stakeholders on Watershed Management, Landscapes, Blue Economy, Climate Change and NRM and Brown/Pollution issues.

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s Degree or above in 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 watershed management, integrated landscapes, environment, fisheries, marine and coastal zone management, forestry, dryland development, climate change, and biodiversity. 
• Deep knowledge of natural resources 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/PforRs, working with DPFs, 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.
• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic engagement and policy dialogue with multidisciplinary teams, and senior-level government, private sector, NGOs, international organizations, and/or development partners.
• 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.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. If the selected candidate is a current World Bank Group Staff Member with a Term appointment that expires later than the end date of this appointment, s/he will retain the duration of his/her current Term appointment.

Application Closing Date
15th February, 2025 at 11:59pm UTC

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online