Environmental Specialist

Environmental Specialist

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd.

The WBG manages environmental and social (E&S) risks through two complementary lines. E&S Makers work with project teams to design and execute operations in line with the applicable E&S policies and help clients build stronger capacity to manage E&S risks. E&S Checkers, a separate global WBG E&S Risk function, focus on proactive monitoring of E&S risks during project implementation, maintain a watch list of higher-risk operations, monitor closed projects with outstanding E&S commitments, and manage intake of grievances, which are referred to Makers for resolution.

The WBG E&S Makers Practice, launched in October 2026, is the first integrated E&S practice covering IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA. It supports a more unified approach to E&S standards and processes, stronger E&S risk management, and better support to public and private sector clients. The Practice is headed by the WBG E&S Chief Maker and is organized into five regional E&S teams, each led by a WBG E&S Regional Director, supported by three global units: Policy and Knowledge; Global Expertise to Support Regions; and Accountability & Complaints Solutions.

IBRD/IDA investment operations apply the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), including the ten Environmental and Social Standards (ESS 1–10). IFC and MIGA apply the IFC Performance Standards (PS 1–8). Integration of IBRD/IDA and IFC frontline E&S teams is being phased in, with full integration of frontline teams expected by end of 2027.

E&S in East Asia & Pacific and South Asia — Focus on Bangladesh

This position sits in the Makers line, within the East Asia & Pacific and South Asia regional E&S team (ESPAS), in the South Asia E&S unit (ESPS4) covering Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — a sub-region of significant ecological richness and climate vulnerability spanning the Himalayas, the Bengal Delta, island systems, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and coastal areas. The IBRD/IDA portfolio includes energy, transport, urban development, water and sanitation, agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management, many of which interact with sensitive habitats, biodiversity corridors, and protected areas. The WBG’s engagement in the sub-region increasingly includes operations in which IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA work together with public and private sector clients.

Effective management of environmental risks — including impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, water resources, pollution, and occupational and community health and safety — is central to sustainable and inclusive development in the sub-region. The unit works closely with Country Management Units (CMUs), sector teams, borrowers, and implementing agencies to integrate high-quality environmental due diligence into WBG-supported operations.

We are recruiting an Environmental Specialist, based in Dhaka, to support environmental risk management primarily in IBRD/IDA-financed operations in Bangladesh, with a preferred specialization in biodiversity and environmental resource management. The Specialist will support task teams, government counterparts, and implementing agencies in applying the ESF and applicable E&S policies, standards, and good international industry practice (GIIP), and will collaborate with IFC and MIGA E&S colleagues on joint or linked WBG operations.

Reporting Lines and Working Relationships:

The Environmental Specialist will report to the E&S Practice Manager of the South Asia E&S unit (ESPS4), within the WBG E&S Regional Directorate for East Asia & Pacific and South Asia. The Specialist will work closely with the unit’s Lead Environmental and Lead Social Development Specialists and the Bangladesh country E&S focal points, and in close coordination with the Bangladesh CMU. On a day-to-day basis, the Specialist will work as an integrated member of project task teams, supporting Task Team Leaders and sector colleagues while maintaining technical accountability to the E&S unit. The Specialist will engage with the Practice’s global units on complex E&S issues, policy interpretation, and accountability matters through the Practice Manager, and with the Checkers on projects under implementation where they are engaged.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Environmental Specialist will have the following specific responsibilities:

Environmental Due Diligence and Risk Management

•  Integrate environmental due diligence under the ESF (and, for legacy operations, the applicable safeguard policies) and relevant GIIP, including the WBG Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines, into the design, appraisal, and implementation of WBG-supported operations, primarily in Bangladesh and, as needed, in other countries covered by the regional E&S team.

•  Apply risk-based approaches to screen, scope, assess, and classify environmental risks and impacts, including for operations involving critical and natural habitats, biodiversity-sensitive areas, protected areas, and natural resource management.

•  For low and moderate E&S risk operations, exercise E&S decision-making responsibilities as delegated by the Practice Manager under the E&S Accountability and Decision-Making (ADM) framework; for substantial and high risk operations, support the Practice Manager in E&S due diligence and decisions.

•  Advise on assessment, mitigation, management, and monitoring of risks related to biodiversity, ecosystem services, natural habitats, pest management, pollution prevention, resource efficiency, and occupational and community health and safety.

•  Identify and flag emerging E&S risks early, escalate them to the Practice Manager, and coordinate with the Checkers on operations under implementation where they are engaged.

•  Maintain dialogue with clients and government counterparts on E&S risk management and contribute to mission outputs, Aide-Mémoires, Back-to-Office Reports, and Implementation Status and Results Reports (ISRs).

Technical Support and Instrument Preparation

•  Review and support preparation of environmental instruments, including ESIAs, ESMPs, ESMFs, Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs), Pest Management Plans (PMPs), and Environmental and Social Commitment Plans (ESCPs), ensuring they are proportionate, fit for purpose, and actionable.

•  Prepare or contribute to Environmental and Social Review Summaries (ESRSs) and provide environmental inputs to project concept, appraisal, and readiness documentation, and to disclosure and consultation processes.

•  Advise clients, counterparts, and project teams on environmental assessment documents, management frameworks and plans, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and consultation requirements.

•  Support preparation of terms of reference for ESF documentation and help integrate environmental requirements into contract specifications, bidding documents, and works contracts.

Biodiversity and Environmental Resource Management

•  Provide technical guidance on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including critical habitat assessment, application of the mitigation hierarchy, offsets, and biodiversity monitoring.

•  Support preparation of BMPs, natural habitat frameworks, and related instruments consistent with ESS6 and relevant GIIP, and, in joint WBG operations, with IFC Performance Standard 6

•  Apply knowledge of Himalayan, delta, coastal, forest, and island ecosystems to ensure biodiversity risks are assessed and managed in design and implementation.

•  Contribute to knowledge work on biodiversity, natural resource management, and nature-positive approaches in the regional portfolio.

Implementation Support, Field Supervision, and Client Capacity Building

•  Participate as a team member in project identification, preparation, appraisal, and implementation support missions, including in potentially remote and challenging environments.

•  Carry out field site visits to assess compliance with applicable E&S instruments and commitments and identify environmental risks and issues on the ground, including in ecologically sensitive and high-risk project areas.

•  Strengthen client E&S capacity through practical training, coaching, and just-in-time support to government agencies, PIUs, local authorities, consultants, contractors, and assessment practitioners on ESF requirements, instruments, monitoring, reporting, and corrective action planning.

•  Help clients identify capacity gaps, implement capacity-building plans, strengthen implementing agency procedures, and institutionalize good practices for screening, assessment, supervision, documentation, disclosure, stakeholder engagement, and grievance redress.

Grievance Redress and Stakeholder Accountability

•  Support the establishment, strengthening, and monitoring of project-level Grievance Mechanisms, ensuring they are accessible, responsive, and consistent with ESS10.

•  Advise clients and implementing agencies on inclusive stakeholder engagement, meaningful consultation, information disclosure, and responsiveness to affected communities, with attention to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

•  Support timely resolution of environmental grievances and community concerns, including complaints referred to the Makers through the WBG grievance redress system, and coordinate with social specialists on cross-cutting accountability matters.

•  Contribute, as requested, to responses to Inspection Panel cases and, in joint operations, CAO cases, in coordination with the Practice Manager and the Practice’s Accountability & Complaints Solutions unit.

One WBG Collaboration with IFC and MIGA

•  Provide environmental risk management support in joint or linked WBG operations involving IBRD/IDA and IFC and/or MIGA, including early coordination with IFC and MIGA colleagues on roles, applicable requirements, instruments, disclosure, and supervision arrangements.

•  Apply, where relevant, working knowledge of the IFC Performance Standards and related GIIP to support consistency across public and private sector operations, including joint IFC–World Bank engagements, public-private partnerships, and projects involving private sector clients.

•  As agreed with the Practice Manager and subject to the work program, provide environmental and biodiversity support to IFC and MIGA E&S colleagues in the region.

•  Contribute to One WBG E&S knowledge sharing, learning programs, and Communities of Practice.

Knowledge, Policy Dialogue, and Cross-Practice Collaboration

•  Support knowledge development on environmental risk management, biodiversity, and ecosystem services through good practice stock-taking, project learning, and internal knowledge exchange.

•  Contribute to analytical and advisory work on climate-nature linkages, green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and environmental sustainability.

•  Engage in policy dialogue with government agencies and development partners on environmental risk management, biodiversity conservation, environmental governance, and strengthening of national E&S systems, as relevant.

•  Contribute environmental and biodiversity inputs to Country Partnership Frameworks, country diagnostics, sector studies, and portfolio reviews.

•  Collaborate with social development specialists, E&S colleagues across the regional E&S team, and sector teams.

•  Engage stakeholders including development partners, bilateral agencies, the private sector, civil society, and environmental regulators.

Selection Criteria

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Marine Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning, Forestry, Biology, or a related field, with at least five years of relevant professional experience.

•  Experience preparing or reviewing environmental risk management instruments for investment projects, including ESIAs, ESMPs, ESMFs, and/or BMPs.

Technical Expertise:

•  Solid working knowledge of the World Bank ESF, ESS 1–10, associated guidance, and relevant GIIP, including the WBG EHS Guidelines; knowledge of predecessor safeguard policies is an advantage.

• Working knowledge of the IFC Performance Standards, associated guidance, and their application in private sector operations is desirable, particularly in areas relevant to biodiversity, pollution prevention, community health and safety, labor, land, stakeholder engagement, and cumulative impacts. Familiarity with MIGA’s operations is an advantage.

• Ability to apply risk-based approaches to screen, assess, classify, and manage environmental risks in moderate to high complexity projects.

• Specialized expertise in biodiversity and environmental resource management is strongly preferred, including experience with biodiversity impact assessment, critical habitat assessment, and monitoring.

• Experience managing risks in ecologically sensitive contexts such as natural habitats, protected areas, forests, wetlands, coastal and marine systems, or mountain ecosystems is an advantage.

• Experience in at least one additional area such as pollution prevention, occupational and community health and safety, pest management, or natural resource management.

Operational Skills:

• Strong analytical and operational skills, including the ability to synthesize environmental information and draw sound risk management conclusions.

• Ability to identify practical, risk-proportionate solutions and communicate complex technical issues clearly to teams, clients, and decision-makers.

•  Experience with WBG operations, policies, procedures, and project cycle documentation is an advantage.

•  Experience working on, or coordinating across, joint IFC–World Bank projects, private sector client engagements, PPPs, or operations involving both public and private sector stakeholders is an advantage.

• Experience in South Asia and knowledge of environmental regulatory frameworks in Bangladesh or other covered countries is a distinct advantage.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, diplomacy, and team skills, with the ability to build consensus across internal and external partners.

•  Proven ability to communicate complex environmental and technical issues clearly to government counterparts, implementing agencies, civil society, private sector clients, and WBG teams.

•  Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight timelines and changing circumstances.

• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, including to remote and ecologically sensitive project sites.

• Excellent professional written and oral communication skills in English and Bangla are required.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.