About this role
Environmental Specialist
| Job #: | req39337 |
| Organization: | World Bank Group |
| Sector: | Environment |
| Grade: | GF |
| Term Duration: | Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP) |
| Recruitment Type: | Local Recruitment |
| Location: | Suva,Fiji |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Closing Date: | 11/25/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
At 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 www.worldbank.org
Background and Pacific Country Context
The ESPS1 unit is one of two ESF units under ESP – WBG E&S Policy and Operations Department in the East Asia and Pacific Region (EAP). Staff in the unit provide environmental and social risk management support to a full spectrum of lending and non-lending tasks in selected countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Countries/Islands by applying the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) or the Environmental Safeguard Policies.
The World Bank's Pacific operations are managed through two Country Management Units (CMUs), Pacific 1 (EAPF1) and Pacific 2 (EAPF2), which together support development programs across 12 Pacific Island Countries. Together, the two CMUs oversee a diverse portfolio of approximately 102 projects spanning transport, energy and electrification, water and sanitation, urban development, agriculture, fisheries, climate resilience and disaster risk management, health, education, social protection, tourism, and digital development. The portfolio operates across geographically dispersed islands and remote locations, often in challenging operating environments characterized by climate vulnerability, limited institutional capacity, and complex environmental and social risks. Notably, six of the twelve countries supported under the Pacific portfolio are classified as Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations (FCV), requiring enhanced attention to institutional capacity, stakeholder engagement, social inclusion, and risk management. The Environmental and Social (E&S) team provides support across the project cycle, from project preparation through implementation and closure, addressing issues related to biodiversity and natural habitats, pollution prevention, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, land acquisition and resettlement, stakeholder engagement, cultural heritage, and SEA/SH risk management, while working closely with governments, implementing agencies, development partners, and multidisciplinary World Bank teams to ensure effective implementation of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).
The Environment Specialist will be based in Suva (Fiji) and will report directly to ESPS1 Practice Manager based in Singapore. He/she will be expected to work closely with the EAPF1 Country Management Unit (CMU) covering Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, and Tuvalu; and Regional and Global Practice teams.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Environmental Specialist’s role will be to oversee and support compliance with the WBG’s safeguards policies and ESF, ensuring that environmental and social sustainability are seamlessly integrated into project design and implementation.
• Support the integration of environmental risk management lessons and considerations into the country policy dialogue, shaping of the Country Partnership Framework, and Client capacity development initiatives (including strengthening of Borrower Frameworks). Provide ES risk management support in joint World Bank Group operations that involve IBRD/IDA, IFC and/or MIGA.
• Provide technical guidance and support to government agencies and other entities, including project implementing agencies, on preparation and implementation of project-related environment and social risk management activities to enhance the environment and social sustainability of projects.
• In accordance with the Bank’s ESF and/or IFC Performance Standards (PS), determine the appropriate environment and social risk classification of projects taking into account all relevant information such as the type, location, sensitivity and scale of the project, the nature and magnitude of the potential E&S impacts, the capacity and commitment of the Borrower (and any other entities responsible for project implementation) to manage risks and impacts in a manner consistent with the ESSs. In determining and managing E&S risk, use the ESSs, related guidance and good practice notes, as well as internationally accepted good industry practice for informed decision making.
• Ensure effective integration of environmental due diligence, as defined by the ESF, safeguards policies as well as international good practice, into the design, appraisal and implementation of WBG supported projects.
• Provide advice to client and counterpart organizations, project teams and WBG management regarding the preparation of environmental and social assessments (e.g., environmental and social impact assessments, regional, strategic and cumulative assessments; and environmental management frameworks and plans). Such advice will be based on a detailed analysis of baseline conditions, project scope and impacts, requirements from national legal and institutional frameworks and, and compliance with the ESF and safeguards policies.
• Provide mentorship to clients during project implementation such as, in the preparation of project cycle documentation including terms of reference (ToR) for ESF instruments and in supervising their implementation; the inclusion of contract specifications related to environmental and occupational health and safety risk management; and providing training for counterpart environmental risk management practitioners on the WBG ESF and safeguards policies and requirements.
• Provide environmental, health and safety inputs in project documents in accordance with the Bank operational policies including Project Concept Note (PCN), Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Decision/Negotiations Packages, ISRs and mission documents.
• Monitor the environmental and social performance of assigned projects in accordance with the Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP); participate in implementation support missions and preparation of Aide Memoires and project action plans. Supervise the work of consultants to ensure consistency and conformity to Bank operational policies.
• Participate in and contribute to country portfolio review and ES risk watchlists and preparation of CMU/regional risk review meetings.
• Collaborate with World Bank GPs and IFC/MIGA colleagues on joint projects as well as other colleagues from multilateral development institutions when supporting same projects.
• Contribute to the development and/or supervision of implementation of environment or natural resources activities or components in selected projects, including participation in identification missions; seeking and developing opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and policies in investment project operations; participating in policy dialog with the client and enhancing their capacity for understanding and compliance with environmental policies; and contributing to mission outputs such as back to office reports (BTORs) and Aide Memoires.
• Contribute to the unit's briefs, blogs, newsletters, and technical reports on environmental and social development issues for both internal and external audiences.
• Support and actively participate in the Bank-wide ESF professional community of practice engaged in ES thematic initiatives.
• Support country system strengthening support and client capacity building on environment and social risk management.
• Support planning and delivery of ESS/technical training and client capacity building efforts related to strengthening environmental and social risk management and occupational health and safety, including WBG safeguard policies and ESF requirements. Participate in developing sustainable local and national ESS systems and strategies.
• Carry out other tasks as requested by the Practice Manager.
Selection Criteria
•
Advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in environmental engineering, environmental
science, geography, natural resources management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated
experience in occupational health and safety (OHS) and community health and
safety.
•
A minimum of five years of full-time relevant professional experience in
environmental and social risk management. Knowledge of environmental and social
audits will be an asset.
•
Knowledge and experience in environmental assessment and management of
investment projects involving civil works, extractive or industrial activities.
•
Familiarity with WBG’s safeguards policies, ESF and/or IFC’s Performance
Standards/MIGA Environmental and Social policies or similar standards is highly
desirable.
•
Field experience in both assessing project site vulnerabilities/risks, as well
as supervising/inspecting/monitoring projects with significant environmental
dimensions and/or risks during implementation to mitigate and monitor
environmental impacts.
•
Collaborative, experienced in working in a broad range of cultural contexts,
with multi-disciplinary teams, and with the ability to work independently with
limited supervision.
•
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiarity
and experience in complex high-risk operations, particularly in infrastructure,
energy, agriculture and private sector operations.
• Experience in blended finance operations and ES due diligence in Financial
Intermediaries (FI) will be a strong advantage.
• Proven experience with World Bank IDA and/or IBRD (or other comparable
international organizations) lending operations, policies, and procedures;
experience in leading design and implementation of ES programs.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize, deal with
frequent and unexpected changes, and working within tight schedules/timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to work across practices, work in cross-thematic teams,
foster teamwork, and mentor local/national consultants and government officials.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English is required; including ability
to present and facilitate ES training sessions in English.
• Extensive
experience working in the Pacific countries/islands as well as deep
understanding of contextual and institutional challenges working in the Pacific.
•
Willingness to travel extensively in Fiji and outer islands and possibly to
other Pacific countries as necessary, including remote rural areas and islands.
• Knowledge
and familiarity with the Full Mutual Reliance Framework (FMRF) reliance approach
to ES due diligence with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be an asset.
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.
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