Environment Specialist

1. JOB PURPOSE:

Provide advice, expertise and support to operations on environmental management issues. Support the coordination and implementation of cross regional cooperation initiatives. Develop knowledge products and disseminate these through internal and external networks, training delivery and other knowledge management tools.

2. EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

1. Strategy and Planning

• Support the preparation of country or sub-regional assessments, including inputs for country programming to integrate environmental management and climate change adaptation priorities in Country Partnership Strategy (CPS)/Regional Country Partnership Strategy (RCPS).

1. Operational Advice and Support

• Advise on environment safeguard compliance risks in the design and implementation of environmentally sensitive and complex projects, and identifying necessary corrective action
• Provide advice and support to operations departments to mainstream environment in country operations and enhance project quality, including participation in project teams.
• Act as a resource person for climate change adaptation.

1. Knowledge Generation and Sharing

• Develop knowledge products, services and partnerships to implement the objectives of the environment policy and promote climate change adaptation.
• Conduct training and capacity building activities for staff, executing agencies of developing member countries (DMCs), and other concerned parties on environmental management, including climate change adaptation, and safeguard issues.

1. Regional Cooperation

• Process and implement regional technical assistance (RETA) projects to address climate change adaptation and deliver global and regional public goods.

1. Staff Supervision

• Provide leadership and support to reporting staff
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance
• Ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.

3. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

A university degree in environmental management, environment policy, environmental engineering, environmental economics or related fields; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent

4. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Multidisciplinary competence combined with broad expertise in the environmental management of projects in several sectors.
• Broad experience in environmental management, including climate change adaptation issues.
• Significant experience in environmental assessment of complex/sensitive projects.
• Knowledge of policy and regulatory frameworks for environmental management in DMCs, environmental standards and good practices.
• Familiarity with the operations, policies and procedures of multilateral financing institutions, and experience in processing and implementation of loans and technical assistance projects.
• Strong interpersonal, conceptual and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• International experience working in development in several countries in Asia and the Pacific.

5. CORE COMPETENCIES:

Technical Knowledge and Skills
- Able to lead others to solve complex problems using technical knowledge and skills relating to environmentally sustainable development and poverty reduction.
- Applies a high level of technical expertise in work related to the environment.
- Uses technical expertise to advise and support Country teams and DMCs in developing policy, and in project design

Client Orientation
- Focuses own and other efforts on understanding and meeting client needs in DMCs (e.g. government agencies, private sector parties, NGOs)
- Able to work effectively with clients
- Seeks feedback on the quality of service and makes improvements

Achieving Results
- Ensures own work contributes to achieving Divisional results
- Regularly reviews progress to ensure work is on target
- Prioritizes own and others’ work to achieve key results areas

Working Together
- Develops the team skills of team members
- Encourages cooperation within and between teams and promotes the value of diversity in teams, such as in different views, culture, nationality, and gender
- Facilitates conflict resolution within the team

Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Helps staff to find a variety of ways to learn and develop
- Empowers staff to make improvements
- Encourages the team to learn from each other

6. IMMEDIATE REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

The position reports to: Director, RSES The following staff positions report to the Environment Specialist: National Officers and Administrative Staff.