Senior Climate Change Specialist

Senior Climate Change Specialist

Job #:
req29019

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Climate Change

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s):

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
9/5/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Sustainable Development Practice Group:

The Sustainable Development (SD) Practice Group (PG) helps countries address their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion and Water.

The Climate Change Group:

The Climate Change Group (CCG) in the World Bank helps client countries recognize, prepare for, and respond to the risks that climate change poses. With CCG support, the Bank mobilizes the necessary public and private finance, provides technical assistance, and utilizes its convening power to support countries in their transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways.

The Climate Change Operationalization Unit:

Within the CCG, the Climate Change Operationalization Unit (SCCOP) plays a key role in both setting and delivering the Bank's climate mandate as established in the CCAP. The unit works closely with the CCG Leadership and the Bank's Senior Management and supports: (i) the development of policies, strategies, and technical approaches for mainstreaming climate action in WBG investment operations, (ii) the Bank's regional operations and global practices for scaling-up the delivery of climate finance and climate knowledge, and (iii) the task teams for designing and implementing climate-related operations.

SCCOP, in coordination with internal and external stakeholders, also provides technical leadership on selected analytical and advisory activities, including in the fields of climate mitigation and adaptation. The unit provides hands-on expertise to operational teams preparing projects working throughout the project cycle from concept to implementation to ensure climate considerations are incorporated, and helps teams preparing projects or country diagnostics to meet the WBG's corporate requirements on climate and disaster risk screening, greenhouse gas accounting, incorporation of a shadow price of carbon in the economic analysis, tracking of climate finance (i.e., climate co-benefits) and going forward, alignment of Bank operations with the goals of the Paris Agreement. SCCOP also supports corporate reporting, especially around policy commitments, climate targets, results, and impacts.

About the Position:

SCCOP is seeking to recruit two highly motivated Senior Climate Change Specialists to support the unit in delivering the World Bank's climate mainstreaming agenda. In addition to having technical mastery of climate change and deep knowledge of the World Bank operations, the successful candidate is expected to have a strong drive for results and attention to detail, as well as excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills. The Senior Climate Change Specialists will report directly to the SCCOP Practice Manager. The positions can be based in Washington DC or Paris subject to management discretion and based on business needs.

Duties & Accountabilities

• Provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership to relevant workstreams within SCCOP.
• Support the implementation of the CCAP. This includes leading the monitoring and reporting of climate commitments, the delivery of climate co-benefits, corporate scorecard, results monitoring system, Paris Alignment, and others, working closely with internal and external stakeholders such as OPCS, MIGA, and IFC.
• Provide technical expertise to GPs and regions to mainstream climate and deliver scaled-up climate finance, climate risk screening, GHG accounting, climate indicators.
• Support the development of consistent approaches across the WBG to measure and report on the climate impact of our investments and technical assistance in client countries.
• Support the development of analytical programs related to long-term climate strategies, mitigation and adaptation risk, abatement of methane emissions, development of loss and damage approaches, scaling up nature and biodiversity aspects, and support their operationalization.
• Build effective relationships with key external and internal partners - such as the Bank's Global Practices, Country Management Units, OPCS, IFC, MIGA, Multilateral Development Bank Groups, civil society, and media.
• Represent the unit's business needs and influence policy and partnership outcomes at internal and external platforms, when needed.
• Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

• In addition to meeting all Bank-wide Grade GG level position criteria, the candidate is expected to have a master's or Ph.D. degree in a technical field such as engineering, economics, finance, public administration, or another field relevant to climate, and typically the successful candidate will have 8+ years of experience in positions of increasing complexity and responsibility.
• Strong operational and analytical skills and superior client orientation developed through diverse experience working across Bank regions, GPs, and corporate units.
• Comprehensive understanding of existing and emerging climate change (mitigation and adaption) policies, strategies, methodologies, institutions, finance, governance, and regulations.
• Demonstrated track record of influencing design and execution of climate related policy, investment (including trust funded programs), and/or research initiatives.
• Experience of conceiving and promoting innovations in development policies and in project design and implementation to improve operational and sector work.
• Demonstrated in-depth experience working across practice and disciplinary boundaries and with multiple stakeholders - public, private, and civil society - in building collaborative alliances for results.
• High degree of team leadership skills, characterized by demonstrated track record of inclusivity, a diplomatic approach to problem-solving, energetic, and creative approaches to team building, trusted mentorship, and an ability to help teams and individuals adapt to change.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.
• Strong communication, inter-personal, diplomatic, and partnership skills, including ability to write quickly and concisely to synthesize complex documentation and ideas for a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in speaking and writing to senior management, government officials, donor partners, including in difficult environments.
• Excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken. Fluency in an additional language common to the Bank would be an asset.

Required Competencies:
• Technical Leadership - Provide intellectual and technical leadership for SCCOP on the role of climate in the economy and in poverty reduction, bringing an integrative perspective to mainstreaming climate change in Bank operations.
• Policy and Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with partner institutions, government representatives and other stakeholders.
• Integrative Skills - Works to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.
• Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to external and internal client requests and needs, working to remove obstacles that impede execution or overall success. Proactively guides clients to see the possibilities in new approaches and solutions.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound logical decision-making regarding own and others' work.
• Collaborate within Teams and Across Boundaries - Clearly articulates and models expectations of collaborative behavior and recognizes collaboration and the contributions of others.
• Create, Apply, and Share Knowledge - Leverages external knowledge and partnerships to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients. Is known across WBG and is routinely sought out by colleagues to advise, peer review, or contribute to knowledge products of others.
• Make Smart Decision - Demonstrated ability to make informed and considered decisions in a timely manner and in ways that drive positive impact.
• Research Temperament/Intellectual Curiosity - Has demonstrated an aptitude for research through academic studies and/or written publications and/or conferences.
• Written and Verbal Communication - Delivers information effectively, including an ability to identify topical policy issues and articulate policy analysis, including in clear written form.
• Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs.

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.

This internal requisition is open to WBG andIMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case anexternal candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

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.