Senior Environmental Specialist

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 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, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. 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.  Visit www.worldbank.org.

About the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and programs that address biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and adaptation, degradation of international waters, land and forests, ozone depletion, elimination or reduction of persistent organic pollutants and mercury, all within the framework of sustainable development.

The GEF unites 186 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. An independently operating financial organization, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for five international environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Minamata Convention on Mercury. GEF is also a designated financial mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The GEF Secretariat is a Vice-Presidential Unit (VPU) within the World Bank for administrative purposes and has approximately 100 professional, administrative and client support staff. The Secretariat has established an Integration and Knowledge Division (IKD) to strengthen and harness the integrated approach programming for tackling major drivers of global environmental degradation. A key focus of the integrated approach programs is to influence transformative changes in systems that drive such degradation. This includes natural, food, urban, health, and energy systems.

The Secretariat is seeking a Senior Environmental Specialist to lead and coordinate thematic work on systems transformation through the integrated approach programs, focusing on all aspects of circular economy in the context of tackling drivers with links to the GEF focal areas. The successful individual will serve as Theme Lead reporting directly to the Manager of Integration and Knowledge and work closely with staff across divisions to ensure that circularity and systems thinking are embedded in GEF Programming focused on tackling drivers of global environmental degradation.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Under the supervision of the Manager for Integration and Knowledge, the position has the following specific responsibilities:

• Lead and support programming and portfolio management on embedding circularity in targeted systems and sectoral supply chains, including guidance to GEF implementing and Executing Agencies and country counterparts on options and approaches to advance integrated solutions.
• Lead the development of appropriate indicators for circular economy and systems change as they relate to the GEF core indicator targets and results monitoring framework.
• Provide guidance on circular economy and integrated solutions to GEF Agencies and countries for development of GEF project proposals and programmatic approaches and for monitoring the project implementation performance.
• Lead the development of impactful knowledge products to advance circularity and systems change, including documentation of best practices and lessons and contribute to the preparation of appropriate GEF policies and guidelines on integrated programming.
• In coordination with the Conventions and Program Divisions, follow relevant global discourse on circular economy and support outreach to developing countries as needed.
• Establish and maintain a productive dialogue with the GEF Agencies and Countries and key stakeholders, including key private sector initiatives and platforms, to leverage opportunities for GEF integrated programs.
• Lead and promote regular and informed communication about GEF investments in circular economy practices.
• As required, represent the GEF at a senior level at selected international political, scientific, and operational forums.
• Provide quality inputs to the CEO and senior management on country and thematic briefings, talking points, speeches, analytical/strategic documents.
• Undertake additional duties as required by GEF Secretariat Management, including participation in Knowledge Management, Results Based Management, Monitoring, and other related operational activities.