Environmental and Social Development Specialist, Washington, DC

World Bank Group; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

World Bank Group is seeking an Environmental and Social Development Specialist to support E S risk management across regional transactions. The role involves evaluating E S documentation, monitoring progress, and advising on risk mitigation within a multidisciplinary team.

You will work with senior E S risk specialists and report to the E S Risk Manager for the Africa region, contributing to cross-cutting risk assessments and high-quality work products.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in sustainability and E&S risk management.
• Graduate/advanced degree in environment or social discipline or related field.
• Experience in environmental and/or social risk management across complex transactions.

Responsibilities

• Review project E&S documentation and monitoring reports, providing technical opinions.
• Maintain oversight of portfolio projects to identify risks and trends.
• Support regional supervision program reviews and Senior Management Portfolio Reviews.
• Contribute to development of risk dashboards for senior leadership.

Skills

Sustainability risk management

IFC Sustainability Framework

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

English communication

Travel willingness

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Integrity and discretion

Education

Graduate degree in environment or social discipline

Job description

Environmental and Social Development Specialist

Job #: req38730

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Environment

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 0 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 10/29/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.

The WBG Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Vice Presidency is the core unit responsible for Group-wide institutional risk oversight, including establishment and monitoring adherence to risk policies and guidelines and risk assessment and reporting to the Board and executive management. Its mission is to enable and support the WBG to achieve its goals in a financially sustainable manner. The VPU assists management with identifying and managing Group-wide cross-cutting risks, enhancing risk response decisions, reducing financial and operational surprises and losses, seizing opportunities and improving deployment of capital. The WBG CRO Vice Presidency includes the IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA risk teams and covers a wide range of financial and non-financial risks.

To enhance accountability and credibility, the World Bank Group (WBG) has established an independent second line of environmental and social risk oversight within its Chief Risk Officer (CRO) function called CROES. While operational teams at the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA are responsible for designing and implementing projects in accordance with E&S policies, the newly formed E&S Risk Department—led by the WBG Global Director for Environment and Social Risk—oversees, monitors, and evaluates E&S risk and performance. The department is currently seeking an E&S development specialist for performing E&S risk management function for regional transactions.

CROES is looking for an experienced, dynamic and motivated E&S development professionals with sound technical judgement and relevant experience in E&S risk management and supervision. The selected candidate will work as part of a seasoned team, guided by Senior E&S Risk specialists and will report to the E&S Risk Manager for the Africa region.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Support in review of project E&S documentation (due diligence reports, ESIA/RAP/other specialist studies), monitoring reports/site supervision visits (SSVs)/E&S ratings/management responses to grievances and providing qualified technical opinions on E&S matters (e.g. risk and mitigants as proposed for projects, disclosure documents, board papers, E&S provisions in legal agreements, etc.).
• Keep an active oversight of portfolio projects through review of portfolio projects to identify trends and issues in sectors/regions/themes etc. Support the lead/senior risk officer in assigning and reviewing E&S performance risk ratings for projects.
• Support in Senior Management Portfolio Reviews.
• Contributing to regional supervision program reviews.
• Support as technical specialist the lead/senior risk officer in complex projects together with regional E&S teams.
• Input to the Integrated Risk (IR) Dashboard that will provide WBG senior leadership and the Enterprise Risk Committee with a consolidated, actionable view of E&S risks across all WBG operations (IBRD/IDA, IFC, MIGA).
• Supporting and contributing to development of high-quality work products that clearly and logically frame and concisely communicate risks and mitigants.

Grievance Response

Supporting lead/senior ESROs and the Accountability and Engagement function in monitoring projects with CAO or direct E&S complaints and work with project teams, particularly the E&S regional specialists in solutions and addressing non-compliances.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, including private sector experience in sustainability and E&S risk management:
• Candidates with a focus in the environmental and/or social aspects should have a graduate/advanced degree in environment or social discipline and/or natural resource management, environmental and/or social policy, or similar relevant disciplines as well as proven experience in one or more areas of Social and Environmental risk management, such as: environment, health and safety (EHS); risk assessment; occupational, health and safety (OHS); due diligence, environmental site assessment, and compliance audits;
• Candidates with a focus on social aspects should have a graduate/advanced degree in social sciences, anthropology, sociology or other related relevant discipline as well as proven experience related to one or more areas of social risk management, such as: stakeholder engagement, labor and working conditions, gender, involuntary resettlement, Indigenous Peoples and cultural heritage.;
• Familiarity and proven experience in managing E&S issues related to complex transactions involving infrastructure, extractives, manufacturing, agribusiness, and/or services sectors.;
• Knowledge of IFC’s Sustainability Framework and Performance Standards including requirements for Financial Intermediaries is desired.;
• Good analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse information sources, and draw conclusions from sometimes limited data.;
• Willingness to travel and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines.;
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail.;
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely in spoken and written English is essential. Additional language skills are desirable.;
• Good interpersonal, listening and communication skills include the ability to relate well with a wide range of internal and external parties;
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team.;
• High personal integrity and emotional intelligence, with demonstrated ability to handle sensitive matters in a discreet and respectful manner.;

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 World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.