ESG Strategy & Safeguards Consultant

CGIAR; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Potato Center (CIP) seeks an ESG & Environmental and Social Management Consultant (Phase 1) to diagnose CIP's current state against ISO 14001, ESG maturity, GCF readiness, and donor expectations. The consultant will deliver a validated current-state assessment, a gap analysis, a draft ESG/ESM policy, and a management briefing with Phase 2/3 recommendations.

The engagement covers 25 working days over 4–6 weeks, starting around September 21, 2026, with Phase 1 completing

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent professional qualification in environmental management, ESG, sustainability, environmental and social safeguards, climate finance, international development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with ISO 14001 systems and conducting ISO readiness/gap assessments.
• At least substantive experience of 10 years with environmental and social management systems and safeguards, and strong knowledge of IFC Performance Standards or comparable MDB safeguard frameworks.
• Familiarity with GCF environmental, social and institutional requirements, and with gender, stakeholder engagement, grievance and safeguarding requirements in international development.
• Experience with ESG/ESMS institutional maturity assessments, policy and roadmap development, and integrating safeguards into project and partner-management processes.
• Ability to translate international standards into proportionate operational requirements; Excellent written and spoken English, with strong facilitation and communication skills at senior-management level.
• Experience with CGIAR, international agricultural research organizations, MDBs, climate-finance institutions, or similarly decentralized international organizations.
• An excellent, collaborative working environment

Responsibilities

• Establish CIP's current-state maturity against ISO 14001 and ESG readiness.
• Perform integrated gap analysis (ISO/ESG/GCF and donor requirements).
• Draft CIP ESG/Environmental and Social Management Policy.
• Prepare management briefing with Phase 2/3 scope recommendations.
• Coordinate Phase 2/3 scoping and sequencing based on Phase 1 findings.

Skills

ISO 14001 familiarity

IFC Performance Standards knowledge

GCF safeguards knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Senior-management communication

Education

Advanced degree in environmental management or related field

Job description

The International Potato Center (CIP) seeks an ESG & Environmental and Social Management Consultant (Phase 1) to diagnose CIP's current state against ISO 14001, ESG maturity, GCF readiness, and donor expectations. The consultant will deliver a validated current-state assessment, a gap analysis, a draft ESG/ESM policy, and a management briefing with Phase 2/3 recommendations.

The engagement covers 25 working days over 4–6 weeks, starting around September 21, 2026, with Phase 1 completing