Manager - E&S Risk Management - req38387

The World Bank Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The World Bank Group in Washington, DC invites a Manager to lead its Environmental and Social (E&S) Risk Management unit within the CRO's E&S Risk Department. The role requires steering risk oversight across projects, guiding regional teams, and coordinating with CAO and Inspection Panel processes.

We seek a senior professional with at least 12 years in international settings, advanced environmental studies, and proven leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder programs.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in environmental science or related field is required.
• 12+ years of international experience in public/private multilateral settings.
• Experience managing environmental or social risks across multi-stakeholder projects.
• Ability to travel and represent WBG to external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the E&S Risk Management team and oversee specialists.
• Oversee E&S risk across the World Bank Group project portfolio.
• Collaborate with regional teams and ensure transparency in project lifecycles.
• Engage CAO and Inspection Panel processes and clearance of responses.
• Provide strategic leadership aligned with WBG policies and standards.
• Guide risk ratings and supervise responses to high-risk projects.

Skills

Leadership

People management

ESG knowledge

Public speaking

Education

Master's or PhD in environmental science or related field

Job description

Manager - E&S Risk Management

Job #: req38387

Organization: World Bank Group

Sector: Risk

Grade: GH

Term Duration: Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP)

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s)

Closing Date: 10/5/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

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 (E&S) risk oversight within its Chief Risk Officer (CRO) function. 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 a Manager to lead its E&S Risk Management unit.

Duties And Accountabilities

• Team Leadership and Management: The Manager will lead the E&S Risk Management team, oversee specialists and manage all aspects related to team performance, including budget allocation, staffing decisions, and work planning. S/he will also supervise a group of E&S staff, providing guidance and support in performance evaluations, onboarding, training, professional development, and handling various administrative tasks.
• Oversight of Environmental and Social Risk Management: Key responsibilities include the overall oversight and management of E&S risks across the WBG project portfolio through the Integrated Risk Information System. S/he will intervene and collaborate with regional E&S teams to address complex and high-risk situations in portfolio projects, with the goal of improving E&S performance. The manager will work with specialists a) to identify systemic issues (through periodic portfolio reviews), b) designing and supporting corrective actions in collaboration with regional teams and ensuring transparency throughout the project lifecycle.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Accountability: The Manager will be lead, oversee and support the regional teams in management of direct complaints and overseeing cases handled by the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and the Inspection Panel (IP). The Manager will be responsible for the clearance of management responses and actions for direct complaints. The Manager will support the WBG E&S Director in clearing and approving responses to CAO and Inspection Panel compliance cases.
• Strategic Leadership and Policy Alignment: Working in collaboration with E&S Risk Officers, the Manager provides strategic leadership and guidance to ensure effective social and environmental risk management in line with WBG policies and E&S review procedures. This will include (but not be limited to) a) assigning appropriate E&S risk and performance ratings; b) providing clearance at defined administrative touchpoints during the project lifecycle; c) working closely with regional teams on complaints and complex projects; and d) coordination with WBG’s global policy unit to maintain consistent E&S standards and supporting their application through WBG operations.
• Support for High-Risk and Complex Projects: For high-risk or complex projects, the Manager, in collaboration with regional E&S managers guides regional project teams in applying WBG policies and procedures and standards, ensuring ongoing compliance with E&S risk requirements. Internally, S/he will assign and collaborate with E&S special operations and response teams to address issues in complex cases and high-risk projects, working proactively with regional teams to improve E&S performance.
• Portfolio Risk Management and Representation: The Manager works closely with regional E&S teams to manage E&S risks for WBG operations, identify systemic and emerging portfolio risks, and support risk reviews and the implementation of corrective actions. Additionally, the Manager represents the WBG to maintain its leadership position in environmental and social risk management and assures stakeholders that WBG projects adhere to environmental and social responsibility standards.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in environmental science or a related field is required. At least 12 years of international experience in the public sector, private sector, and multilateral development finance, with a focus on environmental and social management.
• Experience managing environmental or social risks, with significant involvement in E&S issues for complex, multi-stakeholder projects across various sectors and regions.
• Experience in development activities aligned with the mission, strategy, and values of World Bank Group E&S Policies and Standards.
• Leadership and people management experience in large, diverse, and technical organizational settings.
• Ability to provide intellectual leadership, support talent development, motivate teams across locations, mentor colleagues, and promote new organizational practices.
• Knowledge of WBG markets, including FCS and IDA countries.
• Proficiency in written, verbal, and public speaking skills, with the capacity to represent WBG in global and regional ESG forums.
• Experience representing WBG to external clients, government authorities, stakeholders, and critics.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Compliance with World Bank Group managerial selection criteria, such as effective team leadership, cross-functional influence, openness to innovation, and commitment to developing emerging talent.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

WBG Culture Attributes

• Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
• Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

WBG Five Managerial 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 the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.