Sr Environmental Specialist

• Job #130022
• Job TitleSr Environmental Specialist
• Job FamilyEnvironment
• Job TypeProfessional & Technical
• GradeGG
• LocationWashington, DC
• Recruitment TypeInternational Hire
• Language RequirementEnglish [Essential]; French [Desired]; Portuguese [Desired]; Spanish [Desired]
• Closing Date05-Feb-2013

Background / General description:
The Global Environment Facility (GEF), a multilateral financial mechanism established in 1991. It provides grants to developing countries for projects and programs that protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to six focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Since its inception, the GEF has committed close to $11 billion in grants in more than 160 developing countries and transitional economies. Resources for the GEF Trust Fund, which finances the GEF’s programs and projects, are replenished every four years. Pledged funding for GEF activities in the period 2010-2014 is $4.25 billion (fifth replenishment period). The GEF is open to universal membership, and currently 182 countries are members. It is governed by a Council comprising 32 Members appointed by constituencies of GEF member countries. An Assembly of all member countries meets every four years at the ministerial level. Ten agencies are principally accountable for the execution of GEF projects: the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank (IBRD/IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The Natural Resources team is responsible for GEF’s strategic and technical work in the areas of biodiversity, international waters and sustainable land management, in addition to those promoting sustainable forest management and preventing deforestation. The present position in the Natural Resources (NR) Team of the GEF Secretariat will support the implementation of GEF’s objectives in the area of International Waters (IW), particularly by helping countries to work together in overcoming tensions related to natural resources use in large water systems. The International Waters focal area seeks to deliver positive results in the adequate management of transboundary surface water basins, groundwater basins, coastal and marine systems, and marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, and to enable countries to share their benefits. The ultimate goal of the International Waters focal area is the promotion of collective management of transboundary water systems and subsequent implementation of the full range of policy, legal and institutional reforms and investments contributing to sustainable use and maintenance of ecosystem services.
Duties and Accountabilities:
• Review project and program proposals on International Waters submitted for Work Program Inclusion, as well as those returning for CEO endorsement, making sure that they are consistent with the GEF’s operational principles and requirements, and make recommendations to the Team Leader and CEO on the next steps. • Support the development of the International Waters focal area strategy for submission to the next replenishment period of the GEF Trust Fund; • As a member of the Natural Resources Team, support the implementation of GEF policies, strategies, and guidelines on International Waters; b) Participate in the management of the IW portfolio at the GEF Secretariat; and c) become part one of the regional NR team clusters responsible for managing and tracking projects across all NR focal areas. • Support the relations between the GEF and existing joint legal and institutional frameworks on transboundary water bodies, or help with the establishment of new ones. • Contribute strategic and operational advice to the GEF agencies on the development and design of eligible projects and programs on International Waters. • Undertake analytical work on International Water issues, including issues of regional and global scales. • Provide upstream guidance and advice to the GEF agencies on the development and design of project concepts and help to synthesize best practices for dissemination.
Selection Criteria:
COMPETENCIES • Water Economics - Deep understanding of most of the economic concepts relevant to water, with significant experience. • Water Resources Management and Monitoring - Extensive experience in water resources management and monitoring, with depth in at least one subtopic; ability mitigate risk or overcome difficult challenges and provide policy-related decisions and advice. • Natural Resources Management - Broad experience in natural resources management, including depth in at least one area, with ability to apply this knowledge to policy-related decisions and advice. • Operational Project Management - Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies, as well as of Bank instruments and processes related to project preparation & implementation, resource management, and stakeholder communications. • Team Leadership - Leads teams to achieve challenging outcomes, providing a role model and enhancing the team-leadership skills of team members. • Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge. • Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables. • Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. • Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels. • Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term. OTHER SELECTION CRITERIA • Post graduate degree in one or more of the Environmental Sciences, preferably Ph.D., with at least 8 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree, with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience. • Ability to deal with a range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies, developing country counterparts, and NGOs would be an advantage. • Ability to think analytically, strategically, and programmatically. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to communicate complex issues to a wide range of audiences. Second language (French, Spanish or Portuguese) is highly desirable. • Ability to work independently on complex tasks on tight deadlines. • Demonstrated ability to function as a team player within and across teams. • Ability to work in a multicultural environment in an international setting; • Working knowledge of the operations of the Global Environment Facility and its Agencies.

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