Environment Specialist

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Close relatives1 of ADB staff, except spouses of international staff, are not eligible for recruitment and appointment to staff positions. Applicants are expected to disclose if they have any relative/s by consanguinity/blood, by adoption and/or by affinity/marriage presently employed in ADB.

1Close relatives refer to spouse, children, mother, father, brother and sister, niece, nephew, aunt and uncle

 Staff on probation are not eligible to apply. Applicants for promotion must have served at their position for at least one year and must have normally served at their personal level for at least two years immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date. Applicants for lateral transfer must have served at their position and personal level for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the vacancy closing date (reference A.O. 2.03, paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9).

In the event that the staff appointed to a new category (i.e. from AS to NS, or from NS to IS) is rated at 2 or lower in the first two performance reviews after appointment at the new level, they will return to the level occupied immediately prior to their appointment in the new category.

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.  ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

 ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Division (EAER) in the East Asia Regional Department (EARD). EAER provides lending and non-lending assistance in agricultural and rural development, and environmental protection and natural resources management. Under agricultural and rural development, EAER specifically operates in (i) sustainable agricultural production and market development; and (ii) agricultural infrastructure (e.g., irrigation, drainage, and access roads) development and management. Under environmental protection and natural resources management, EAER operates in (i) policy, institutional, and technology development of environmental management (e.g., waste and wastewater management, soil contamination control, emission trading, and payment for environmental services); (ii) natural resources management, including natural capital, forestry development, integrated water resource management, wetland and/or lakes conservation, and biodiversity and ecosystem management; (iii) climate change adaptation and mitigation with a focus on enhanced resilience for ecosystems and project interventions; and (vi) natural disaster risk management. EAER also assists developing projects for climate change adaptation and mitigation; and incorporating feasible adaptation and mitigation measures (e.g., greenhouse gas reduction, carbon sequestration, and land degradation improvement) in its operation. EAER contributes to ADB’s expanding role as a “knowledge bank” and provides policy support and assistance in knowledge development through its accumulated operational experience. 

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Environment Specialist will (i) be responsible for coordination, management, and oversight of environmental safeguards for the loan and grant funded projects processed and administered by EAER, ensuring that environmental issues are adequately addressed and incorporated in the division activities; and (ii) provide substantive technical input and analyses to support the planning and development of ADB’s policies and strategies on environment within general policies, principles and goals. At least initially, the position will focus primarily on the responsibilities for environment safeguards; pending workload, the specialist may also be assigned to process and/or administer projects. Work within a framework of broad policies, principles and goals, applying a high degree of autonomy in selection of work methods. The incumbent will report to the Director, EAER and will supervise National and Administrative Staff.

Responsibilities

• Leads preparation of project environment safeguard and climate risk screening and categorization documents for EAER loans and grants; facilities ADB peer review meetings to confirm the categorizations and for review of draft project safeguard documents; and coordinates with relevant ADB departments for timely issuance of required compliance memos.
• Prepares consultant terms of reference; and coordinates the work of project environment safeguard consultants.
• Ensures quality assurance for project initial environmental examinations (IEEs)/summary initial environmental examinations (SIEEs) and environmental impact assessments (EIAs)/ summary environmental impact assessments (SEIAs), as well as on the climate assessment reports for the projects.
• Reviews project environmental impacts and the recommended environmental management plans and monitoring programs, to ensure that the environmental impacts of ADB-funded projects will be mitigated to acceptable levels.
• Monitors environmental safeguard compliance for EAER projects under administration.
• Participates in project missions for processing and administration, and lead on environment safeguards for the missions.
• Works effectively as a project team member, including the ADB project officer and team, ADB departments, project consultant teams, government agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders as needed.
• When required, supports ADB strategic assessment and planning for environment-related issues including climate change related considerations, including the integration of environmental and related climate issues into country operations; providing inputs to country strategy and sector work; and helping to ensure that environmental and related climate dimensions are adequately reflected in country strategies, sector work and projects.
• Provides guidance and advice to developing member countries (DMCs) on environmental issues and in building and strengthening their capacity for environmental planning and management, especially for environment safeguards.
• Contributes to the preparation of country environmental assessments and briefs.
• Undertakes policy dialogue to assist governments of DMCs on environment policy and safeguards.
• Contributes to effective liaison with resident missions (RMs) for consistency of approach, exchange of experiences, and continuous improvement of practices and integration of environment policy commitments to the management of projects.
• Supports the identification, processing and supervision of grant and TA projects with significant environmental and related climate change dimensions, including supervising consultants and ensuring the high technical quality of outputs.
• Develops and maintains a suitable network of the latest institutional developments in international and national environment and natural resource management of relevance to the division.
• Conducts knowledge dissemination and sharing with governments, multilateral and bilateral organizations, civil society and NGOs on environmental issues and programs.
• Substantially contributes to sector and thematic studies, including EIAs relevant to the division operations, and prepare knowledge products related to environmental issues.
• Substantially contributes knowledge, inputs and insights to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building on environment issues.
• Provides leadership and support to reporting staff.
• Supervises the performance of consultants and, when requested by the EAER Director, for national staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Provides coaching and mentoring to team and individuals and ensure their on-going learning and development. 

 Qualifications

 Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science or other related specialized fields. University degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science or other related fields, combined with at least 5 years specialized experience in similar organization/s may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• At least 8 years’ applied international experience in environmental safeguards design, management, and implementation, preferably with experience in the agricultural and natural resources sector including livestock and crop production, water supply, wastewater management, rural development, and wetland and forest projects.
• Experience in strategic assessment and planning and policy development for natural resources management and the environment.
• International experience working in several countries
• Experience with a multilateral institution's policies and procedures.
• Experience working in developing countries with preference for the PRC and Mongolia
• Significant expertise within a specific area of a multilateral development bank’s operations (economic, sector or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area
• Credible expert in field of expertise with recognized ability to lead projects and to share relevant knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community, in a way which may further enhance ADB’s ability to:
• Recommend effective solutions to address DMCs’ specific economic, sector or thematic needs, based on wide range of experience and proven best practices
• Successfully structure and implement loan and technical assistance projects in a more cost-effective manner
• Manage risks more effectively by understanding DMCs, their environment (including the political, social and technical aspects), development priorities and economic / sector / thematic issues
• Able to coach team members to develop their capabilities/potential
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 4