Policy Officer - Environment- Washington

Location:	Washington, DC
Closing Date:	02/23/2012
Background / General description:
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. In fiscal 2011, amid economic uncertainty across the globe, we helped our clients create jobs, strengthen environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities—all while driving our investments to an all-time high of nearly $19 billion. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), as a part of the World Bank Group, supports poverty alleviation and economic growth by promoting private sector investment in developing countries through investment and advisory services. IFC finances projects that are commercially viable and environmentally and socially sound while contributing to sustainable development. Through its Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability, IFC’s Environment, Social and Governance Department (CES) ensures that the Corporation’s activities meet the requirements of its Performance Standards. CES also offers a wide range of expertise to help clients to identify and solve complex environmental and social problems, and to find value-added opportunities in their business operations. The Policy and Quality Assurance Division (CESPQ) within CES coordinates policy aspects, quality assurance, and knowledge management related to environmental and social standards, including engagement and outreach with external stakeholders and partner institutions. IFC has recently revised and updated its Sustainability Framework, consisting of the Sustainability and Access to Information Policies which apply to IFC, and eight Performance Standards which apply to IFC’s clients.
Duties and Accountabilities:
• Contribute to the department’s strategic agenda on sustainability leadership, with particular focus on emerging environmental trends, issues, and risks facing the private sector in emerging markets. • Support the CESPQ Manager and Policy Team Leader in engagement and outreach with external stakeholders and partner institutions on IFC’s sustainability framework and other policy issues. • Work with the Quality Assurance team to analyze and identify trends in implementation of the Performance Standards for internal learning and dissemination purposes. • Manage an update process of select Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines; • Participate in the delivery of internal and external training and/or presentations on IFC’s Sustainability Framework as required • Support/lead/manage and/or provide technical quality review of environment-related knowledge products including Guidance Notes, Handbooks, Interpretation Notes and other materials supporting the Sustainability Framework; • Maintain close collaboration with CES project specialists including participation in peer review meetings and sectoral/thematic practice groups to ensure that current operational lessons and implementation practice informs policy work on an ongoing basis • Support the roll-out of relevant policy aspects related to the IFC’s Implementation Action Plan for the revised Sustainability Framework.
Selection Criteria:
• Postgraduate degree in relevant discipline (e.g. environmental sciences, environmental policy, international development, etc.) • At least 10 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience; • Technical expertise across a number of thematic areas central to IFC’s environmental and social standards (e.g. biodiversity, resource efficiency, climate change, environmental and social management systems, supply chains, environmental assessment, etc.) • Operational experience in private sector development and emerging market contexts • Experience in developing policy and internal procedures; • Good working knowledge of IFC’s Sustainability Framework; • Excellent analytical, technical and writing skills, with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations; • Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work with effectively within and across teams and cultivate good working relations with clients and colleagues. • Demonstrated political awareness and ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and to otherwise cultivate effective, productive client relationships and partnerships. Only online applications are accepted. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.
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