Principal Environmental and Social Specialist, ESD (SSA)

The role of the Principal Environmental and Social Specialist is situated within the Environmental and Social Department (ESD). The Principal will collaborate with Associate Directors, Heads of Sector, and Directors within the relevant ESD team to ensure the Bank delivers on its commitments under its Environmental and Social Policy. This role encompasses the environmental and social appraisal and monitoring of the Bank's portfolio of projects and activities across various sectors, along with the oversight and verification of the Bank's approaches, assessments, monitoring, reporting, and verification processes related to environmental, social, green, and other commitments relevant to the ESD's mandate. The Principal will provide expert specialist input to the appraisal and monitoring of a wide array of projects and sectors, particularly complex and high-risk projects.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Under the direction of an Associate Director Head, the Principal will:

• Provide specialist input to projects, Technical Cooperation’s (TCs), tasks, and initiatives, including complex and high-risk projects and TCs. They may work individually or with assigned support of Analysts or Associates.
• When acting as a facilitator on an aspect of work, bear full responsibility for managing the delivery of a particular sub-project, project, task, or activity. This includes contributing to assessment of Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) compliance, E&S risks impacts and opportunities; climate and nature risks, Paris Alignment, and green finance attribution; monitoring, verification and reporting; and assurance.
• Coordinate project and consultant teams, conduct and/or contribute analytical, scientific, and technical reviews and appraisals, develop methodologies, monitor outputs/outcomes, contribute specialist input, manage data, review, and develop internal and external publications, and negotiate E&S contract terms.
• Undertake work travel independently, as required.
• As delegated by the Director or Associate Director Head, represent ESD internally and externally at various fora, including project, client, lender, and stakeholder meetings and other events.
• Take responsibility for specific thematic policy and/or safeguard areas as assigned.
• Support internal and external capacity building initiatives and mentor and coach staff on environmental, social, and green finance matters.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of internal processes and procedures, including the streamlining, collection, management, and automation of data.
• Prepare internal and external reports on the Bank’s reporting approach and methodologies.
• Work in line with the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in environmental and/or social sciences/economics, engineering, or a related field or comparable professional experience.
• Proven track-record in appraising complex environmental and social risks and impacts of a range of projects and/or sectors.
• Knowledge of international good practice environmental, social and climate standards/guidelines (e.g., European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Environmental and Social Requirements, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards, Equator Principles, Paris Agreement alignment, Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), International Sustainability Standards Board (SSB), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), sector guidelines, etc).
• Knowledge and experience applying financing instruments, approaches, and processes as well as IFI, or similar, policies and procedures.
• Excellent knowledge of environmental and social thematic policy and safeguard areas and the risks and impacts of various sectors.
• In-depth understanding of the scientific, economic, and political dimensions of environmental and social issues, and ability to apply those to the assessment of EBRD investment projects.
• Familiarity with the countries in which the Bank operates / plans to operate.
• Track record in project management, leading/contributing to multi-disciplinary teams and delivering a solution-orientated and risk-assessment based approach.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work independently or lead or be part of a team.
• Effective time management and organisational skills and ability to multi-task and delegate tasks.
• Excellent written and spoken English. Familiarity with a language of the EBRD countries of operations would be advantageous and, for a resident office appointment, local language fluency will be required.
• Demonstrated experience communicating complex policy and technical issues to a wide range of stakeholders verbally and in writing; ability to build consensus and reach agreement in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Substantial analytical and quantitative skills.
• Experience mentoring and coaching less experienced staff.
• Ability to transfer previous external experience into the EBRD context.
• Proactive in anticipating problems and tackling those to avoid escalation.
• Demonstrable experience in negotiations, persuasion, and influence skills in internal and external engagement activities to deliver the team’s and Bank’s objectives, based on effective communication skills.