Principal Environmental Specialist, South America Region

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in over 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC is seeking a Principal Environmental Specialist to provide support to high risk infrastructure, manufacturing, services and agribusiness-related transactions in the South America region. This professional will be a senior member of the regional team providing guidance to clients and IFC’s investment and advisory teams on E&S risk management in the sectors listed, in alignment with IFC Performance Standards and Sustainability Policy with the aim enhancing E&S outcomes of IFC-supported investments and advisory mandates. 

The Principal Environmental Specialist will support in strategic decision making about environmental risk management across the lending portfolio, promote building environmental sustainability into project design and implementation, support the use of sound environmental assessment methodologies across sectors and countries, and lead knowledge and learning initiatives. This position will report to the ESG Regional Manager for the South America region.

Duties and Accountabilities

•  Provide technical advice and lead complex and challenging environmental risks and impacts in new investments and select advisory engagements in multiple sectors, including infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, services, agribusiness and financing intermediaries, and identification and development of risk mitigation measures commensurate to the level of risks solutions.
•  Lead E&S project teams for large and complex new investment and select advisory projects, ensuring effective E&S risk management support to teams and Management, and sound and value-add solutions to clients.
•  Proactively monitor the environmental performance of multiple high-risk portfolio projects and clients across the region.
•  Distill broader E&S risk trends in IFC’s portfolio; provide input to portfolio analysis and trends at portfolio management reviews.
•  Consistently demonstrate high visibility and leadership on ESG in the region, with a clear solution-oriented approach.
•  Provide guidance and leadership through mentoring and coaching staff and consultants to ensure high quality of work performed by the team.
•  Support teams and clients to pro-actively respond and find solutions to stakeholder grievances submitted to client, IFC or CAO. 
•  Participate in strategic decision making regarding IFC role in advisory and upstream support to enhance E&S risk management performance. Where relevant support the development of appropriate solutions.
•  Provide expert input into the preparation of policy interpretation notes on environmental topics and contribute to the corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned from project work. 
•  Represent IFC at relevant external technical forums; develop position paper(s) in area of expertise.
•  In coordination with industry and advisory teams, build capacity with clients on E&S risk management, including clients’ monitoring and evaluation of E&S activities and outcomes.