Global Director, Environment - World Bank : Job Details

Global Director, Environment

Job #: req31624

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Environment

Grade: GI

Term Duration: 4 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC, United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 2/17/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org. The Planet vertical helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Social development and Water.Sustainable environment and natural resources management (ENRM) is at the heart of the World Bank Group (WBG) poverty agenda. Biodiversity and natural resources constitute the social safety net of the poor, representing a food bank and often their only source of livelihood. Sustainable ENRM promotes a green, clean, and resilient world where natural resources—from forests to fisheries, freshwater, oceans, coastal zones and ecosystems—are managed to support livelihoods and strong economies. Sustainable ENRM builds a world better prepared for shocks and global challenges, helping countries limit their exposure to resource scarcity, more-volatile weather patterns, and the long-term consequences of climate change.

The Environment Global Department in the Planet Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) has been set up to deliver on the opportunities, benefits and outcomes offered by enhanced management of the environment and natural resources. The Department has the following business lines:

Duties & Accountabilities:

The Global Director will be accountable for modeling WBG leadership values and managerial behavior and ensuring that the unit delivers on its commitments. Accountability means being answerable for making strategic choices, managing quality, risks, results, institutional initiatives, external and internal resources, and compliance with WBG policies and procedures.

Solutions and Results to Clients:

• Collaborate with the GDs of other Global departments, with the Regional Directors, and with Development Economics (DEC) Vice Presidency, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
• Support the VPU management team in setting the Planet VPU's key strategic priorities to guide institution-wide work and in collaboration with the Country Directors, in establishing global and country goals to ensure alignment with the WBG Strategy and Country Partnership Framework.
• Draw on thought leadership, including leadership of the Global Challenges Program on Forests, and implementation know-how within the Global Directors and across Departments to ensure high impact evidence-based solutions.
• Assist the VPU's management team to build and maintain a balanced portfolio of innovative, cost-effective, and demand-driven products and services.
• Implement quality control processes, including analytical work, technical assistance, and lending operations.
• Ensure availability and maintenance of portfolio, pipeline, staff, and budget information as well as portfolio and practice quality and performance metrics to inform WBG management.
• Represent the VPU on corporate strategic issues, including participation and contribution in the Operations Environmental and Social Review Committee (OESRC), to ensure that operational policies, practices and procedures align with quality service delivery to clients.

People Talent Management:

• Model exemplary WBG leadership values and managerial behavior and reinforces these qualities in the management team and staff.
• Contribute to and implement and monitor compliance with talent management, diversity, and inclusion plans.
• Drive and encourage technical excellence within the GD by creating an environment of learning and innovation that attracts and develops the best talent reflective of the diversity of our clients.
• Coordinate and support the GD management in developing and implementing appropriate strategies for global staffing, deployment, staff learning and development as well as career progression and talent and performance management.

Knowledge Management:

• Engage with Managers, other Regional and Global Directors, and DEC to develop a knowledge and learning strategy and approach for the GD that integrates cross-cutting solution area considerations and multi-sectoral links.
• Ensure timely flow, capture, codification and dissemination of knowledge and expertise so that clients receive the highest quality support and knowledge.
• Support the coordination of innovative and cross-cutting research, as well as the dissemination of technical and experiential knowledge and learning.
• Encourage a culture of evidence-based, and client tailored engagement for highest development impact.
• Establish new and cutting-edge knowledge in the GD is reflected in staff learning and development.

Resource Management:

• Manage the department's budget (internal and external funds) to support the implementation of the (sector) Directorate strategy.
• Ensure the GD Management accountability for delivering the agreed-upon work program through cost-effective use of resources (human and budget) within the agreed parameters and in compliance with internal WBG fiduciary and safeguard controls and policies, and ensures timely delivery and overall quality of the outputs.
• Ensure implementation of an appropriate risk management framework to meet (sector) unit's objectives.

Selection Criteria:

• Advanced degree (preferably PhD) in economics, natural resource management/engineering or related field, with a minimum of 15 years of experience in positions of growing complexity and responsibility.
• Recognized expert within WBG or among one or more of the following: academia, private sector actors, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and policymakers – and with a proven track record of applying practice know-how and effective policy dialogue to achieve development results.
• Experience and ability to engage with clients at the senior level and represent the Bank at high-level international fora.
• Demonstrated thought leadership on (sector) through economic research and publication recognized by academic and policy community.
• Substantive experience working in client countries of different regions and familiarity with the WBG services including deep technical knowledge and experience on (sector) policy.
• Demonstrated in-depth experience working across practice and disciplinary boundaries, and with multiple partners both public and private in building collaborative alliances for results.
• Extensive experience managing complex and large work programs, budgets, portfolio monitoring and supervision with proven results.
• Proven ability to effectively implement complex change management initiatives.

World Bank Group Core Competencies:

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.