Job Description

Associate Environmental and Social Development Specialist

Job #:
req37335 Organization:
IFC Sector:
Environment Grade:
GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type:
Local Recruitment Location:
Vienna,Austria Required Language(s):
English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date:
7/2/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works 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.

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 more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit: https://www.ifc.org.

IFC is seeking a dynamic, motivated and detail-oriented Environmental & Social (E&S) Development Specialist with strong communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills to provide support to infrastructure, manufacturing, services and agribusiness transactions in Europe. This professional will provide E&S guidance to clients and investment and advisory teams on E&S matters vis-à-vis IFC Performance Standards (PS) and Sustainability Policy, with the aim of promoting compliance and enhancing the impact and additionality of IFC-supported business activities.
The position will report to the ESG Regional Manager for the Europe region.

Duties and Accountabilities:

• Lead or contribute to review of E&S issues and risks in new investments and select advisory engagements mainly in the infrastructure sector (including renewable energy projects), as well as in the manufacturing, services, and agribusiness sectors.
• Lead or contribute to identification and assessment of E&S issues and risks, including as Lead Environmental & Social Specialist (LESS) or Support Environmental and Social Specialist (SESS), of broad and complex PPP and CFS projects involving multidisciplinary teams.
• Define tailored measures to manage identified E&S issues and risks and value-add solutions and formulate E&S input to transaction processes and tender documentation, including support in the definition of E&S obligations for PPP contracts in line with IFC Performance Standards.
• Prepare concise public disclosure documents for new investments as well as internal documentation.
• Lead or contribute to identification and development of E&S risk mitigation measures and value-add solutions that support clients in addressing identified issues.
• Provide clear and responsive guidance to IFC investment teams on E&S risk management in project decision-making and processing throughout the investment cycle, including clear communication to teams.
• Support formulation of E&S legal conditions for IFC projects.
• When leading E&S assessments, ensure effective and efficient use of staff, consultants, and resources, ensuring the timely completion of deliverables. Provide guidance and support to team members.
• Proactively monitor portfolio clients and engage with these clients and investment departments to achieve compliance with contractual E&S requirements, clearly documenting and communicating any outstanding or emerging gaps between client performance and IFC requirements, and related risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to portfolio analysis to identify systemic issues and assess trends; or of policy nature and propose policy adjustments as needed.
• Contribute to regional supervision program reviews and periodic reports.
• Support industry teams and clients in response to Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) requests where needed, including discussion with CAO and IEG officers as needed.
• Support clients’ E&S capacity building.
• As needed, participate in cross-regional and global teams responsible for the preparation of policy interpretation notes on E&S topics and contribute to the corporate knowledge base by analyzing and disseminating lessons learned from project work.
• Prepare management briefs of relevant E&S matters.
• Provide support to Short-Term Consultants (STCs), Extended-Term Consultants (ETC) and Independent Contractors (IC) working on E&S risk management and, as needed, supervise the timeliness and quality of their work, in coordination with the RIL, CTA Anchor or Regional Manager.
• Contribute to regional supervision program reviews and periodic reports.
• Support the E&S Regional Manager and team on cross-cutting initiatives as required.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in sociology, science, engineering or other relevant disciplines. A social background will be preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience working on E&S management, monitoring and/or due diligence, with a preference for private sector experience in Europe in the infrastructure, manufacturing, services or agribusiness sectors as well as PPP and /or CFS transactions.
• Experience working with IFC/World Bank E&S Policies and Standards.
• Willingness to travel regularly.
• Good project management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and summarize diverse sources, draw conclusions from limited data and develop solutions in potentially tense or conflicting situations.
• High personal integrity and emotional intelligence, with the ability to handle sensitive matters in a discreet and respectful manner, respond diplomatically and remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail.
• Proficiency in English essential, with other languages spoken in the region as an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to communicate persuasively with a wide range of internal and external parties (including senior staff, management, IFC’s accountability mechanism and clients) and present E&S risks and management solutions in a manner that non-experts can understand.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team, influence and negotiate point of view within teams.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.