Operations Officer (Environmental Sustainability)

The Operations Officer (Environmental Sustainability), is accountable for mainstreaming environmental sustainability throughout the Bank’s operations, through the maintenance and implementation of appropriate risk management policies and by providing advice to BMCs on related policy issues.

INTRODUCTION

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) seeks to recruit a dynamic and innovative Operations Officer (Environmental Sustainability). The successful candidate will be based at CDB's headquarters in St. Michael, Barbados.

THE DIVISON

As part of the Projects Department, the Environmental Sustainability Division (ESD) is responsible for the design and execution of programmes and projects in environmental management, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

THE ROLE

The Operations Officer (Environmental Sustainability) or OO,ES, is accountable for mainstreaming environmental sustainability throughout the Bank’s operations, internally through the maintenance and implementation of appropriate risk management policies and externally by providing advice to BMCs on related policy issues and maintaining dialogue with the Bank’s development partners.

The OO, ES will contribute to the development and revision of the Bank’s environmental sustainability policies, providing policy and technical guidance on environmental sustainability issues within CDB’s work programme and their integration into relevant institutional documents, and providing technical support in the appraisal and supervision of investment projects, including financial intermediary lending.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The role will require the OO, ES to:

• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of CDB’s environmental sustainability policies, including climate resilience and disaster risk management.

• Participate as a team member responsible for environment and climate change aspects in the identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision, completion and evaluation of loans, grants, and Technical Assistance (TA) projects related to sectors within which the Bank operates.

• Take the lead in the screening of Bank financed projects for environmental risks, impacts, vulnerabilities and environmental safeguard categorization, and definition of environmental safeguard due diligence requirements, and identify risk management opportunities/strategies in Bank financed projects. Review the risk classification assigned to the project on a regular basis.

• Provide technical guidance to clients on the preparation of necessary environmental and social assessment instruments and review them for quality. Supervise scoping, preparation, review, and appraisal of environmental safeguard documents to ensure conformity with CDB’s requirements in substance.

• Provide advice to clients on the assessment of environmental and social risks, evaluate all relevant information, recommend solutions and ensure detailed, targeted management and action plans are developed and steps taken for projects to comply with the Bank’s requirements.
• Conduct climate change risk screening, supervise in-depth climate risk assessments, and monitor implementation of climate adaptation elements for assigned projects and programs.

• During project identification and preparation/design provide guidance to project teams on determining the amounts of adaptation finance and mitigation finance associated with the project and making that information clear in the project appraisal document.

• Lead the identification, appraisal, processing, and administration of technical assistance grant projects with significant environmental protection and climate resilience dimensions, including supervising consultants and ensuring the high quality of outputs.

• Conduct policy dialogue with and provide guidance and advice to clients on environmental and climate change issues and in building and strengthening their capacity for environmental planning and management. Lead review and strengthening of country environment safeguard systems, as appropriate.

• Review and provide technical support to all areas of the Bank’s operations, incorporating relevant environmental and climate resilience considerations into corporate policy, country strategy papers, country poverty assessments, sector policy papers, policy-based operations, projects and programmes.

• Lead in integrating environmental and climate change issues into country operations by coordinating preparation of inputs to country strategy in assigned countries and ensuring that environmental and climate change dimensions are adequately reflected in country strategies, sector work and projects.

• Coordinate and contribute to the sectors and thematic studies, including climate risk assessments, environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments, and prepare knowledge products related to environmental issues.

• Lead activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building on environment issues in assigned countries.

EDUCATION AND COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate should have:

• A master’s degree in environmental sciences, environmental economics, environmental/natural resources management, environmental policy or engineering, civil engineering or relevant fields.

• A minimum of eight (8) years of proven professional experience in environment, health and safety, due diligence, environmental management, environmental safeguard, and climate change adaptation preferably in developing countries and particularly small island developing states.

• Practitioner experience in developing countries in project development and implementation

• Familiarity with a multilateral institution’s environmental policies and procedures
• Proven experience leading due diligence on complex projects in the areas of disaster risk management, climate change, and environmental management.

FUNCTION-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

The OO, ES should demonstrate the ability to:

• Integrate environmental sustainability issues into the Bank’s work and articulate how these are interrelated with the risks for the wider Bank and its clients.

• Analyse and resolve cross-cutting issues covering different areas of specialisation, with an understanding of how solutions affect the overall work programme.

• Represent the Bank in a manner that will enhance the profile of the Bank.

• Understand development issues, policies and the strategies gained from practice, and possess a broad knowledge of the products, services and processes of a multilateral development Bank.

• Broad skills in multi-criteria assessment, stakeholder engagement and consultation, and community participation.

• Demonstrate strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

• Display strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and summarize diverse sources, draw conclusions from limited data and develop solutions in potentially conflicting circumstances.

• Communicate effectively and concisely on complex environmental and social issues in a manner that can be understood by non-experts.

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to communicate persuasively with a wide range of internal and external parties and present environmental and social risk and management solutions in a manner that non experts can understand.

• Work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary, multi-cultural team, influence and negotiate points of view within teams.

• Exhibit well-developed interpersonal, communication and writing skills, including ability to write concisely.

• Display analytical skills in assessing institutional capacities and designing/reviewing practical implementation arrangements for complex projects are required.

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the critical issues of sustainable development, international environment and development policy, emerging climate change, green growth concerns, and results-based management.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

Competency

Definition

Acting as a Champion for Change

Actively identifies problems and opportunities for change and implements solutions where appropriate. Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; and supports people in their efforts to try new things.

Acting Decisively

Moves quickly to make decisions and commits to a clear course of action; comfortable making decisions based on partial information; willing to take risks in order to maintain momentum; shows a strong bias toward action.

Acting Strategically

Aligns day-to-day activities around broader organisational goals and objectives; prioritises resources based on the strategic objectives of the organisation; recognises and rewards people based on how their actions support the broader needs of the organisation.

Championing Customer Needs

Calls attention to issues that impact customer satisfaction; views situations from the perspective of customers; encourages people to think about customers when making decisions and develops and sustains productive customer relationships.

Communicating Effectively

Consistently communicates with clarity and thoroughness to optimise audience understanding. Communicates information in a clear, concise, and timely manner. Demonstrates effective speaking and presentation skills.

Delivering High Quality Work

Critically reviews work processes to ensure quality; addresses problems that could impact quality; makes sure project deliverables and services meet all requirements and expectations; does not make the same mistakes twice.

Displaying Technical Expertise

Keeps his/her technical skills current; effectively applies specialised knowledge and skills to perform work tasks; understands and masters the technical skills, knowledge, and tasks associated with his/her job; shares technical expertise with others.

Driving for Results

Bottom-line oriented and pushes self and others to achieve results. Keeps current on project status; makes sure people are aware of project status and what they need to do to keep things moving; redirects project resources and activities to overcome setbacks; elevates project concerns to senior levels of leadership when appropriate.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

This is a full-time position with the successful candidate being contracted on a two-year basis, in the first instance, and with the possibility of renewal. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. A pension plan, and life and medical insurances are included in the benefits package.

Before you proceed to apply, please consider the following requirements:

• You must be a national of one of CDB’s member countries.
• You will be required to produce evidence of any educational and professional qualifications to support your application if you are selected for an interview.
• All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks and references.

The deadline for submission of applications is April 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm AST.

The Caribbean Development Bank is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Bank provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities who participate in the job application or interview process. Please contact us to request accommodation.

CDB fully respects the need for confidentiality of information supplied and assures you that your background and interest will not be discussed with anyone, including references, without your prior consent.