Adviser (Lead Environmental Specialist)

Adviser (Lead Environmental Specialist)

Job #: req38633

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Environment

Grade: GH

Term Duration: Term Staff (TERM-TR)

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): Proficiency in one or more additional relevant languages highly desirable

Closing Date: 11/4/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

About the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and programs that address biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and adaptation, degradation of international waters, land and forests, ozone depletion, elimination or reduction of persistent organic pollutants and mercury, all within the framework of sustainable development.

The GEF unites 186 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. An independently operating financial organization, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for five international environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Minamata Convention on Mercury. GEF is also a designated financial mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The GEF Secretariat is a Vice-Presidential Unit (VPU) within the World Bank with approximately 100 staff.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Adviser who will serve as Lead Environmental Specialist will strengthen the GEF Secretariat’s capacity to design, assess, and advance innovative financing approaches that mobilize public and private capital for global environmental benefits. Reporting directly to the CEO and Chairperson and supervising and coordinating the Blended Finance and Private Sector Coordination Unit, the position will operate at the intersection of nature, environment, climate, capital markets, and multilateral development finance, with a particular focus on blended finance, non-grant instruments, and private sector resource mobilization. The role will support implementation of the GEF-9 programming directions, which place increased emphasis on mobilizing private capital, mainstreaming blended finance approaches, and using scarce concessional resources strategically to catalyze larger investment flows for developing countries.

• Provide strategic and technical advice to the CEO and Chairperson on nature, environmental, and climate finance, including opportunities to mobilize private capital, multilateral finance, and other sources of co-financing in support of GEF objectives and GEF-9 programming directions.
• Lead, supervise, and coordinate the Blended Finance and Private Sector Coordination Unit, for the development, assessment, and refinement of blended finance and non-grant instrument proposals across GEF focal areas, Integrated Programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Analyze transaction structures, financial additionality, concessionally, risk allocation, capital mobilization, expected reflows, and alignment with measurable global environmental benefits.
• Engage with GEF Agencies, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, institutional investors, asset managers, commercial banks, development finance institutions, philanthropic capital providers, and project sponsors to advance private sector resource mobilization and scalable blended finance solutions.
• Support the development of replicable financial products and approaches that can reduce risk or the cost of capital for environmental investments in developing countries.
• Advise on the use of instruments such as guarantees and guarantee fee support, first-loss and subordinated capital, equity and fund investments, outcome-based finance, repayable project preparation, convertible grants, risk-sharing facilities, hedging support, insurance and premium support, and sustainability-linked structures.
• Assess market conditions, project bankability, capital-market constraints, and the suitability of proposed financing structures for different countries, sectors, and environmental objectives.
• Lead and supervise the preparation of technical notes, financial analyses, term-sheet inputs, decision memoranda, presentations, and briefings for the CEO, senior management, and governance discussions, including on GEF-9 priorities related to blended finance and private sector mobilization.
• Support dialogue and coordinate with other Division heads as part of the Country Engagement Strategy, in engaging with countries and partners on investment platforms, private sector engagement, and the integration of environmental priorities into financing strategies, including through country platforms and other approaches envisaged under GEF-9.
• Contribute to knowledge products, guidance, portfolio learning, and staff capacity building on blended finance, capital markets, and non-grant instruments.
• Monitor financial and environmental performance, risks, mobilization, and reflows associated with relevant operations and initiatives, with attention to lessons that can inform GEF-9 implementation and future private capital mobilization efforts.
• In collaboration with the Operations and Policy division, lead the development of all policies related to NGI and blended finance, and coordinate all reporting and presentations to GEF council on topics related to Blended Finance.
• Undertake other responsibilities consistent with the role.

Selection Criteria

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Master’s degree in finance, economics, financial economics, business administration, or a closely related field. A degree combining finance or economics with environmental or natural-resource expertise would be an asset.
• A Chartered Financial Analyst designation, or a comparable professional qualification in investment, risk, or finance, is highly desirable.
Experience
• A minimum of twelve years of relevant professional experience, with a proven and sustained track record in nature, environmental, climate, sustainable, or development finance.
• Demonstrated experience working with private sector clients, investors, financial institutions, or capital markets, preferably in contexts involving resource mobilization, risk sharing, or blended finance for environmental or development outcomes.
• Substantial experience with blended finance, concessional finance, non-grant instruments, or risk-sharing structures in emerging markets and developing economies, including approaches that mobilize private sector resources at scale.
• Experience operating in multilateral settings and working with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, climate or environmental funds, governments, implementing partners, and specialized private sector or blended finance teams.
• Demonstrated ability to move between strategic policy questions and detailed financial or transaction analysis.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• In-depth knowledge of blended finance principles, financial additionality, minimum concessionally, risk allocation, leverage and mobilization, private sector resource mobilization, and the design of non-grant instruments.
• Strong understanding of debt and capital markets, project and structured finance, investment funds, guarantees, subordinated instruments, equity, and risk mitigation products.
• Ability to assess financial models, term sheets, investment proposals, portfolio risks, and expected development and environmental outcomes.
• Deep understanding of the climate and nature finance architecture and the roles of governments, GEF Agencies, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, private investors, and specialized private sector coordination functions in delivering GEF-9 priorities.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.

Core Competencies at GH Level

• Delivers results by understanding client and institutional needs, developing practical solutions, and taking accountability for risk management and outcomes.
• Initiates collaboration across organizational boundaries, engages differing viewpoints constructively, and sets priorities from an institution-wide perspective.
• Develops solutions with others, adapts to changing circumstances, and helps colleagues understand problems, stakeholder needs, and context.
• Creates, applies, and shares knowledge from across and outside the institution, builds professional networks, and supports the development of colleagues.
• Applies critical thinking, evaluates risks and short- and long-term implications, recommends a clear course of action, and follows through decisively.

Working Arrangements

The position requires close, trusted, and highly responsive collaboration with the CEO and Chairperson, while maintaining regular supervision and coordination of the Blended Finance and Private Sector Coordination Unit and relevant Secretariat teams. The selected candidate will be expected to exercise sound judgment, discretion, accountability, and respect for the multicultural and multilateral character of the GEF partnership. The role will help ensure that advice to the CEO is well connected to operational experience, market realities, and the GEF-9 ambition to scale blended finance and private sector resource mobilization.

Institutional Statement

The GEF is committed to attracting qualified candidates from diverse professional, geographic, and cultural backgrounds. Appointment will be subject to applicable World Bank Group and GEF policies, procedures, and terms of employment.

This role provides support to a Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF). Roles funded by a FIF are subject to the WBG Staff Directives and Procedures. Additionally, the FIF's governance framework and funding are also relevant to this role.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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.