Environmental and Social Specialist at the OPEC Fund for International Development

The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. Our 12 Member Countries are:  Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Environmental and Social Specialist

Location: Austria
Employment Type:  Fixed Term Contract
Department / Unit: Strategic Planning & Economic Services Department/ Sustainability and Climate Change Unit
Required Languages: English
Job Category: Professional

Job Profile

• The role, within the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit will include environmental and social due diligence of lending programs, both for private and public sector operations. 
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring compliance of projects with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy both at the time of project preparation and implementation. 
• The incumbent supports the Senior Advisor, ESG in developing Environmental and Social (ES) due diligence templates, capacity building of staff and enhancement of policy documents.

Duties and Responsibilities
Policy assurance and review:

• Reviews existing ES due diligence templates and prepares new drafts with reference to policy application in different financing activities
• Initiates various policy actions (public consultations, establishment of GRMs, information disclosure, etc.) and provides guidance to the Country Managers in the application of these tasks
• Prepares guidance notes on specific thematic areas of ES due diligence

Review and assessment:

• Works closely with Country Managers for environmental and social due diligence; identifies risks and potential impacts and provides guidance to clients and/or consultants to prepare or update ES Impact Assessments and Mitigation Management Plans.
• Conducts field missions, as and when necessary, both at the preparatory stage and implementation stage, to identify ES risks and provide guidance to address the risks
• Works closely with Country Managers to prepare project documents with particular reference to ES aspects that adequately reflects the ES risks, available mitigation measures, and aspects related to ESG policy compliance (for example, public consultation, establishment of GRM, etc.) 
• For co-financed projects, interacts with clients and co-lenders to develop a comprehensive understanding of ES risks associated with financing activities
• Assesses ES Management Systems (ESMS) of Financial Intermediaries (FI) when available; supports FI Clients to prepare or enhance an ESMS when required. 
• Reviews governance structure of FI Clients and assess their ability to conduct assessments, implement management plans and collate monitoring reports of sub projects. 

Reporting:

• Prepares case studies on ES due diligence as lessons learnt for project implementation 

Information and business advice:

• Assists the Senior Advisor, ESG, for capacity building of internal and external stakeholders

Knowledge management:

• Undertakes training on ES related thematic issues and participates in international DFI platforms on ES issues 

Stakeholder management and engagement:

• Represents OPEC Fund at select external industry events and builds relationships with external experts and clients;
• Perform other related duties as assigned by Senior Advisor, ESG.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in environment or natural sciences/ humanities/social studies.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in environmental and social due diligence assessments.
• Experience from reputable development finance institution/s with a strong E&S practice in both Private and Public Sector Projects.
• Fluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French or Spanish is an added advantage.

Competencies:

• Subject Matter Knowledge - The in-depth understanding and expertise in specific fields relevant to the OPEC Fund's operations and the individual's role.
• Collaboration and Teamwork - The ability to effectively work with colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared goals.
• Sense of Responsibility - The ability to demonstrate ownership and accountability in tasks and outcomes; uphold reliability and commitment to fulfilling responsibilities.
• Communication - The ability to relay ideas, information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety of audiences.
• Cross-Cultural Sensitivity -The ability to take into account the variety of the human experience and how it contributes to the workplace and to demonstrate  respect for diverse cultures and viewpoints.
• Ability to Work Under Pressure - The capacity to remain composed, focused and productive when facing tight deadlines, high-stakes situations and demanding workloads.
• Customer Centricity - The ability to focus on comprehending and addressing customer needs; consistently deliver exceptional.

Application Closing Date
9th June, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online