The E&S Policy and Risk Department (CES), acts as the custodian of IFC’s Environmental and Social (E&S) policies and standards and provides independent oversight of IFC's E&S risk management on projects. CES enables IFC to successfully invest in a range of projects including those in high-risk environments by managing E&S risks on projects more effectively while maintaining adherence to IFC’s sustainability framework.
CES delivers four functions:

• Policy and Standards: CES maintains and updates IFC’s sustainability policies, standards, and procedures as a world-class resource for IFC clients and external networks.
• Risk Management: CES ensures that IFC has appropriate systems, procedures and capacity in place to deliver on E&S risk management. CES adds value to the management of E&S risks, reviewing E&S aspects and classification of all projects at origination and providing oversight, guidance, and support for high-risk projects in the pipeline, as well as for high-risk and non-performing projects in IFC’s investment portfolio.
• Stakeholder Grievance Response: CES facilitates and improves IFC’s ability to resolve stakeholder complaints quickly and effectively, and address both Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and non-CAO complaints
• Knowledge, Learning, and Systems: CES fosters the E&S community of practice, transforms lessons learned into guidance, E&S risk management tools and systems, learning, certification of E&S staff and knowledge products that enhance IFC’s E&S performance.

CES works in close collaboration with IFC’s investment departments, Sustainability and Gender Solutions (CEG) department and Legal Department (CLED).

CLED, under the Vice President and General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal and policy advice to the IFC Board, its Management and client departments on operational, advisory and corporate matters. Specifically, CLED supports client departments in (i) the delivery of IFC’s annual program of financing private sector projects in emerging markets; (ii) project portfolio management (including jeopardy projects and projects in litigation); (iii) the delivery and design of structured finance products, sub-national lending, equity and quasi-equity transactions; (iv) advising on corporate policy and operational matters; and (v) knowledge management and training. CLED works in close collaboration with all of IFC’s departments, including CEG and CES.

CLED and CES are recruiting a qualified Legal Counsel (Senior Counsel), to be based in Washington, DC, to focus on advising and supporting them on legal matters related to E&S matters.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Senior Counsel will be embedded within CES and, under the guidance of CLED and CES, will be central to CES’s policy and risk teams’ continuing efforts to update IFC’s E&S policies, standards, and procedures and to integrate E&S into IFC’s investment structuring. The position will report jointly to CES’s Manager, Policy, Standards & Knowledge and CLED’s Assistant General Counsel responsible for E&S matters and will coordinate and consult with CLED on the Senior Counsel’s work on the foregoing and the key accountabilities below.

Key accountabilities include:

• Advise on any revisions to and interpretations of IFC’s E&S policies, standards and procedures.
• Advise on implementation of sensitive and/or complex issues of E&S policies and process in the context of specific projects and more broadly on a sector/industry basis;
• Provide legal advice on emerging and evolving E&S issues and track the development of legislation and international standards with respect to such issues (e.g., supply chain due diligence);
• Develop training and guidance for E&S staff on E&S issues in investment agreements and on preparing E&S disclosures and Board documentation;
• Develop training for legal staff on addressing E&S risks in investment agreements and act as interlocutor between E&S and legal functions; participate with CLED in any improvement initiative regarding responses to E&S risks identified;
• Support CES in developing responses to CAO cases and advise on communications with other external stakeholders, including civil society organizations and community complainants;
• Representing CES and IFC in internal and external fora, including with other multi-lateral and development banks to align policies and with civil society organizations providing feedback on policies;
• Review and advise on knowledge products and tools produced for both internal and external consumption; and
• Ensure roles and responsibilities are clear across IFC’s architecture of E&S policy, guidance, procedures and tools.

• Post-graduate/master’s degree in law: All applicants must have obtained a degree in law (J.D, L.L.M., PhD, or equivalent), and must be qualified to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
• At least 12 years practicing law with demonstrated work experience in corporate law, cross-border transactions and environmental and social law and compliance in emerging markets, with a well-recognized international law firm and/or an international financial institution or bilateral development institution.
• Knowledge of internationally recognized environmental and/or social standards (IFC’s Sustainability Framework or similar), international environmental law, international human rights law, and lender/investor liability required. Operational experience applying or interpreting E&S policies or standards a plus.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely in spoken and written English is essential. Legal Drafting, Research and Communication: Proven ability to draft transactional documentation (e.g., loan agreements), briefs, policy and compliance related documents, with limited supervision. Conducts research as necessary to acquire insight and information. Is aware of the need for precision and focus on quality.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically, analyze and synthesize diverse information sources.
• Ability to assess risk in a practical and responsible manner and make fair, well-reasoned, independent and transparent decisions taking into account divergent views of multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to deal with sensitivity in a multicultural environment and to build effective working relations with clients and colleagues across IFC.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances, organize and prioritize deliverables, and maintain attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel.
• Professional integrity and sound judgment in handling confidential information.
• Demonstrates commitment to core values, including excellence, mutual respect, collegiality, teamwork, diversity and inclusiveness, integrity, innovation, transparency and accountability.