Operations Officer – Climate Specialist na World Bank Group

Operations Officer – Climate Specialist

Description

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 www.ifc.org.

As part of IFC’s Climate Business Department, the Climate Finance & Policy Team (CBDCF) plays a central role in shaping and delivering IFC’s climate agenda. CBDCF’s work is anchored in IFC’s mission to deliver smart development — climate and nature action that drives jobs, private capital mobilization, and inclusive growth at scale. The team drives IFC’s climate finance program across mitigation, adaptation, and nature, with a strong focus on integrity, mobilization, and innovative, scalable instruments. It designs and implements methodologies, systems, and quality assurance processes to ensure IFC’s new financial flows are 100% Paris Aligned, in line with joint MDB methodologies. The team also leads IFC’s GHG accounting, financed emissions measurement, and climate data systems to ensure transparency, rigor, and auditability of reporting. It advances IFC’s role in carbon markets by supporting transactions, standards, and scalable platforms that connect mitigation, biodiversity, and resilience outcomes. In addition, the team codifies knowledge, develops tools and training, fosters cross-WBG collaboration, and positions IFC and the WBG in global climate and sustainable finance discussions.

In this context, the team seeks an Operations Officer – Climate Specialist, to be based in Washington, DC, to provide cross-sectoral expertise and operational support, helping IFC scale and deliver Paris-aligned, high-integrity climate business.

Duties & Accountabilities

 Climate Finance

• Assess IFC investments for eligibility under the MDB Common Principles for mitigation, adaptation, and nature finance.
• Ensure quality control of climate and nature finance data for IFC’s own account and mobilization.
• Contribute to the development and codification of methodologies, systems, and processes to mainstream delivery of climate and nature finance with integrity and efficiency.
• Advise clients and investment teams on structuring and issuing sustainable finance instruments (e.g., green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, transition finance) in line with IFC’s climate objectives and market best practices.
• Support the design of innovative solutions to help scale up climate and nature finance.

Paris Alignment

• Conduct Paris Alignment assessments of IFC’s new financial flows, addressing both transition and physical climate risks.
• Refine and apply IFC methodologies, tools, IT systems, and guidance notes to embed Paris Alignment consistently across the investment cycle and industries.
• Identify opportunities to add value to clients through Paris Alignment assessments.
• Collaborate with WBG colleagues and coordinate with other MDBs to strengthen consistency in Paris Alignment assessments.

GHG Accounting & Metrics

• Perform GHG accounting for relevant projects.
• Contribute to the development of methodologies for financed emissions and portfolio alignment.
• Strengthen IFC’s climate-related data systems to ensure transparency, rigor, and auditability of reporting and disclosure.
• Support quality control of climate-related data.

Knowledge & Partnerships

• Provide technical expertise on sector-level climate transition pathways, risk assessment, and financing strategies for climate-aligned investments.
• Codify and disseminate knowledge, develop tools and training materials, and support mainstreaming of innovative approaches from pilot to scale.
• Foster collaboration across the WBG to ensure consistency with broader institutional objectives.
• Support IFC’s and the WBG’s participation in global climate finance and policy discussions, positioning them as leaders in credible, high-integrity climate business.

Other Responsibilities

• Stay abreast of emerging trends in climate finance and Paris Alignment, and their implications for IFC and the WBG.
• Promote a collaborative and inclusive team culture, encouraging knowledge sharing across the WBG.
• Contribute flexibly to evolving team priorities and undertake additional duties as required to support the team’s mandate.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Public Policy, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in climate finance, Paris Alignment, sustainable finance, GHG accounting, or development finance, with a strong track record of working with the private sector.
• Strong understanding of how climate and nature considerations translate into private sector opportunities and risks, and ability to apply global climate finance frameworks (e.g., Joint MDB Common Principles for Climate Finance Tracking, IFI GHG Accounting Methodologies, MDB Paris Alignment Methodological Framework) in operational contexts. Familiarity with UNFCCC processes is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience assessing and structuring sustainable finance instruments (e.g., green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, transition finance), and applying them to meet client needs while aligning with market best practices.
• Proven ability to integrate transition, as well as adaptation and physical climate risk considerations into private sector investment analysis and financing strategies.
• Capacity to provide sector-level insights on climate transition pathways, risk management, and financing strategies across industries, working effectively with both real sector and financial sector clients.
• Track record of producing high-quality outputs under tight deadlines, managing multiple priorities, and adapting to evolving work demands.
• Strong analytical rigor, attention to detail, and ability to translate complex climate and technical concepts into actionable investment solutions for private sector clients.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English, with the ability to engage credibly with investment teams, private sector clients, and external stakeholders; proficiency in additional languages is an advantage.
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills, able to work effectively across organizational boundaries and within a highly matrixed institution.
• Commitment to IFC’s mission of private sector–led development and to advancing smart development through credible climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful 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.