Sustainability Operations Officer

Sustainability Operations Officer - CEMIA
Job #: req34454

Organization: IFC

Sector: Sustainable Development

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment

Location: Karachi,Pakistan; Islamabad,Pakistan

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): Urdu, Baloch, Arabic

Closing Date: 10/13/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

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

Sustainable infrastructure is critical for addressing developmental challenges in emerging markets. IFC offers long-term financing and industry-leading expertise and works closely with the private sector and development partners to advance innovative solutions for infrastructure projects that deliver impact —connecting people to basic services, creating jobs, and improving lives.

In this context, IFC's Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory (SIA) Group is now seeking a dynamic sustainability expert with experience in sustainability, climate risk and adaptation, project management, business development skills to support SIA's work in Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MCT) with a particular focus (approximately 70% time) on activities in Pakistan.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Identify client opportunities and contribute to building a pipeline of advisory engagements to support IFC Infrastructure clients in the MCT Region, clearly articulating the business case for sustainability.
• Identify new market trends in sustainability and shape corresponding solutions for Infra clients in the region.
• Research companies' climate vulnerabilities and their readiness to understand and manage physical climate risks based on client data, risk screening tools, and knowledge gaps in market analyses across infrastructure sectors (e.g., sector diagnostics)
• Assess physical climate risk (i.e., floods, heat waves, drought, water scarcity, cyclones, subsidence, and other relevant climate-related hazards), vulnerabilities, and impacts of climate change on firms' assets and operations of infrastructure projects.
• Provide climate adaptation recommendations to support companies in their adaptation planning and implementation support for actions that minimize impacts of climate change to their operations and assets
• Help companies build their adaptive capacity at asset and corporate levels
• Identify opportunities to direct IFC investment toward climate adaptation initiatives.
• Vulnerability mapping of assets, locations, and blind spots using geographical information systems (GIS)-based tools
• Design and deliver sustainability focused advisory projects or brief transaction engagements to support the delivery of climate adaptation and other sustainability support.
• Organize events (e.g., workshops, roundtables, trainings, webinars) to share knowledge on research findings and good practices about climate adaptation, and promote collaborative exchange internally and with clients, industry associations, government institutions, civil society, and other stakeholder groups
• Develop communication material (i.e., case studies, blogs, publications, social media posts) to promote good practices internally and externally
• Ensure efficient resource management to effectively deliver advisory solutions for clients, including coordinating the roles and responsibilities of team members and consultants involved in project delivery.
• Oversee and ensure comprehensive project management, encompassing procurement, budgeting, reporting, risk and due diligence assessments, and administration tasks, as needed.
• Systematize successful client experiences that can be scalable or replicated.
• Look for opportunities to collaborate across WBG, advisory, investment, upstream and country teams to leverage IFC's expertise around sustainability.

Selection Criteria

• A Master's degree in a relevant discipline e.g., environmental science, business, engineering, social sciences, economics, international development, public policy, sustainability, or related field.
• A minimum of five to eight years of relevant experience.
• Seven to eight years of progressive experience in sustainability with experience working for an international development institution or a private sector infrastructure company is preferred.
• Proficiency in climate risk assessment methodologies, climate data analysis, modeling, and visualization include familiarity with World Bank Climate risk screening tools or similar external resources.
• Demonstrated experience in developing climate adaptation solutions for infrastructure sectors, including energy, mining, transport, waste and water, and TMT in Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and/or Pakistan.
• Demonstrated experience advising private sector clients on other sustainability topics a plus.
• Experience working and developing solid relationships and negotiating with a wide variety of stakeholders, including private sector, governmental, and non-governmental organizations.
• High level of energy, initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work project requirements. Strong critical thinking skills.
• Excellent analytical, report writing skills, verbal communication, and people skills, with a proven ability to work with a multidisciplinary team.
• Willingness to travel internationally and within Pakistan.
• Fluent in English; additional proficiency in Urdu, Arabic and/or Baloch is desired.
• Familiarity with IFC's Environmental and Social Performance Standards (preferred).

WBG Culture Attributes

• Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
• 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.

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