Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Disaster Risk Management Specialist
Job #: req23670
Organization: World Bank
Sector: Disaster Risk Management
Grade: GF
Term Duration: 2 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment
Location: Sydney,Australia
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 8/21/2023 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work 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. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Region presents a dramatic illustration of the global dynamics, opportunities and risks of the 21st century. After making the fastest progress in growth and poverty reduction of any region around the world in the last fifteen years, some countries in the region – such as Mongolia – are poised to become middle-income, and some are preparing to join the small group of high-income countries. Such a rapid transformation is leading to the largest shift in rural-to-urban population in human history, generating rising inequality within and across countries, leaving individuals and regions behind in the dash for prosperity.

The Pacific Island countries, including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, offer unique development opportunities but also challenges including extreme remoteness, small size, geographic dispersion, and environmental fragility that limit the range of economic activities where the PICs can be competitive. At the confluence of the Ring of Fire and the Pacific Cyclone Belt, the countries have high exposure to a range of natural hazards such as earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami, cyclone, flood, storm surge, and seasonal droughts. These hazards are being exacerbated by climate change. Future sea-level rise suggests possible permanent flooding significant portions of habitable land in Pacific atoll countries.

The Urban, Resilience and Land Team in EAP has a strong and expending operational program in the Pacific Island countries. The team currently manages 10 investment projects and co-leads 8 operations in collaboration with other sector teams. Additional projects are expected to be added to the portfolio in the coming years.

To support PIC’s expanding development needs and increasing client demand on DRM, East Asia Urban, Resilience and Land team is recruiting a DRM Specialists based in Sydney, Australia. The primary task is to work on client engagement and project preparation and implementation in Disaster Risk Management (DRM).

Roles & Responsibilities:

•  Participate in task teams to deliver urban/DRM investments, CAT-DDO/Development Policy Operations, urban/DRM technical assistance programs.
•  Provide operational assistance to the Task Teams working on various projects (including investment projects and CAT-DDO/Development Policy Operations) and activities, including the preparation of project documents, research and analysis on specific tasks, support to project supervision.
•  Participates in developing and implementing practice strategy and assists in country-specific policy work.
•  Carry out substantive research on specific DRM, climate change, and urban sector issues e.g. post disaster damage assessment, climate change impacts, resilience of buildings and urban space, urban planning, and housing.
• Participate in missions; liaise and coordinate with government counterparts, development partners and other stakeholders; provide technical inputs and guidance to counterparts on appropriate scope, technology, World Bank operational procedures, etc.; prepares terms of reference for project- or sector-related work.
•  Conduct economic and technical analysis on DRM and/or urban related issues, such as DRM policies and regulations, economic impacts of investments, financing needs and financial assessments, technical analysis of different resilience interventions.
•  Review and interpret data; screen relevant documents, prepare – under guidance of more senior staff – reports to management and external agencies, help organize knowledge-sharing or consultation workshops with clients and sector stakeholders.
•  Provide inputs to concept notes, synthesize comments, and help prepare review meeting packages; assist with dissemination of findings, including drafting briefing notes, talking points, power point presentations as well as coordinating workshops.
•  Support preparation of project briefs, aide memoirs, and other materials as part of The World Bank internal documentation.
•  Provide cross-support on DRM/urban-related issues to other sectors as needed.

Selection Criteria

•  Advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) in a field relevant to DRM such as urban planning, economics, civil/environmental engineering, financing, architecture, political science, and public policy
•  At least five years of relevant experience in investment projects and/or development policy operations (e.g. CAT-DDO) in DRM, including past experience in leading or co-leading investment operations;
•  Past experience in leading or co-leading policy dialogue in complex urban development and DRM issues would be an asset.
•  Excellent organizational and task management skills, with appropriate attention to details and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing demands, and under tight deadlines.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to lead teams and function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
•  Excellent and effective command of English in both verbal and written forms.
•  Proven track record of delivery of high-quality outputs while working under pressure and within tight deadlines.
•  Willingness and ability to travel extensively to the Pacific Islands countries.

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.