Senior Climate and Disaster Risk Specialist

Job Vacancy | Friday, February 2, 2024

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of 3 years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. After the initial fixed period, ADB has the option to renew the appointment for up to three years or allow it to expire. This decision is based on ADB’s overall interest in retaining the skills and experience of the staff for medium-term work program within the respective group, department, or office, while considering the availability of funding sources.

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Climate team of the Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment Cluster (CCRE) within the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD). The CCSD provides leadership in thematic operations, knowledge innovation, and partnerships to position the ADB as the region’s climate bank. CCRE leads the Bank’s work in responding to the growing need for innovative policies, institutions, and investments to lead the region to a low carbon, climate, and disaster resilient future; and supports ADB’s operational departments to develop and implement climate and disaster resilience projects, integrate disaster risk and climate change considerations into their broader portfolio of projects, and access climate financing.

This position has been created as part of the Workforce Rebalancing Framework, which is a multiyear initiative (2022-2027) aimed at increasing in-house expertise in key operational areas that was previously sourced from consultants through ADB’s technical assistance. The goal is to strengthen in-house expertise to enhance the quality of ADB’s policy dialogue, operations, and knowledge solutions delivery by collaborating closely with DMC clients. Expected candidates are seasoned experts with strong field experience who can lead policy dialogue and project work with emphasis on providing knowledge solutions.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Senior Climate and Disaster Risk Specialist will work in CCRE. He/she will provide technical advice, expertise, and support on enhancing the quality, availability, analysis, and implementation of data, tools, and knowledge to improve climate and disaster resilience for developing member countries (DMCs) and play a key role in managing climate and disaster risk across ADB’s operations.

The incumbent will report to the Director, Climate Change, CCRE, and will supervise National Staff and Administrative Staff. He/she will seek guidance on disaster risk management (DRM) business processes and other relevant DRM issues from the DRM team in CCRE

Responsibilities

Climate change and disaster risk management business processes

• Supports the implementation and oversight of ADB business processes and requirements relating to climate and disaster risk screening, assessment, and management for projects.
• Establishes and manages ADB databases for climate and other related data, including processing and analysis of climate model data.
• Supports the development, roll-out (including change management), operation and maintenance of ADB’s digital tools on climate and disaster risk assessment, in close collaboration with ADB’s IT Department, the DRM team and other stakeholder groups.
• Establishes and maintains ADB climate and disaster risk information databases.

Operations support

• Provides strategic and technical support to ensure that good practice and latest developments in climate science are reflected in ADB’s climate and disaster risk management-related business processes, tools, and knowledge resources.
• Provides technical inputs on activities related to upstream engagement with DMCs on climate risk and adaptation related diagnostic work that can inform National Adaptation Planning, and ADB’s Country Partnership Strategies and country programming processes, including identification of adaptation projects.
• Provides technical advice and support to project officers in undertaking climate and disaster risk assessments to inform selection of resilience considerations in project design in different sectors, in infrastructure-related sectors. Includes technical support for the analysis and application of climatic and related data, trend analysis, and extreme value analysis.
• Provides technical advice and support to relevant ADB Departments on climate risk related issues for wider ADB corporate initiatives including Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosure.

Capacity development and knowledge

• Closely engages with DMCs and external networks and partners to understand and capture emerging strategic and technical priorities, innovation and trends for climate science, climate and related information and its application to investment decision-making.
• Represents ADB in various relevant external fora, platforms, and regional initiatives.
• Supports the development and delivery of capacity development and training, materials, guidance documents and knowledge products for ADB staff and DMCs on climate science, climate and disaster risk, adaptation, and investment decision-making.

Supervising staff

• Provides leadership, supervision, and support to reporting staff.
• Supports the recruitment and capacity building of climate change staff across ADB.
• Ensures the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

Others

• Provides inputs to reports, briefing materials, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Leads, coordinates, supports and/or handles ad hoc assignments as assigned.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in atmospheric science, applied climatology, climate informatics, earth science (hydrology), physical geography, geographic information systems, civil engineering, or related fields; or University degree in atmospheric science, applied climatology, climate informatics, earth science (hydrology), physical geography, geographic information systems, civil engineering, or related fields and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
• At least 10 years of experience in natural hazard or climate impact modeling and research; climate and disaster risk assessment; adaptation and disaster risk reduction planning and practices; and application of risk information for research, investments and/or policy in developing countries.
• International experience working in several countries.
• Competence and experience in the statistical analysis and application of climatic and related data, inclusive of trend analysis and extreme value analysis.
• Competence and experience in generation and use of geospatial information, databases, and tools.
• Past involvement in projects involving development of software, digital tools, or databases, adopting agile and user experience design approaches will be an advantage.
• Relevant professional experience, including international work experience in designing and implementing climate change projects and/or research, preferably in the Asia Pacific Region. Excellent project management skills, with ability to plan, self-manage and lead initiatives independently and with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, report-writing, oral and written communication skills in English.
• Able to work collaboratively with teams as a constructive team member.

Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for IS5.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.

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