Environmental & Social Safeguards Officer

About the role

The Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Belize's development bank, is hiring a full-time, on-site Environmental & Social Safeguards (ESS) Officer in Belmopan. The ESS Officer is a technical officer who assists the ESS Specialist in mainstreaming climate resilience across DFC's operations, including financing sustainable and climate-resilient investments, promoting greening initiatives such as waste management, sustainable procurement and energy conservation, and implementing DFC's climate footprint and Go Green Action Plan.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor DFC loan projects and investments for compliance with its Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), including risk categorization and borrower requirements, and recommend corrective action
• Provide guidance and procedures for managing mitigation measures in line with the Department of Environment, national law and international best practice
• Collect and analyze environmental and social data from DFC's projects
• Keep DFC's climate agenda aligned with national climate commitments, policies and action plans
• Represent DFC at climate and environment conferences, workshops, committees and working groups
• Identify climate-related gaps in operations and lending programs and recommend remedies
• Help build staff capacity to evaluate projects for climate and environmental risk and eligibility under DFC's safeguards
• Assist in monitoring DFC's carbon footprint and support projects eligible for bilateral or multilateral climate or development financing, including the GCF
• Raise awareness among employees and customers of green practices such as waste management, recycling, energy efficiency, health and safety and sustainable procurement
• Complete application forms for authorities such as the PUC, DOE and Hydrology, and assist in preparing work plans, procurement plans, progress, annual and completion reports
• Lead ongoing consultation and participatory processes with a wide range of stakeholders

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Climate Studies, Agriculture Engineering or a related field
• At least two years of relevant work experience in the environmental field
• Knowledge of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, climate-smart agriculture and disaster and climate risk assessment
• Knowledge of international environmental and social safeguard policies and standards, and of environmental management law and procedures
• Excellent knowledge of Belize's climate commitments, policies and programs, and sound knowledge of its environmental laws
• Preferred: stakeholder engagement experience

Required skills

• Basic understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• Excellent research, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, with attention to detail
• Strong time management and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Preferred: proficiency with GIS software and ability to read technical drawings