Senior Industry Specialist at IFC - International Finance Corporation

Role & Responsibilities:
The Specialist is expected to support the FIG team to generate new business leads for investment and advisory services and implement and monitor a portfolio of investment and advisory projects with financial institutions (FIs) linked to the product. He/she will have responsibility for supporting the FIG team in the development of product strategy, supporting Client Relationship Leads and providing technical expertise and support to the AS and IS transactions through the entire project life cycle from business development through supervision.

Duties & Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
Scope technical and commercial market potential for sustainable energy and climate finance in targeted countries and identify opportunities that might be relevant to IFC’s FI clients including:

• Identify gaps and needs for developing sustainable energy/climate finance programs in targeted countries, including formulation of motivation/drivers for end-users to implement climate friendly projects using FI’s financing
• Prepare and update IFC’s Climate Finance strategy in the region to address climate change issues, including preparation and updating of applicable tools, manuals and procedures
• Develop approaches for sustainable energy project development and financing, through partnerships and transaction structures with financial institutions, local vendors, Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), engineering companies and other market players
• Actively develop new business leveraging for both investment and advisory services leveraging his/her network of industry contacts
• Design, develop, sell and lead targeted climate finance advisory program(s) with partner banks, including training and monitoring components, to improve credit underwriting, risk assessment and portfolio management and reporting practices
• Implement Climate Finance strategy roll outs in target countries as needed
• Provide expert advice to investment and advisory services teams and external financial sector clients on the potential and scope for the sustainable energy finance/climate finance sectors, to help identify opportunities on the market for FIs and to help formulate both investment and advisory strategies to grasp those opportunities
• Provide technical inputs and support to AS and IS teams on transactions including
• Working with business development leads and hub leaders in marketing the product to clients
• Conducting Climate Finance diagnostics/appraisals with clients, drafting of appraisal reports, client proposals, leading/contributing to internal AS/IS transaction documentation, consultant terms of references, etc.
• Negotiate project scope, targets, work plan details and Advisory Agreements with clients, and provide inputs to the investment negotiations with clients
• Support the program to develop standardized policies, procedures and training materials that can be tailored for individual banks
• Conduct training to FIs and help to identify and manage consultant teams to ensure quality and timely delivery of Climate Finance advisory services to IFC clients
• Monitor the progress and impact of projects through regular reporting and evaluation of consultants and project performance
• Carry out technical due diligence in line with IFC climate standards, and work with the legal team to ensure contract conditions include necessary guidelines and reporting procedures
• Ensure implementation of reporting formats for the FIG Climate portfolio to be used by bank management and IFC; and, where possible, gain insight into the portfolio management procedures and data processing to improve decision making
• Provide portfolio support for investment and advisory projects in using IFC's CAFI tool for GHG accounting
• Provide technical inputs in establishing and managing partnerships and networking initiatives with key players in the climate change space to advance IFC’s Climate finance agenda
• Recruit and supervise consultants in preparing detailed energy audits and feasibility studies, as required
• Represent IFC in selected national, regional conferences, workshops and training seminars.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Business, Environmental Sciences, or Economics;
• Minimum 12 years of work experience in the Sustainable Energy (SE) and climate smart business, including the technical and financial aspects energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and investments;
• Expertise/familiarity with metrics and tools for tracking climate investments, including GHG accounting tools;
• Awareness/familiarity with IFC Climate Definitions and Guidance Notes, Green Bond Principles, and donor and bilateral programs in Climate Finance including the capacity building and technical advisory initiatives;
• Sound understanding of financial structures used to finance climate friendly projects as well as how banks, insurance companies, capital markets, and other financial intermediaries typically work in the area of climate friendly financing;
• Extensive knowledge of clean energy and environmental markets in the region and knowledge of international best practices and global trends in the industry;
• Good understanding of the perspective of the private commercial banks, private equity, insurance companies and other financial intermediaries, including their business drivers, the scope of their operations, and their interests, so as to be able to successfully engage and sell to them;
• Familiarity and confidence to be able to negotiate and be effective in a matrixed working environment;
• Capacity to deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English language skills are required;
• Experience and proven ability to work with senior management of Government institutions, industry associations, private sector technical players and financial institutions, through technical competence and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Good interpersonal skills and team spirit;
• Ability to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, travel and work across time zones