Energy Specialist – GF  

Description

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. Visit www.worldbank.org.

The WBG supports the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and is committed to working towards accomplishing the initiative’s three goals by 2030: i) universal access to electricity and clean cooking fuels; ii) doubling the share of the world’s energy supplied by renewable sources from 18 percent to 36 percent, and iii) doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
 

The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies. As part of the Infrastructure Practice Group, the Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) focuses on providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast-growing economies, ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries, strengthen policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractives sectors for public benefit. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

The position is part of the energy unit of the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. The region covers 31 client countries with a total population of about 916 million, with a majority living in middle-income economies. The energy unit in ECA (IECE1) manages a large and diverse portfolio of active projects in about 20 client countries, including investments and advisory services supporting the: (a) scale-up of sustainable heating and energy efficiency investments and programs through a range of programs such as credit lines, energy efficiency revolving funds for public and municipal investments, development of energy service companies and support for residential programs; (b) development of national and regional electricity markets in Southeast Europe, Central Asia and Turkey; (c) rehabilitation and modernizations of power system infrastructure, hydropower generation, district heating networks, gas networks; (d) support to decarbonize the energy sector with a focus on renewable energy development and electrification of heating and transport, with accompanying regulatory and transaction support and application of innovative and smart technologies (storage, hydrogen, distributed renewables, smart grid); (e) integrated assessment, planning and development of energy and water sectors, particularly at the sub-regional level in Southeast Europe and Central Asia; (f) implementation of reforms in the areas of achieving structural and regulatory consistency with the Energy Community Treaty (for countries that are signatories), sector governance and tariff transitions; and (g) supporting the development and implementation of air quality improvement plans in affected locations through comprehensive programs addressing the contributing sources of pollution.

The unit seeks an Energy Specialist to be based in Pristina, Kosovo, who will be responsible for providing project management, as well as technical and analytical support to the lending and advisory portfolio of EEX in Kosovo. A successful candidate would be expected to provide operational support to EEX teams preparing and implementing a portfolio of energy operations, technical assistance and policy dialog in several sub-sectors in Kosovo, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, just transition (phasing out of coal), energy market reforms, and heating services.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
 

As a member of the broader ECA energy team, the Energy Specialist will work primary on Kosovo, but will as relevant also be involved in regional activities across the Western Balkans. 

THE Energy Specialist RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER OF THE TEAM WILL INCLUDE:
 

• Support preparation, implementation and monitoring of lending and advisory services and analytical activities in the energy sector in Kosovo and, upon request. collaborate on regional engagements and energy related issues in other Western Balkan countries.
• Independently prepare quantitative and qualitative analyses and internal and external briefs feeding into the policy dialogue, operational engagements, and analytical and advisory activities for Kosovo. Development of topical briefs as well as integration of country specific information into broader sub-regional and ECA focused materials will be requested on a need basis.
• Support cooperation with government counterparts and coordination with development partners active in the sector, by preparing World Bank presented materials for those meetings, drafting minutes and other follow up documents and action items agreed during these meetings.
• Prepare internal and external progress reporting and briefing materials on the energy programs in Kosovo, and provide inputs into other Western Balkan materials as needed.
• Participate in Kosovo and Western Balkan team meetings of relevant topics and contribute to the preparation, implementation and follow up of international missions to Kosovo. International travel by the Energy Specialist to participate in missions to third countries is an option, conditional on the evolving portfolio of activities.

Selection Criteria

• A Masters’ level degree in science, engineering, finance, economics, business administration or equivalent areas;
• At least five years of relevant experience in the energy sector with demonstrated ability to engage credibly on a range of issues in developing countries;
• Knowledge of the EU acquis pertaining to contracting parties of the Energy Community and prior experience working on investment and analytical activities in these countries.
• Direct experience in at least two of the following areas: energy efficiency, energy sector economics, energy sector policy and regulation, energy and climate policy, renewable energy, transmission and distribution infrastructure, utility financial analysis and/or utility reform, power pools and regional integration;
• Strong quantitative analytical skills and ability to work independently are expected as well as an ability to present, summarize, and communicate complex content, for example in visually focused PPTs;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong partnerships with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Albanian are required, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients;
• Work experience in Kosovo or Western Balkans would be desirable.

THE WBG CORE COMPETENCIES:
 

• Lead and Innovate – Develops innovative solutions.
• Deliver Results for Clients – Proactively addresses client’s stated and unstated needs.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries.
• Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge – Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
• Make Smart Decisions – Interprets a wide range of information.

OTHER COMPETENCIES:

• Development – Knowledge and experience in development, including sectoral policymaking, and operationalization of development priorities;
• Policy dialogue skills – Assessing policy issues, distilling analytics, and playing an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders;
• Integrative skills – Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of energy sector;
• Energy sector technologies – Familiarity with hydrocarbon, power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, energy efficiency, low carbon strategies, etc.;
• Energy policy, strategy and institutions – Familiarity with energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.

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.

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