Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 and promoting shared prosperity. 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 Planet Practice Group  

The Planet Practice Group (PG) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water.  

The Climate Change Group 

Climate change, poverty, and inequality are the defining issues of our age. The World Bank Group is the biggest multilateral funder of climate investments in developing countries. Over $32 billion in 2022 alone – accounting for over half of multilateral climate finance to developing countries—and over two-thirds of adaptation finance. We intend to go further in helping countries reduce poverty and rise to the challenges of climate change. 

The Climate Finance & Economics Unit  

The Climate Finance & Economics Unit (SCCFE) is one of five units in the World Bank’s Climate Change Group (CCG). The mandate of the unit encompasses three key workstreams:

i. Climate analytics and diagnostics: lead the development of climate analytics and diagnostics, including tools, instruments and flagship reports, that inform climate policy, priorities and finance;
ii. Carbon markets & finance and carbon pricing: support client countries on carbon markets and carbon pricing and drive innovation in international carbon markets infrastructure; and
iii. Scaling up and innovation in climate finance: develop innovative climate finance instruments and business models to help the Bank scale up climate finance and drive the mobilization of private sector capital and direct public sector investment.

SCCFE accomplishes its mandate in close collaboration with other units within CCG and other regional teams and global practices (GPs).

About the Position  

SCCFE is seeking to recruit a highly experienced and motivated Lead Climate Finance Specialist to help lead the Climate Finance pillar (iii) above. The selected candidate will work closely with the unit’s workstream leads and a team of ~35 staff to define, execute and deliver on the unit’s mandate, with the goal of delivering the World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan. The Lead Climate Finance Specialist will provide guidance and mentorship to staff focused on the Climate Finance workstream. The selected candidate will also work closely with the Climate Change Director and be part of the Climate Change Leadership Team.

The Lead Climate Finance Specialist will be expected to demonstrate solid understanding of key climate change and finance issues as well as a proven track record in originating and structuring innovative climate finance approaches. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate a strong vision and direction for climate finance, have excellent management, communication, and interpersonal skills. The Lead Climate Finance Specialist will be based in Washington, DC and will report to the CFE Practice Manager.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Leadership role in defining, driving and executing CFE’s Climate Finance program.  
• Provide strategic leadership and play a key role in defining and executing SCCFE’s Climate Finance workstream.
• Lead engagement in close collaboration with operational teams and key external partners to source or develop, evaluate and pilot innovative business models, financial structures, and platforms to scale up climate finance in World Bank client countries.
• Work closely with SCCFE’s Economics, Carbon Markets & Finance, and Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI) leads, as well as climate leads across the World Bank Group, to identify linkages and opportunities for transformational climate finance impact.

Expertise and insight on climate finance.  
• Provide expertise and insight on climate finance, including by tracking and assessing market trends, innovative structures and transactions.
• Play a leading role in coordinating across the World Bank Group on the climate finance agenda and narrative.
• Represent the unit in high profile public and internal climate finance meetings, on behalf of the Practice Manager, when needed.
• Build effective relationships with key external and internal partners, including government client counterparts, private sector, thinktanks, NGOs, IFC, MIGA, WB Global Practices, regional teams, and the Development Finance (DFI) and Operations, Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Vice Presidencies – to represent the unit’s business needs and influence policy and partnership outcomes.

Management and leadership of operational aspects of Climate Finance pillar. 
• Manage, track and strategize the budget and deliverables of SCCFE’s Climate Finance work stream, including defining fundraising strategy.
• Provide professional mentoring to core staff of the Climate Finance workstream, and to the wider team in SCCFE as needed.
• Work closely with the Program Manager of the Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI) and the Climate Support Facility (CSF), who oversee trust fund management and donor relations, ensuring close convergence with the rest of SCCFE and CCG.

Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the SCCFE Practice Manager and/or CCG Director. 

Selection Criteria

• Master’s/advanced degree in finance, economics, or public administration, as well as experience in fields relevant to climate change or climate finance.
• At least 12 years of experience, including demonstrated experience in designing and implementing innovative investment programs.
• Experience sourcing, structuring, negotiating and driving impact-driven investments.
• Entrepreneurial mindset to spot opportunities, connect the dots across a large organization, and initiate action.
• Strategic mindset to spot critical issues and recommend creative solutions.
• Ability to multi-task; comfort with an evolving and changing work environment.
• Experience in at least two world regions, a corporate assignment or successful and diverse operational experience supporting clients to build capacity and lead complex policy dialogue on education.
• Well-established networks among key individuals and organizations associated with the climate and environment agenda, ideally across public, private, and civil society.
• Proven ability to work with C-suite business leaders and leading experts in academia, Director-level staff in the World Bank Group or equivalent in other international organizations, senior-most government officials, non-governmental organizations, as well as with representatives from grassroots organizations.
• Sound managerial skills, with proven capacity to recruit, manage and motivate team members in complex, highly decentralized, and matrixed organizational settings and manage budgets and work programs.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in other languages desirable.
• Proven ability and track record in guiding teams and mentoring staff technically, operationally, and behaviorally.
• Track record of building trustful partnerships with external partners, including development partners, to coordinate support for clients and raise resources. 

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.