Senior Energy Specialist – GG  

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? 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 East Asia and Pacific Region (EAP) and the EAP Regional Infrastructure Department (IEADR)

The EAP region serves 22 client countries with a total population of about 2 billion. Clients range from large IBRD countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines; to smaller IDA countries (or IDA/IBRD blend countries) such as Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, several Pacific Island states, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. The EAP region presents a dramatic illustration of the global dynamics, opportunities and risks of the 21st century. EAP has made spectacular progress towards achieving the WBG’s twin goals, eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity – extreme poverty declined faster than any other region and the income of the bottom 40 percent increased substantially. Such a rapid transformation has made EAP one of the most dynamic regions in the world. However, it also faces important challenges such as managing the largest shift in rural-to-urban population in human history, coping with rising inequality, addressing large infrastructure gaps, dealing with climate change, and building human capital. 

The EAP Infrastructure Department (IEADR) is responsible for project lending and policy advisory work in the energy, transport and related climate action and private capital mobilization space for the EAP Region. The department presently comprises an energy and extractives unit (IEAE1) and a transport unit (IEAT1).  Each of these two units is managed by a Practice Manager (PM) based in Singapore.  We have a total complement of about 80 staff who are based in over a dozen EAP countries and Washington DC. The department is led by a Regional Infrastructure Director (RD), who reports to the EAP Regional Vice-President (RVP). The RD and PMs are part of the EAP Regional Management Team and are also from a matrix organization perspective a part of the Infrastructure Practice Group (PG) led by the Infrastructure Vice President (INFVP). 

The department has a transport and energy lending portfolio of approximately $10 billion – and a diverse program of analytic and advisory work. The portfolio includes a mix of instruments – Investment Project Financing (IPF), Development Policy Financing (DPF), and Program for Results (PforR). The principal themes underlying the infrastructure department’s lending and advisory engagements include: access to modern energy services and all-weather roads and transport services; transitioning to a clean energy mix away from coal, green urban mobility and transportation systems; building climate resilient energy and transportation infrastructure; integrating urban planning and mobility solutions; financial restructuring of state-owned infrastructure enterprises and debt-management at the infrastructure sector and economy-level; regional infrastructure network connectivity, integration and trade; governance reforms and financial strengthening of state-owned enterprises/utilities; and reforming sector  regulations to improve the environment for  efficient private finance solutions.  

The EAP Energy Unit (IEAE1) support clients in the region in addressing diverse energy sector challenges, including sector reform, utility efficiency and restructuring, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy access, and regional integration. In particular, since the region represents a substantial portion of global greenhouse gas emissions and coal consumption, the unit’s engagement focuses on facilitating energy transition in the region while meeting rising energy demand to sustain economic development, leveraging the breadth of WBG instruments, including investment lending, guarantees for public private partnerships, technical assistance, program for results and development policy lending. The region’s energy program is consisted of an active portfolio of about 20 IBRD/IDA projects totaling over US$2.15 billion and about 60 active Recipient- and Bank-executed trust funds which supplements our Bank-funded work program. 

The EAP Energy Unit (IEAE1) is now seeking to recruit a Senior Energy Specialist to be based in Beijing, China. He/she will lead the Bank team in carrying out policy dialog and managing the Bank’s ongoing lending portfolio and ASA programs to help facilitate energy transition and address global public goods, and possibly cross-supporting a few other countries in the EAP region. The successful candidate will report to the EAP Energy Practice Manager, who is based in Singapore.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Operational, analytical, and technical work:

 • Country program. Lead or co-lead energy projects in China, and potentially other energy programs in the EAP region. The candidate is expected to lead or co-lead the policy dialogues for energy sector development, particularly for the power sector and the heating sector, with the respective government agencies and development partners, participate in mission for preparation and supervision of lending operations and analytical work. The candidate will lead or co-lead the team and provide guidance on processing and procedures of Bank operations using various instruments (DPF, PforR, IPF). He/she is expected to contribute to the review of policy and regulatory frameworks, sector engagement strategy, institutional arrangements; project designs, project cost and financing, review of economic and financial analyses of investment projects, consultant reports, project implementation plans, preparation of project documentations including Project Concept Note (PCN), Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Implementation Completion Report (ICR) and mission Aide Memoires, Implementation Supervision Reports (ISRs); track overall project progress and identify issues requiring attention; and participate in key project workshops, training and other events. The candidate is also expected to lead/join the energy team to support cross sectoral work and Country Partnership/ Development Policy operations discussions.

• Analytical work. Lead or co-Lead analytical work and operations, including (i) analytical work in China on energy transition as a continuation of the previous analytical work on energy transition and China Climate Change Development Report; and (ii) analytical work and coordination for heating sector reform related tasks to prepare and supervise new lending operation(s). Design and implement analytical work – both as a team leader to lead the analytical work or as a team member to provide specific inputs. Such work may include, for example, conducting or reviewing economic and financial analyses of investment projects, reviewing of policy and regulatory frameworks, and related reports from advisory and analytical work. 

• Stakeholders engagement. Represent the energy team and TTLs at project meetings and workshops, follow-up on key government actions (i.e., procurement, reporting), proactive identification and resolution of Bank/client relationships, monitor changes in government that may affect the energy programs, collection of sector information, etc. Represent the energy team and the Bank in coordinating development efforts with other partners engaged in supporting the energy sector.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in a relevant field/discipline (e.g., energy, engineering, economics, finance, or business and administration, or public policy) and a minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience, including in the energy sector.
• Strong knowledge in World Bank operations policies and procedures and experience in leading and delivering Bank operations, including management of analytical work and lending operations using various instruments such as DPL, PforR and IPF, and in Bank-supported IBRD/IDA regional operations, and management of TFs.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and implementing projects and analytical work in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, power/heating sector reforms and energy transition will be an advantage.
• Proven ability to lead and work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills and proven track record of effective communication, including on difficult issues, and build strong partnerships with clients and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries.

Technical competencies:

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.
• Analytical skills – understands and runs sector modeling work, economic and financial analysis
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays 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 current sector.
• Energy Sector Technologies – Direct experience with depth in at least one area: heating supply, renewable, other types of power generation, transmission and distribution, energy efficiency, energy technologies for clean energy transition such as battery storage, CCUS, hydrogen, power system planning, energy economics, energy policy and regulations, etc.

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.

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