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 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 & 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 to source, evaluate and execute 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.
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.
