Purpose of Job

The Director, Climate Strategy and Delivery, Sustainable Business and Infrastructure (Director SBI) forms part of the leadership group for the Climate Strategy and Delivery (CSD) department. The Director leads the CSD Sustainable Business and Infrastructure (CSD-SBI) team which has responsibility for CSD activities across the corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors. In addition, the CSD-SBI team is responsible for implementing the Bank’s Paris alignment, green finance and economic assessment methodologies across all project and activities in these sectors.

The purpose of the role is accordingly to ensure delivery of the CSD’s objectives in this area, to provide strong and engaged leadership for the CSD-SBI team and to be part of the overall CSD team leadership group, providing support, advice and strategic insights to the Managing Director and the other directors in the team.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Director SBI will demonstrate high commitment to the Bank’s mandate and institutional goals combined with the ability to create an environment conducive to technical excellence, lead strategic thinking for the sector, and provide leadership with a consistent approach towards staff, clients, and shareholders.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation and implementation of the Bank’s strategy to promote green, low-carbon and climate resilient outcomes across the Bank’s countries of operations in the corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors.
• Work closely with the Managing Directors for the Bank’s Sustainable Infrastructure and Corporate Sectors groups and their respective teams to ensure (1) delivery of those groups’ annual targets for green investment volumes, and (2) an efficient, robust, transparent and consistent assessment for their sectors of: green finance attribution, Paris Agreement alignment, climate risk and economic costs and benefits.
• Supervise the review of all investments in the relevant sectors, ensuring the quality and comprehensiveness of the green and climate aspects of these investments and the related submissions to the Bank’s management committees and Board.
• Promote innovation across the relevant sectors to create opportunities for new investments and reforms.
• Lead the formulation, prioritisation and delivery, in close cooperation with Banking and colleagues in VP3 based in the Bank’s resident offices, of a comprehensive approach to green and climate policy dialogue in the relevant sectors across the Bank’s countries of operations. Accountable for the quality and coherence of this policy dialogue, including reviewing related Technical Cooperation proposals.
• Contribute, in close cooperation with the Bank’s Environmental and Social Department, to the development of robust, credible methodologies for the assessment of Paris Agreement alignment in relation to mitigation of all the Bank’s activities (other than for financial institutions investments) and mitigation green finance. Support the Bank’s representation in key international bodies defining such methodologies and reporting of the Bank’s climate finance in accordance with these methodologies.
• Work closely with the Director CSD-Green Financial Systems, to ensure the development of robust and credible methodologies for the assessment of Paris Agreement alignment in relation to climate adaptation and resilience activities.
• Originate and maintain key relationships in the relevant sectors, across clients, investors, authorities, industry bodies, other IFIs and other stakeholders. Represent the Bank in this context including at relevant conferences and events.
• Provide inputs to the Bank’s country and sector strategies, as well as other applicable policies and strategies, in the areas covered by the team.
• Define the team’s strategic direction and operational goals in its sector. Advise the Managing Director on all sector related operational and strategic matters, prepare proposals for the annual business plan and budget and provide inputs for business plans.
• Act as a key member of the CSD leadership group, working with the Managing Director and other Directors to define and promote a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence across the CSD group and with other stakeholders in the Bank, maximising synergies.
• Accountable for the engagement and effective overall management of the CSD-SBI team including recruitment, compensation, performance management, coaching and development. Where matrix reporting is in place, work jointly with the country counterpart when setting objectives and completing performance appraisals for relevant staff.
• Champion and role model the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours, ensuring adherence within the team so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong, engaged manager and leader. Ability to motivate team performance through a people centred approach to management. Coaching, mentoring and leadership skills.
• Strong capacity for innovation and a demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo and drive new areas of business and policy.
• Deep understanding of climate and nature related investment, technology, business model and policy in one or more of the relevant sectors. It is not expected that the Director should have deep expertise across all sectors covered by the CSD-SBI team but must have the requisite technical understanding to be able credibly to lead across the full spectrum of the team’s activities.
• Strong and demonstrable professional experience and interest in one or more of the key themes of focus of CSD-SBI.
• Strong organisational and management skills. Ability to manage a number of varied and complex tasks, resilient attitude towards conflicting priorities and challenges.
• Highly developed communication and negotiation skills suited for a wide variety of people at high level both inside and outside the Bank.
• Ability to listen to the views of business partners and to be sensitive to and understand cultural differences, transition success factors and the complexity of political constraints in the countries of operations.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients and colleagues in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Significant number of years of relevant industry experience at a major merchant/investment, commercial or development bank, private equity firm, industrial company, asset management firm or consulting firm operating to international standards.
• Significant knowledge of, and experience in, one or more of energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable food and agriculture, industrial decarbonisation.
• Good understanding of green/climate technologies and key aspects of their financing through commercial transactions.
• Substantial experience in climate-related issues including a sound understanding of international climate policy and stakeholders.
• Experience across a number of different countries and contexts, demonstrating a capacity to operate effectively in a range of environments and respond effectively to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Extensive experience of leading complex transactions through the full project life cycle.
• Proven track record of delivering both business and policy outcomes in a tough and challenging environment.
• Experience of and judgement on integrity matters.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a business and a team.
• Experience in the Bank’s region and/or fluency in a language of one or more of the Bank’s countries of operations are desirable but not essential.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people’s lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does. A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements