Background / General description
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, pursues its mission of reducing poverty and improving people’s lives by promoting private sector development through investment and advisory services.
With Climate Change as a strategic pillar of IFC’s business, the Climate Business Department (CBD) provides leadership on climate change and support to increase IFC’s climate business. CBD is responsible for sourcing and supporting investment transactions in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or help clients/developing countries adapt to climate change. Within CBD, the Climate Change Support group (GCCCS) leads IFC’s climate strategy and business. GCCCS works closely with IFC’s industry investment groups, including Infrastructure; Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services; and the Financial Institutions Group, as well as with appropriate counterparts within the World Bank. The Energy Efficiency (EE) Specialist plays a central role in this global team.
The Opportunity
The GCCCS includes a staff of industry specialists who are strategic thinkers, with deep market knowledge and technical expertise in climate-relevant sectors, and whose private sector experience has built a network of clients and an understanding of the business perspective.
GCCCS is seeking to hire an Energy Efficiency Industry Specialist to help grow IFC’s industrial and commercial EE business in key sectors, including HVAC, refrigeration, and industrial EE. IFC invests directly in energy efficiency projects, which are often a component of a larger project, and also indirectly through local financial intermediaries, such as banks. IFC wants to grow this existing business and develop new models that engage EE manufacturers and suppliers, and work through supply chains.
The successful candidate will provide strategic guidance, support innovation of new business models for climate change, and support investment appraisals. The EE Industry Specialist will work across IFC’s Industry groups and global regions, effectively engaging staff from diverse groups such as manufacturing, financial institutions, agriculture, environmental and social standards and advisory.
Duties and Accountabilities:
Develop and implement plans to increase IFC’s EE business, including:
- Understand IFC’s existing EE business through all investment departments, and existing EE programs. Understand industry groups’ perspectives, goals and limitations.
- Identify opportunities and develop strategies to increase IFC’s EE business.
- Use network of vendors and EE suppliers to develop business models to for EE investment; this might include models that leverage performance-based remuneration, risk-sharing or investment/advisory product offerings.
- Originate new leads, opportunities and transactions based on existing contacts in the sector;
- Track emerging market trends and regulatory frameworks;
- Evaluate potential energy and cost savings across different industry sectors (commercial, industrial and agricultural).
- Work across IFC departments and possibly the WBG to implement strategies and initiatives.
- Engage outside strategic partners that provide solutions for energy efficiency.
Support investment transactions:
- Act as an in-house advisor to investment staff in appraising new private sector proposals for investments in energy efficiency in emerging economies;
- Liaise with IFC clients’ technical staff, project engineers and co-investors’/lenders’ engineers;
- Provide sector perspective and contribute to legal documentation and frameworks;
- Provide financial analysts with operational and capital assumptions to incorporate in models;
- In consultation with other specialists, supervise IFC’s portfolio of energy efficiency investments, including field inspection as necessary and assist in resolving operational weaknesses;
Knowledge Management and Dissemination:
- Help identify topics relevant to IFC industry groups and EE-related content for IFC’s knowledge platforms.
- Develop relationships within IFC that create pathways for knowledge dissemination that leads to increased IFC EE business.
Selection Criteria:
- At least ten years of experience in industrial and commercial energy efficiency, preferably with experience in emerging economies.
- Advanced degree in engineering or related field.
- Deep technical understanding of the latest developments and technologies in energy efficiency, including the value chains for industrial heating and refrigeration systems, and HVAC; as well as in energy intensive sectors such as cement, chemicals, glass, pulp and paper, and food and beverages.
- An extensive network of senior-level contacts—covering key companies, experts, and financiers in developing and developed markets;
- Sound business judgment to identify the strengths and weaknesses of projects and company business plans, and to effectively evaluate technical, commercial, and environmental issues;
- Ability to evaluate capital and operational cost parameters for different technologies;
- Knowledge of industry benchmarks for operational efficiency;
- Understanding of financial models and how energy efficiency investments are made through banks and other financial intermediaries.
- Ability to understand and manage disparate perspectives and goals to achieve a unified outcome;
- Excellent communication skills in both oral and written English; additional languages skills (Mandarin, Spanish, French) are an advantage;
IFC offers a highly challenging and rewarding working environment with outstanding opportunities for professional growth, as well as attractive conditions.
All applications will be treated in strictest confidence.
For Corporate Information and to apply to the position, please click the apply button below.
Deadline is Sep 23, 2015. Only selected candidates will be contacted.
