Purpose of Job

The MD, Climate Strategy and Delivery is part of the Vice Presidency of Policy and Partnerships (VP3) Management Team. The MD is responsible for driving the development and implementation of the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition (GET) approach, setting the ambition and direction for the next Strategic & Capital Framework (SCF)’s green agenda, and ensuring the alignment of the Bank’s activities with the principles of international climate agreements. The role is responsible both for shaping the organisation required to deliver on the climate and nature action agenda, and for leading and managing delivery.

Working closely with colleagues across the Bank, the MD will maximise the Bank’s green transition impact by combining financing, policy engagement and capacity building – supporting progress towards green, low-carbon, resilient and nature-positive economies in our Countries of Operations through high GET investment levels and maximizing private sector leverage to deliver financing at scale. The MD will also work closely with Climate colleagues in other international institutions and play a part in promoting the EBRD’s climate work externally.

The MD also forms part of the broader VP3 management team, and accordingly has responsibility for participating in shaping the Bank’s overall agenda within the remit of this Vice-Presidency. More specifically the MD co-manages the VP3 regional network, in the form of the Regional Policy and Strategy (RPS) team, with the function of designing and delivering, in partnership with the Bank’s Banking teams, a coherent policy agenda integrating all the Bank’s thematic areas for each country of operation.

This shall be a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of 4 years.

Facts / Scale

• Budget: £6.5 million;
• Number of direct reports: 4-5;
• Number of team members: Climate Strategy and Delivery group is c.70 and Regional Policy and Strategy team is c.60.
• Main interfaces / relationships (not limited to): First Vice President Client Services Group, Vice President Banking and Client Services Group Managing Directors; Environment and Sustainability Department Managing Director; Chief Economist; Managing Director, Corporate Strategy and Director, Operations Committee; Relevant senior counterparts at fellow IFIs and MDBs. The MD is part of the VP3 leadership group and will participate in VP3 Front Office meetings along with leading the CSD management team.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Responsible for the development and implementation of EBRD strategy and activity in the transition of its countries of operations to green, low carbon, resilient and nature positive economies including setting objectives, development areas, funding strategy, staffing (including assessing the most effective way to deliver ambitious targets across the Bank), monitoring of delivery and communications. The scope of engagement includes greening the financial sector, energy systems and industrial decarbonisation, green buildings, natural finance, sustainable cities, food systems and connectivity.
• Coordinate with other department across the Bank to set the direction and ambition of the Strategic & Capital Framework’s green priority.
• Responsible for working closely with Banking sector and regional teams to support the delivery of the Bank’s ambitious green investment goals, including overseeing the identification and maximisation of green finance, and the mitigation of climate risk.
• Responsible for driving cross sectoral collaboration in areas such as water infrastructure and agribusiness, public and private partnerships in urban regeneration or digitalisation, circular economy and smart cities.
• Responsible, in close partnership with relevant departments across the Bank, for defining and delivering the Bank’s green policy agenda, ranging from high-level support to countries of operation in setting their national or sectoral plans (including NDCs, NAPs, LTSs and NBSAPs) through sectoral regulatory support to client-level engagements such as corporate and municipal action plans.
• Responsible for the alignment of the Bank’s operations with the Paris Agreement goals.
• Responsible for continual improvements in integrity, governance and operational efficiency, including optimising principles and operational arrangements for GET governance, methodology, data management and processes to reflect lessons learnt and relevant external developments in sustainable finance.
• Active representation of EBRD in relevant forums, including coordinating the Bank’s participation in the annual COP meetings.
• Jointly oversee the management of the Bank’s Regional Policy and Strategy team, with a shared responsibility to ensure the definition and delivery, through the VP3 regional network, of a coherent policy agenda across all the Bank’s focus areas.
• Champion and role model the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours, ensuring adherence within the team(s) so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Relevant academic background at post-graduate level or equivalent combination of academic or professional qualifications.
• Strong strategic analysis and formulation skills in the climate and green economy area.
• Extensive knowledge of climate change (mitigation and adaptation) and nature finance and investment.
• Experience in leading policy reform dialogue with government authorities and international financial institutions/EU.
• Familiarity with global climate and green policy and trends at both an international (UNFCCC and GBF) and regional, notably EU, level, as well as a familiarity with emerging ESG standards in finance markets.
• Ability to integrate private sector financing skills with global public Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Strong leadership, management and communication skills combined with an ability to motivate highly skilled senior professionals to deliver business objectives effectively in a multi-cultural, results oriented organisation.
• Experience in change management and oversight of transformation activities to improve client delivery in matrixed organisations.
• Ability to guide staff to focus on continuous improvement and effectively inspire a collective sense of achievement.
• Demonstrable client relationship management skills.
• Strong negotiation skills gained in complex and ambiguous operating environments.
• Strong collaboration skills with an ability to find solutions when confronted with unique business challenges in a transition/entrepreneurial context.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Knowledge of one or more languages of the transition region is desirable.

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).