InvestEU Associate, Climate Strategy and Regional Delivery

Requisition ID 33720 Office Country Croatia Office City Zagreb Division Policy and Partnerships Contract Type Fixed Term Contract Length 2 years Posting End Date 03/08/2023

Purpose of Job

The EBRD has entered into an agreement with the European Commission to co-finance projects using the EU’s InvestEU guarantee. The position holder will be the Climate Strategy and Delivery (CSD) team’s counterpart for InvestEU implementation in the regional network and will support the delivery of EBRD’s Green Economy Transition (GET) mandate in CSEE.

Operating under guidance from the AD CSRD CSEE and other Senior members of CSD Team, the Associate will work closely with the CSD InvestEU Programme Manager and the RO Bankers to support the climate proofing process for projects. The Associate will also support the origination, structuring and delivery of a pipeline of eligible investments for InvestEU and related policy dialogue activities in line with GET.

Tasks will include inter-alia providing the detailed region-specific market, technical and policy assessments particularly for the climate proofing; managing and providing the country and region-specific climate inputs into submissions; supporting relevant project-level climate policy discussions; conducting economic appraisal (such as CBA) for projects where needed; and supporting the monitoring and reporting requirements.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Under guidance from Associate Director CSRD CSEE and other Senior members of CSD, and working closely with the CSD InvestEU Programme Manager and RO Bankers, the Associate will support the implementation of InvestEU in the region (including origination, structuring and delivery of a pipeline of eligible investments for InvestEU and related green policy activities in line with GET objectives).

Operating out of Zagreb and travelling frequently across the region, the Associate will be the main counterpart of CSD for GET related matters with Central Europe Resident Offices, ensuring accurate detailed inputs into the climate proofing process, and ensuring coordinated delivery of GET investment and policy objectives across multiple public and private sector counterparts.

The Associate will contribute to the following areas of work in a leading or support capacity:

• Contributing the detailed region-specific inputs to all climate-related documentation needed for the EU approval processes related to the InvesEU supported projects. This will include documentation on policy checks, climate proofing, economic appraisal, InvestEU scoreboards and InvestEU Investment Committee approval documentation.
• Ensuring that projects proposed under the co-financing arrangements are aligned with relevant EU policy and regulatory aspects (e.g. the EU ETS, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Transport, Alternative Fuels, Energy Performance for Buildings Directives, etc.). Coordinating the market research and analysis necessary to demonstrate project-level compliance and alignment with EU policies and regulation, where necessary hiring consultants to conduct targeted studies for this purpose.
• Contribute to the climate policy alignment discussions with the EU institutions (e.g. DG ECFIN, DG CLIMA, DG ENER, DG ENVI, DG GROW, DG MOVE), for projects that fall under EU co-financing agreements.
• Support the planning and delivery of in-country green policy dialogue (PD) including originating and prioritising activities in agreement with CSD and RO Management, proposing engagement strategies, ensuring external coordination, resource allocation, implementation monitoring and impact analysis. Responsible for launching and managing (or supporting) PD technical cooperation assignments (incl. identification of objectives, preparation of ToRs, procurement and management of consultants and connection of results with Banking teams).
• Contribute to ensuring consistency with state aid considerations as laid out in the InvestEU agreement.
• Reviewing the EBRD pipeline to identify suitability of potential projects for inclusion into the InvestEU co-financing agreements.
• Providing early support to operation leaders as needed on technical cooperation and investment project preparation. Work extensively with sector and country banking teams in the delivery of selected investments, including on project origination, structuring, and implementation and participating in presentations to internal management committees and to the Board.
• Monitoring implementation and provide updates and reports for donors as needed and in coordination with the Bank’s Donor Partnerships team and other relevant colleagues.
• Preparing and leading necessary complex and comprehensive market research assignments to support policy dialogue, technical assistance and business development activities.
• Develop long-term stakeholder relationships, dedicated local/regional networks and market intelligence with public authorities, the private sector and civil society so as to lay the ground for impact. In coordination with ROs Management, interact with other development organisations on climate activities and initiatives to ensure consistency of approach and effectiveness of delivery.
• Participate in relevant meetings, events and fora at country and regional level. Actively contribute to policy reform technical working groups set up at country or regional level, and regular follow up with relevant officials to monitor progress on adoption of policy recommendations, secondary legislation or norms.
• Develop and oversee the delivery of GET-related knowledge-sharing activities and initiatives in the Resident Office(s).

  Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

  Education and Skills

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in a technical discipline such as engineering, economics, environmental sustainability or a related discipline.
  • Excellent understanding of climate, energy and resource policy and technical aspects, preferably with in-depth understanding of one or more specific topics or sectors. Sound understanding of business and finance principles.
  • Qualitative and quantitative skills and experience.
  • Familiarity with blended finance instruments and concessional policy considerations.
  • Computer literate (Excel, MS Office suite).
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential; other languages from the Central Europe region are advantageous.

    Required Experience

    • Substantial experience in a consulting, finance, engineering, research/policy or comparable environment.
    • Understanding of the EBRD region advantageous, especially countries of operation in the EU.
    • Excellent understanding of EU climate policy and legislation, EU institutions and funding landscape.

      Desirable Attributes

      • Ability to lead technical and policy discussions, using a constructive and collaborative approach even in complex negotiations.
      • Ability to lead working groups and project teams, while also being able to work independently.
        • Excellent organisational and programme/ project management capacity.
        • People management skills. Proven performance in managing consultants and related assignments as project lead or via project preparation and implementation tasks.
          • Result-oriented, self-motivated, ability to work to and meet tight deadlines and to plan and organise work unsupervised in a logical and efficient manner.
          • Ability to communicate appropriate, concise and accurate information in verbal and written formats, appropriate to the audience at the time and confidence in handling senior stakeholders.
          • Ability to operate consistently within business guidelines and ethics and work sensitively in multicultural environments, building effective working relations with clients and colleagues.

            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.