Purpose of Job

The Associate Director, Green Capital Markets and Specialised Financial Services is responsible to lead the development of green capital market development and advice to Banking teams structuring Green, Sustainable and Sustainability-Linked Bonds (GSS+) and Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLL). The AD will further lead the Bank’s internal and external engagement in the areas of green capital markets, standard setting for GSS+, relevant market developments and KPI-setting process for sustainability-linked instruments including bonds and loans. In addition, the AD will be co-responsible for the delivery of green Annual Business Investment (ABI) targets of the Specialised Financial Services and Trade Finance team of the Financial Institutions Banking Group.

In coordination with all relevant sector and policy functions in the Climate Strategy and Delivery (CSD) Group, as well as other relevant EBRD departments, the AD will, for the product range of:-

• Green and sustainable capital market instruments (issued by corporates and financial institutions)
• KPI-linked products including sustainability-linked bonds and loans (corporate and financial institutions)
• Green trade finance
• Green components of other structured financial intermediary products including insurance and leasing:

(1) lead on the development of relevant approaches and standards both for internal purposes and in collaboration with other MDBs or external standard setters, as the case may require;

(2) work with CSD sector teams (including Sustainable Business and Infrastructure and Climate Strategy and Regional Delivery), Banking teams and other relevant EBRD departments (including the Environmental and Sustainability, Capital and Financial Market Development, Treasury, Risk etc.) to operationalise, mainstream and advise on the implementation of such approaches;

(3) oversee their application across EBRD transactions including in terms of quality control;

(4) function as a “centre of excellence” and demonstrate, as well as continue to accumulate, market intelligence including in relation to practical application of these financial instruments.

(5) represent EBRD externally in fora related to green capital markets, including relevant MDB working groups, EU and market initiatives as indicated below.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Lead the definition of the strategic approach for GET business and policy delivery in the area of Green Capital Markets and Specialised Green Products, in coordination with relevant Banking Team Directors; ensure that GET business and policy objectives are reflected in the specific sector strategies.
• With sector banking teams and CSD/GFS sub-regional units, hold joint accountability for delivery of the Annual Business Investment (ABI) target in the area of Green Capital Markets and Specialised Green Products, ensuring adequate CSD support for project origination, structuring and implementation. This will recognise the strong linkages in the EBRD business model between investments and policy action.
• Develop innovative instruments and regulatory solutions where launching of green capital market or specialised instrument is of primary focus. Ensure the mainstreaming and consistency of capital market and specialised products delivery across CSD/GFS regional teams.
• Coordinate planning for relevant sectoral green policy actions with CSD regional heads to provide input to the annual green policy planning that identifies commitments by country management and CSD related to the prioritisation, engagement strategies, external coordination and resource allocation for green policy action.
• Build consensus within the Bank in cooperation with banking and country teams and other key stakeholders on the handling of green and sustainable capital market and other specialised green products, establish appropriate next steps for EBRD’s contribution to the green capital market development in the EBRD countries of operation.
• Identify, commission, and carry out frontier green business development, across the relevant business area, in partnership with sector and country banking teams, focusing on new green finance opportunities.
• Oversee the Paris alignment assessment and GET finance attribution processes for all investments in the described business area.
• Initiate, prioritize and ensure delivery of green policy actions in the relevant business area, including implementation monitoring and impact analysis; this means oversight of HQ or Resident Offices (RO) colleagues, support for RO or HQ management, and direct engagement.
• Follow and continue to accumulate intelligence on relevant market developments and engage with market players and establish relevant networks/relationships.
• Develop long-term stakeholder relationships, with international initiatives including Climate Bond Initiative (CBI) and the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) on sustainability-linked standards, dedicated local/regional networks and market intelligence – with relevant authorities, policy makers, standard setters and the private sector.
• Represent the Bank in relevant high-level meetings, events and fora.
• In coordination with sectoral directors, hold accountability for the interaction and coordination with other development organisations, primarily MDBs, on climate activities and initiatives to ensure consistency of approach and effectiveness of delivery.
• Manage CSD staff, including setting objectives, oversee their delivery and provide guidance on operational delivery and professional growth.
• Develop and oversee the delivery of GET related knowledge sharing activities and initiatives. The AD will be expected to become recognised as a thought leader in the relevant business area by internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as a key member of CSD’s leadership group, and coordinate closely with the relevant sector management leadership group, developing and contributing to a culture of openness, excellence and delivery, with a particular focus on trouble-shooting of obstacles to delivery.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Main qualifications, experience and skills

• Master’s degree preferred (finance, economics, climate science, engineering, risk management, energy, environmental) and/or relevant experience applicable to climate related investments, green capital markets and/or green deal structuring.
• Strong understanding of climate related investment, policy and strategy at international, national and sectoral levels, in particular in the described business areas.
• Extensive hands-on experience working with a wide range of green financial and/or capital market products, including fixed income, lending, equity and other products;
• Network in the EU and internationally, recognised as a thought leader in key international fora responsible for the development of methodologies and approaches to climate and sustainable finance and green capital markets.
• Excellent understanding of climate change science and the approaches, methodologies, tools to assess physical climate risks and the implications of climate change in terms of economic and social impacts.
• Very good understanding of methodologies for financial and risk analysis and management.
• Excellent computer literacy, in particular with understanding of modelling, data management and processing.
• Good understanding of policy analysis and policy formulation in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Sound understanding of business and finance principles.
• Very good knowledge of carbon intensive sector dynamics, analytics and market structure, internationally and in the EBRD’s Countries of Operation.
• Experience in emerging markets and developing countries. Extensive knowledge of the various market and/or policy participants in the global capital/financial markets and emerging markets in particular.

Competences

• Excellent written/oral communication skills in English and preferably in another language of the Bank (French, Russian or Arabic);
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, reflecting the external-facing nature of these roles and the importance of effective and compelling communication to a wide range of stakeholders;
• Capacity to pitch climate action as a compelling commercial value proposition and / or policy prospectus that takes account of business drivers and local political economy factors;
• Experience in green capital market product design including review and formulation of sustainable finance frameworks, including with sustainability-linked bond and loan products;
• Track record of managing high-level policy dialogue with governments, regulators and market participants and multi-stakeholder platforms for policy dialogue;
• Ability to design, manage and execute technical cooperation projects, including preparation of budget and management of consultants and their work;
• Ability to operate consistently within business guidelines and ethics and work sensitively in multicultural environments, building effective working relations with clients and colleagues.
• Influencing, negotiation and relationship building skills, with both internal and external partners.
• 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.
• Familiarity with role and requirements of EBRD and/or other international financing institutions and/or development agencies.
• People management skills. Proven track record as team manager for project preparation or implementation tasks, consulting and advisory and/or policy development.
• Experience with managing diverse teams and driving engagement. Ability to motivate team performance through a people centred approach to management. Coaching, mentoring and leadership skills. Capacity to operate effectively in a matrix structure.
• Strong strategic, organisational and management skills. Ability to manage a number of varied and complex tasks, resilient attitude towards conflicting priorities and challenges.
• Experience and familiarity in working within multicultural projects and teams.

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.