Principal Energy Specialist

Job Vacancy | Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Principal Energy Specialist is assigned to the Energy Sector Office (SG-ENE) within the Sectors Department 1 (SD1) and will be initially assigned to the Emerging Areas Practice Team. SD1 aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients. SD1, which comprises the Energy and Transport Sector Offices, delivers and supports sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RD) and resident missions (RM) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.

SG-ENE leads ADB’s energy sector operations. The office manages policy development, oversight of strategy implementation, knowledge management, budget management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance (TA) processing and administration in the energy sector in the five regions: Central and West Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. SG-ENE is also responsible for implementing ADB corporate initiatives in the emerging areas, energy transition, and Energy Transition Mechanism & Partnership programs, in select countries.

You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

You will report to the designated Director, Energy, and will oversee junior team members.

Your Role

As a Principal Energy Specialist, you will lead and oversee the formulation and articulation of energy sector policy and strategies, engage DMC governments in policy dialogue, and conduct ADB’s activities to support sector policy reforms, including identifying opportunities for private sector development or public-private partnerships (PPPs). You will lead the identification, development, processing, and implementation of investment and TA projects and non-lending products and services (NLPS) in the energy sector that contribute to ADB’s goal of reducing poverty. You will oversee and ensure quality of project development, implementation, administration and overall results for loans, TA projects and non-lending products and services in the energy sector. You will build effective partnerships with other departments such as Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), Office of Markets Development and Public-Private Partnership (OMDP), Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD), the Regional Departments (RDs), and with cofinancing units to deliver value-added services to the DMCs.

You will:

• Lead and establish and cascade the energy strategies and operational plans in support of ADB’s Strategy 2030. Develop and maintain energy policies, strategies, and operational plans. Monitor operations trends against the directions set out by these corporate documents.
• Lead in technical and operational matters on frontier technologies and integrated climate-resilient cross-sectoral solutions for decarbonation in the energy sector and all other relevant sectors that rely on energy as an input.
• Foster and drive innovation in policy and operational issues, thought leadership and future looking bank-wide initiatives to help develop future business.
• Work in partnership with other sector offices, regional departments, and with the Private Sector Operations Department and Office of Markets Development and Public-Private Partnership to find collaborative and innovative solutions to complex development challenges.
• Identify and develop knowledge in new emerging areas and develop flagship events, studies, and publications to produce seminal knowledge as the basis for future operations.
• Provide corporate knowledge support, including reporting, briefing papers, and speeches.
• Provide guidance, advice, and comment on energy sector issues, including regional cooperation and integration, sector reforms, and governance, in the initiation, development, processing and administration of loans, grants, and TAs.
• Ensure that the ENE Sector Office remains at the forefront of the global development debate on regional issues on energy.
• Manage global/regional knowledge and financing partnerships (donors, private sector, academia, civil society organizations and development community) and establish robust professional networks.
• Work with Partner Funds Divisions in influencing the mobilization of external cofinancing (grants, investments, and concessional loans) and manage relevant financing partnership facilities.
• Ensure key technical, economic, financial, climate, governance, inclusivity, sustainability and cross-cutting issues are incorporated into projects.
• Closely coordinate with RDs, RMs, Office of Safeguards, CCSD, OMDP and PSOD in identifying, developing, implementing, and administering loans, grants, and TAs for the energy sector.
• Oversee/ensure quality and compliance of lending and non-lending products and operations with respect to energy policy and strategies.
• Identify the priority areas in the energy sector in the region/countries assigned, undertake upstream and analytical work, including sector and SOE reforms, and propose the modality and nature of the required loans and TA support.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners for knowledge and project opportunities. Respond to external inquiries as needed.
• Contribute to internal and external training and conferences on climate change, clean energy and other relevant activities for advocacy, dissemination, and knowledge sharing.
• Create and lead multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral teams and ensure the overall quality of its work.
• Lead, supervise, and support reporting staff, including their performance and development.
• Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff. Mentor junior staff and support their learning and integration into SG-ENE and SD1 in effective ways.
• Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff’s workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in engineering, economics, finance, business administration, or related fields; a University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience.
• Solid understanding of the energy sector, including a good understanding of the challenges and issues that need to be overcome by ADB’s DMCs to effectively transition to clean energy.
• Credible expert in field of expertise with recognized ability to lead projects and share relevant knowledge to benefit the broad ADB community.
• Significant expertise within a specific area of ADB’s operations (economic, sector, or thematic), or breadth across multiple areas with in-depth knowledge within one area.
• Ability to perform effectively as a mission leader or team lead, exercising supervision, coordination, and planning responsibilities over multi-disciplinary team/unit.
• Ability to mentor team members, providing guidance and advice on project or technical-related matters.
• Ability to coach team members to develop their capabilities/potential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• International experience working in several countries.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for TI3.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

• Paid leave (including parental)
• Medical and health benefits
• Life and other insurance plans
• Staff development
• Retirement plan
• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
• Expatriate benefits (for international staff)

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 69 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Visit ADB Careers FAQ for more information.

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