Senior Energy Specialist

Senior Energy Specialist

Job #:req25422Organization:World BankSector:EnergyGrade:GGTerm Duration: 4 years 0 monthsRecruitment Type:International RecruitmentLocation:Washington, DC,United StatesRequired Language(s):EnglishPreferred Language(s):Working Level SpanishClosing Date:1/5/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

 

 Description

The World Bank Group

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of fiveinstitutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.  For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LCR) Region

The WBG serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle-income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region's people living in poverty. The last Bank's strategy for LCR focused on three pillars: (a) supporting the foundations for inclusive growth; (b) investing in human capital and protecting the poor; and (c) building resilience. In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, this strategy will need to be adjusted to better support the countries deal with a health crisis without precedents and an economic crisis not seen since modern statistical records started in 1900. Yet, the basic elements of the strategy: accelerating growth (following a projected GDP contraction in 2020 of 7.2%), investing in human capital, including in health (in the most affected region by COVID19), and building resilience appear fully relevant.

Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR): https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/lac     

The Infrastructure Practice Group

Globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor. The Infrastructure Practice Group is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.

Infrastructure Global Practice

The World Bank Group helps developing countries build smart infrastructure that supports inclusive and sustainable growth, expands markets, creates job opportunities, promotes competition, and contributes to a cleaner future. We help countries address their unique infrastructure needs by working with the public and private sectors. Infrastructure improves lives by connecting people to opportunity. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure

Energy & Extractives Global Practice

Energy is at the heart of development.  Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable and modern energy - Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 -- is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the center of efforts to tackle climate change. For more information:  https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Energy Unit (ILCE1)

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Energy Unit (ILCE1) operates in the context of the overall Bank mission while focusing on some of the key challenges for the region, which include improving energy security (through both supply and demand side interventions) and efficiency of sectoral enterprises, increasing financing for investments, supporting reforms in the power and gas sectors as well as the shift towards utilities of the future, and increasing resiliency to climate change. Energy services development is an increasingly critical element in the Region's strategy for promoting green and inclusive growth and reducing poverty.

The unit seeks a Senior Energy Specialist to develop and lead a complex sector dialogue and a portfolio of investment lending operations, as well as analytical work, primarily for upper and lower middle- income countries (CMU to be determined, likely Central America). The Bank support to the energy sector in the region is integrated in a coordinated effort led by the Governments and partners in overall sectoral reform as well as a variety of sub-sectors, including electricity legal, regulatory, market, utilities and institutional framework; energy services affordability and subsidy reform; energy utilities of the future; energy efficiency; renewable energy development and integration into power systems and markets; social and climate resiliency, with the common objective of contributing significantly to the countries' economic growth through a transparent, viable and sustainable energy sector development; innovative financing of clean energy solutions through regional and sustainable mechanisms, in particular to attract further private sector participation. As a member of the team, a strong and versatile task team leader, you will become a key representation of the Energy Global Practice in the LAC region, contribute to the unit's activities in various sub-regions and client countries in LAC, and will have an important level of responsibility and autonomy in conducting the sector policy dialogue and leading task teams (initial focus will be Central America, with support and contributions to other subregions).

Duties and Accountabilities

You will report to the Practice Manager of ILCE1 and work alongside a group of professionals based in Washington DC and throughout the region, performing the following duties:

Liaison with client within Government and key sectoral players. Play an active role in the Bank's policy dialogue with the authorities, sectoral players at national and state level, development partners, and others on strategic energy issues and implementation of ongoing energy sector reforms, and on energy transition and decarbonization. Lead the organization of large events and high-level sector roundtables. You will be encouraged to forge positive relationships with organizations and individuals which can better inform the energy strategies and result in higher quality implementation and impact of Bank-supported programs. This will require effective communication and outreach to key partners including client governments, academia, civil society organizations, media, other development partners and other Bank Group units. Represent the energy team and TTLs at project meetings and workshops, follow-up on key government actions (i.e., procurement, reporting), proactive identification and resolution of Bank/client relationships, monitor changes in government that may affect the energy programs, etc.

Business development and leading lending operations. Take the lead and/or contribute to business development and to the preparation and supervision of investment operations in the energy sector of different LAC countries (to be determined), including Public Private Partnerships and innovative financing investments in infrastructure projects. The operations demand a good understanding of energy sector's  legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks; energy markets, energy transition (renewable energy development and integration to the grid, energy efficiency) transition to the utilities of the future (including electro-mobility) Public Private Partnership investments in infrastructure projects as well as regional integration projects.

Lead analytical and advisory work in the energy sector and related areas, including political economy and macro-fiscal aspects, in collaboration with other GPs.

Lead teams and provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff on operational, policy dialogue and analytical activities.

Contribute to the Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) approach. The LAC Energy team is a key contributor to the WBG strategy for MFD with the objective to help countries maximize their development resources by drawing on a range of financing sources and sustainable private sector solutions. You will actively seek opportunities to apply MFD principles in our work program and build a strong internal WBG partnership with IFC and MIGA as well as networks with private sector partners that can contribute to the achievement of our development objectives.

Actively contribute to the dissemination of our activities, within the WBG and in external events. Provide inputs to operational products/outputs for sector and country briefings, analytical and advisory reports, portfolio performance and monitoring reviews, and liaison between the energy and extractives practice and the country unit on energy issues.

Selection Criteria

* Master's degree in electrical engineering, energy economics or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development.

* At least 8 years of combined experience in the World Bank, other international institutions and/or companies, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with consistent record of successful engagement with complex projects.

* Extensive Bank operational experience including with sophisticated power markets and clients, and with a variety of Bank instruments including IPF, P4R, DPF and guarantees. Ideally, the specialist should have both IPF and DPF accreditations.

* Strong business development and operational experience to be able to identify WB financing opportunities, as well as to prepare and supervise IPFs. 

* Excellent understanding of energy policies, regulations, economics, technologies or strategies, utilities reform, private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work; experience leading and/or playing key roles in policy dialogue with clients and partners, in particular in high middle income country contexts.

* Strong experience in planning, designing, and implementing power infrastructure projects including renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, and on-grid and off-grid electrification and access projects; Hands-on experience with infrastructure projects with power sector utilities will be a distinct advantage; certification and/or previous experience designing or implementing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) will be highly valued.

* Strong knowledge of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Economics, Markets & Institutions; Oil & Gas; Energy Subsidy Reform; Utility Reform; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance.

* Strong knowledge of Carbon Finance and of applications of new energy technologies would be advantageous.

* A consistent track record in carrying out high quality and timely analytical reports and activities.

* Active listening skills, excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence the audience and build positive relationships with clients, different partners and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with disperse teams located in different countries.

* Experience working with large global teams, producing high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision; Consistent track record of teamwork and ability to lead and mentor junior staff, to advise and guide senior staff in your core skills, to produce high-quality policy and project related written outputs with autonomy and in a highly visible country profile.

* Demonstrated experience in fragile states, including field assignments, in preparing and implementing projects and analytical work in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and power sector reforms will be an advantage.

* High level of excitement, ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements.

* Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients.

* Proficiency in spoken and written English and ability and willingness to learn Spanish. Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish is highly valued.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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