(Senior) Energy Specialist (ETM Partnership Trust Fund)
Job Vacancy | Monday, June 5, 2023
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
ADB will be rolling-out its operating model which may result in the change of department/group and/or reporting arrangement(s). By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge and accept the possibility of such changes resulting from the new operating model (NOM).
This is a special fixed-term appointment for a period of two (2) years following Section 3.1 (c.) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.
Overview
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 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 68 members.
The position is assigned to the Energy Sector Group (SDSC-ENE) within the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department. SDCC provides leadership, innovation, and knowledge sharing for ADB’s sector and thematic work. SDCC-ENE provides technical leadership and strategic operational support for ADB’s work to increase access to reliable, affordable, low- carbon energy across Asia and the Pacific in line with ADB’s 2021 Energy Policy and Strategy 2030.
Job Purpose
The position will support the implementation of ADB’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM), with a focus on the Energy Transition Mechanism Partnership Trust Fund (ETMPTF). The ETMPTF was established under ADB’s Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility (CEFPF) as a multiple-partner trust fund to mobilize resources for ETM-related activities.
ETM is a replicable and scalable market-based mechanism, which takes advantage of low-cost capital from various concessional, public, and private sources to incentivize the early retirement or repurposing of coal-fired power plants and unlock new investments in clean energy, grid, and storage. Currently, ETM activities are focused on three pilot countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Viet Nam), with some early discussions underway in India, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan. Once scaled up, the ETM aims to retire around half of the coal plant capacity (around 30GW) in the ETM’s three pilot countries in Southeast Asia (by 10–15 years sooner than their original operational life, and thereby, reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 200 million tons per year or 2–3 gigatons cumulatively. The (Senior) Energy Specialist (ETM Partnership Trust Fund) will provide significant technical and operational support to the ETMPTF management team.
The (Senior) Energy Specialist will serve as the assistant fund manager for the ETMPTF, effectively leading the day-to-day operations of the trust fund. The incumbent shall be responsible for providing strategic advice; supporting deal origination, due diligence, and deal execution; reviewing fund applications; monitoring the performance of ETMPTF-supported projects and transactions against the ETMPTF and CEFPF design and monitoring frameworks; ensuring the effective functioning of the ETMPTF; and managing knowledge sharing and external relations, in accordance with the ETMPTF establishment paper and Implementation Guidelines as well as the strategic direction set by financing partners.
The incumbent will report to the Chief Sector Officer of the Sector Advisory Service Cluster of the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department who serves as CEFPF Facility Manager, as well as to the Director of the Southeast Asia Energy Division, who serves as ETMPTF Co-fund Manager, in fulfilling the fiduciary responsibilities of ADB in relation to the ETMPTF.
The (Senior) Energy Specialist (ETM Partnership Trust Fund) may delegate tasks to staff, while retaining overall accountability for fund operations. The incumbent shall collaborate and liaise with relevant ADB professional and support staff and consultants, including the broader ETM team, the CEFPF secretariat, and relevant ADB-administered trust funds, on matters related to ETMPTF administration and efforts to scale up ETMPTF support. The position may also require other tasks reasonably related to ETMPTF operations.
The appointment may be extended depending on sufficient capitalization of the ETMPTF and availability of budget resources, and fully satisfactory performance of the incumbent.
Responsibilities
Subject to final approval or clearance from the Chief Sector Officer of the Sector Advisory Service Cluster and the Director of the Southeast Asia Energy Division on specific matters, the incumbent shall perform the following tasks:
Pipeline Development and Transaction Management
- Supports identification and development of transactions for the early retirement or repurposing of coal-fired and other fossil fuel power plants, and clean energy, grid, and storage to build a high-quality project pipeline.
- Provides targeted communications and guidance for user departments, ETM funding vehicle,3 the Clean Energy Working Group, and the Climate Change Steering Committee on the ETMPTF fund application processes.
- Reviews fund applications and recommends eligible projects to the Clean Energy Working Group for their endorsement to the Climate Change Steering Committee for approval of fund allocation.
- Oversees the monitoring and evaluation of projects supported by the ETMPTF against both ETMPTF design and monitoring frameworks and requirements set out in the ETMPTF establishment paper, Implementation Guidelines, trust fund contribution agreements, and other relevant ADB policies.
- Acts as ETMPTF’s primary point of contact for the ETM funding vehicle.
- Coordinates with and requests inputs as required from multidisciplinary teams that undertake detailed risk and financial analysis, due diligence, and deal negotiation.
Overall ETMPTF Management
- Leads the fund management team in the day-to-day operations of the ETMPTF, including in servicing the needs of financing partners.
- Leads the development, implementation, and regular updating of ETMPTF annual work programs.
- Oversees management of trust fund resources, including planning and implementation of the administrative budget, ensuring efficient planning, utilization and reporting.
- Conducts performance evaluation of ETMPTF staff and consultants as well as planning and managing recruitments.
- Reviews and updates the ETMPTF Implementation Guidelines as needed in close coordination with the ETM team.
Donor Communications
- Proactively communicates ETMPTF progress and use of funds to financing partners, responds to financing partners’ inquiries, and leads the organization of the Annual ETMPTF Financing Partners Meeting.
- Supports resource mobilization including identifying potential financing partners and facilitating discussions on their contribution to the ETMPTF.
Knowledge Sharing and External Relations
- Develops and implements communications and outreach plan to promote ETMPTF and highlight achievements, providing visibility to existing financing partners, encouraging potential ETMPTF financing partners, and increasing awareness of ETMPTF amongst relevant stakeholders.
- Supports ADB senior management and represents ADB by participating in or contributing to conferences, workshops, events, working groups, intergovernmental and interagency discussions, and other interactions with stakeholders including with government entities in ETM pilot and priority countries.
Qualifications
Relevant Experience & Requirements
- A Master’s degree in business management, environmental sciences, engineering, or other relevant fields is required or a University degree and at least 5 years of specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered
- At least 8 years of work experience including leadership in business management, strategic planning, and operations, and international experience working in several countries
- Specialized experience in climate finance or clean energy including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean energy technologies, is preferred.
- Knowledge of political economy, co-financing and trust fund management, and international development in Asia and the Pacific, especially in the ETM pilot countries, is highly desirable.
- Advanced project management skills and experience in managing a portfolio of complex commercial transactions in a time-efficient manner are vital assets.
- Proven experience in engaging with high-level stakeholders such as government officials, donor representatives, and senior management of international organizations, is preferred.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; people and fund management skills; initiative; agility; thoroughness; client and results orientation; and superior organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
- Please refer to the links for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level IS4 / IS5.
General Considerations
The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 2 years.
ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.
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.
Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.
