Principal, Sustainable Business Infrastructure

Purpose of Job

The Principal, Sustainable Business Infrastructure (SBI), will manage the Green Cities Action Plans (GCAPs). GCAPs are the strategic documents underpinning EBRD Green Cities.

Background

The EBRD has a thriving EBRD Green Cities programme. It has grown into a EUR 7 billion+ framework, with a further EUR 3 billion committed in 2024, and a network of more than 60 cities across 24 countries on three continents having signed up to the programme. To date, some EUR 3.7 billion has been invested across over 110 signed projects, improving the lives of around 80 million people.

EBRD Green Cities involves a 'trigger' investment, which is the first transformational (in terms of climate adaptation or climate mitigation) city investment, and second a Green City Action Plan (GCAP), which is the means by which a long-term vision for green and sustainable investments together with necessary policy reforms is determined. Around 50 GCAPs are now completed, with a further eight under development or with commitment confirmed by the City. These GCAPs follow a pre-prescribed methodology developed by the Bank — recently refined, including a GCAP 'refresher' (GCAP2) for cities that completed their plans over five years ago — with the output being actions focussed on green and sustainable investments, with both a mitigation and adaptation focus (with the former predominating) and policy actions.

Facts / Scale

Typically, a GCAP takes 12 months to develop, with one consultancy firm undertaking each GCAP. This requires close management to ensure delivery of this strategic document consistent with the ambitions of the EBRD Green cities programme. The Principal, SBI manages the FW consultants and co-ordinates with both the City and relevant parties in EBRD to ensure their views/inputs are reflected.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Green City GCAP Initiation:
  • Preparation of Terms of Reference, which involves liaising with the ultimate client — in this case the City — and relevant units within the Bank, including SIG's sector specialists, CSD and the relevant banker.
  • Issuing the call-off notice and overseeing the consultant selection process.
  • Securing donor funds for the specific GCAP assignment.
  • Where the City completed its GCAP more than five years ago, initiating a GCAP "refresher" (GCAP2) under the refined methodology.
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• GCAP Management:
  • Overall oversight, delivery and management of the appointed consultants' work to ensure timely delivery and consistency with the ambitions of EBRD Green Cities.
  • Incorporating relevant comments from sector specialists and other EBRD staff into the GCAP documentation drafted by the framework consultants.
  • Ensuring GCAPs apply the Bank's refined methodology, including its broadened focus on climate adaptation, nature finance and green capital markets alongside mitigation.
  • Managing donor visibility at appropriate times during the GCAP process.
  • Oversight of stakeholder events, ensuring all relevant parties are invited — including Mayors, Ambassadors, CSOs and EBRD senior management — and managing the content of the event in line with the EBRD Green Cities Stakeholder Engagement guidelines.
  • Reviewing and providing timely inputs to all GCAP reports.
  • Leading implementation meetings at the conclusion of each GCAP, summarising key conclusions and presenting to relevant EBRD staff — including the relevant SIG Director, Country team Director, lead banker and sector specialist (in a single session) — for discussion.

• Specific responsibilities within EBRD Green Cities, which may include:
  • Presentations to external clients, including EBRD Green Cities partner cities, representatives from government Ministries and consultants.
  • Managing EBRD Green Cities external events, ensuring relevant participation from both partner cities and consultants.
  • Supporting the transition of completed GCAPs into bankable follow-on investments, in coordination with sector specialists and banking team

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s degree in climate finance/urban planning, engineering, or closely related field.
• Computer literacy, conversant with Microsoft Office and spreadsheet packages.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and to deadlines and under time pressure.
• Well-developed analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Understanding of the urban sustainability, energy, environment and development challenges in the EBRD region.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Extensive relevant climate finance/urban planning work experience from an investment or commercial bank or relevant private or relevant public institution.

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.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).