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Home > Jobs > Employment Opportuni... > Professional/Technical

Job #	082228
Job Title	Sr Energy Spec. (Energy and Climate Change)
Job Family	Energy and Mining
Location	Washington, DC
Appointment	International Hire
Job Posted	30-Oct-2008
Closing Date	01-Dec-2008
Language Requirements	English [Essential]; Mandarin [Desired]
Appointment Type	Term (Duration: 3 yrs)

Background / General description

The East Asia and Pacific region at the World Bank Group serves 22 client countries with a total population of about 2 billion.  Counterpart countries range from middle income, such as Thailand and Malaysia, which do not borrow currently but remain interested in the Banks' analytical and advisory services; to IBRD large countries such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines; to IDA countries such as Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and several Pacific Islands.  Hence the range of advice, support and cross fertilization of experiences is wide and challenging.  

The newly created Sustainable Development (SD) Department covers: transport, energy, Urban/Water Supply and Sanitation; environment, social development, rural development and natural resources management. The department manages a substantial part of the East Asia program and is responsible for about 50 operations per year, amounting to US $ 2.5 -3.5 billion annually and about 220 staff.

The energy program in China is growing both in investment projects and advisory engagements. It includes operations in energy efficiency, district heating, and renewable energy, among others. New investment operations include energy efficiency platforms, cleaner coal, and energy intensity reduction analytical work, the latter with the support of the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID). The approaches include work through energy service companies (ESCOs), financial intermediaries and urban service utilities; environmental up-gradation of thermal power projects; and large-scale renewable systems. 

An additional dimension of the energy work in China is its connection to climate change. The World Bank is helping administer climate-oriented and carbon finance funds under its recently approved Strategic Climate Change Framework, with financing from such varied sources as the Climate Investment Funds (i.e., the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Strategic Climate Fund), and the Carbon Partnership Facility (CPF).  The funds are being established to provide a range of new financing, credit enhancement and risk mitigation tools in support of developing countries’ efforts to achieve low carbon and climate resilient development. 

The Clean Technology Fund (CTF), with a target size of $4-5 billion, will support the rapid deployment of low-carbon technologies on a significant scale to achieve cost-effective reductions in the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. China will be one of the focus countries for the CTF.  China is also expected to access carbon finance extending beyond the Kyoto Protocol period through the Carbon Partnership Facility (CPF).

This position is being created for a term of three (3) years with financing from the UK Department for International Development (DFID). 

The successful candidate will contribute to the overall lending and advisory work program of the Unit by: (a) supporting the design, preparation and supervision of projects/programs that improve energy efficiency in the industrial, urban services, and other energy intensive sectors; (b) supporting the design, preparation and supervision of renewable energy and technology improvement projects; (c) contributing with top-notch analytical work to aspects of country policy dialogue dealing with incentive policies, financing structures, and institutional capacity development with regard to energy efficiency and renewable energy; and (d) compiling international lessons of experience for dissemination in China, as well as lessons learned from the implementation of energy projects in China for dissemination in other countries of the region and other regions.

Duties and Accountabilities

Specific responsibilities include:

1.	Policy Dialogue: participate in the Bank’s energy sector policy dialogue with relevant stakeholders in China, particularly with regard to access to modern energy services, energy efficiency, renewables and climate change. As a senior technical specialist in the energy sector, make a substantial technical contribution to analytical and advisory activities by providing detailed guidance to counterparts and partners on energy efficiency and renewable energy program development needs and requirements. 

2.	Project Preparation: lead and/or support task teams in project identification, design and preparation by: (i) advising clients on feasibility studies, technology choice studies, cost-effectiveness analyses and implementation reports; (ii) assist in the development of China’s Investment Plan and associated process, so as to be able to access its CTF allocation; (iii) undertaking economic and financial analysis of project investments and programs; (iv) reviewing and assessing capacity of project implementation counterparts and supporting institutions and agencies; and (v) defining appropriate benchmarks and indicators and establishing project assessment and monitoring frameworks to assess progress and outcomes.

3.	Project Supervision: Supervise projects and programs under implementation to ensure implementation quality and timeliness and consistency with project objectives. Supervision requirements will cover financial, disbursement, procurement, social and environmental guidelines and agreements typical to World Bank supported projects/programs.  He/she will also extract lessons of experience from successful project implementation, and prepare dissemination materials.

4.	Client and Stakeholder Network: coordinate/participate at national forums, workshops and conferences focusing on energy issues. The selected candidate will establish and maintain networks with public and private sector professionals in order to expand the World Bank’s dialogue on the energy agenda in China. He/she will contribute to learning activities in China and elsewhere on how climate change is being tackled in China, in other developing countries, and in developed countries.  He/she will also carry out donor coordination activities in the energy sector.

5.	Liaison with DFID and the UK-based Low Carbon Development Team: maintain regular contact with the team of the DFID Senior Environment Adviser in China, and with the Low Carbon Development Team in DFID’s Climate and Environment Group in the UK. If requested and agreed, the Senior Specialist may help the UK government (DFID, DEFRA and FCO) with its understanding of low carbon pathways, technology and innovation deployment needs within China.

Selection Criteria

Minimum Qualifications:
1.	At least eight years relevant experience. 
2.	Academic qualifications of at least the level of a Master’s Degree, with training that supports technical, financial and economic skills.
3.	Fluent in English, with excellent interpersonal, verbal communication and writing skills. Demonstrated experience in writing effective reports and communicating in public.

Preferred Additional Qualifications/Experience:
4.	Familiarity with the activities and energy development focus of multilateral development financial institutions such as the World Bank.
5.	Work experience in developing countries.
6.	Experience in China and working knowledge of Mandarin are not required but are considered a plus.

Competencies:
7.	Knowledge of broader energy sector issues including drivers and determinants of energy demand and supply from an economic perspective, and regulatory, financial and institutional considerations
8.	A sound understanding of the economic, environmental and development dimensions of climate change and energy use in a middle-income country such as China. 
9.	Ability to work effectively with senior government officials, representatives of international agencies, and the private sector, as well as the ability to develop effective client relationships.
10.	Strong team leadership skills, including demonstrated teamwork and project management skills, and experience working with multidisciplinary teams.
11.	Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, and adjust to and prioritize a variety of complex and evolving tasks.

Reporting:
The post-holder will report to the World Bank’s Sector Manager for Sustainable Development based in the Beijing Office.

Salary and Benefits:
Salary and benefits will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience, and benefits will be in conformance with standard World Bank policies.

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