Senior Operations Officer - Green Building (GB) Specialist

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Background / General Description

The Organization: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, pursues its mission of reducing poverty and improving people’s lives by promoting private sector development through investment and advisory services.

IFC s Investment Climate business line aims to promote direct investment in the private sector, build local businesses and financial intermediaries, and help improve the business enabling environment.

The Project: The East Asia Pacific IC program in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and (potentially) China is launching a three-year green buildings regulation initiative with the objective to contribute to the reduction of green-house-gas (GHG) emissions. The project will take a programmatic approach and will initially focus on the following:

• Develop regulations to mandate energy and resource efficiency measures for new, large (depending on the country context, commercial or residential) building projects;

• Develop reasonable incentives schemes for implementation of green buildings;

• Increase awareness/promote take-up of the green building regulations among key market stakeholders.

To help scale up impact, the project will work alongside IFC’s ongoing activities, notably Sustainable Energy Finance and Investment Services where IFC has strategically using the combination of advisory and investment to develop energy efficiency finance markets.

Reporting Line: This position reports directly to the EAP Regional Business Line Leader, Investment Climate and the Country Manager of the duty location.

Scope of Work: IFC is seeking to recruit an experienced specialist with operational experience in green buildings policy setting and regulatory design. The Green Buildings Specialist shall provide insights and analysis into concrete green buildings regulatory opportunities, issues and challenges in the context of emerging EAP countries, namely Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and China. The primary focus of the work will be on close cooperation with government counterparts and private sector stakeholders in order to initiate/implement green buildings regulatory changes.

The role’s main objectives are to promote high technical standards in the region’s projects in this space, and to effectively liaise with regional leadership and global product leaders to ensure effective dissemination of best practice.

Duties and Accountabilities

The main responsibilities of the Product Specialist will be to:

1. Lead the development of a regional strategy, business models and delivery models by working collaboratively with IFC’s Global Green Building Specialist and EAP GB Project Task Leaders to identify successful models and approaches, support replication across the region; provide quality control, define and monitor progress based on key M&E indicators; identify resource gaps, develop and implement staffing plan.

2. Support sub-regional programs in developing, funding, staffing and implementing projects and programs in the sub-business line. Help in raising funding and support for regional programs in their fundraising efforts.

3. As appropriate, help IFC’s investment transaction teams with clients and partners conduct thorough due diligence appraisal of potential private sector players focusing on Green Buildings development or energy-efficient/environmentally friendly building materials or equipments.

4. Identify areas of value creation in IFC Green Buildings clients and partners, and help structure and implement advisory packages that address identified opportunities for improvement.

5. Support IFC Green Building Specialist in Knowledge Management, by coordinating a network of practitioners and experts across IFC and the World Bank Group and leading knowledge building and dissemination, internally and externally.

6. Provide technical support to similar IFC Green Buildings initiative in other region as deemed necessary, with approval from EAP Manager.

Specific duties and accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

I. Business Accountabilities

Strategy
• Help define and recommend the EAP strategy for the product with a focus on high developmental impact and ensuring the strategy is in line with IFC strategic objectives and with the AS business model;
• Help design and set EAP strategy for the product within the business line and provides technical expertise to regional AS teams and internal clients (investment and/or advisory) ensuring the product meets high quality standards, and has a clear development and exit strategy;
• Contribute to the design of new GB projects in EAP, reviewing relevant technical aspects of new project proposals for quality control and ensuring that lessons learned world-wide are appropriately taken into account;
• Ensure the development of and adherence to a solid measurement and evaluation framework for the GB product in EAP, in collaboration with M&E staff and in line with AS practices and policies, including setting guidelines for pre-implementation scoping and post-project monitoring.

Knowledge
• Participate in regular practice group meetings with peer specialists and report to larger practice groups and networks;
• Lead the EAP knowledge management agenda for GB by taking accountability for gathering, managing and disseminating global best practice and institutional knowledge of the product across IFC;
• Contribute to the design and development of internal and external thematic events and knowledge sharing networks to share product lessons and experience and learn from others.

Implementation
• Monitor implementation and progress of AS GB projects and recommend corrective actions where/if necessary;
• Take an active role in the discussions with related private sector and government counterparts to explore and/or demonstrate the technical and market feasibility of the proposed reforms/regulations;
• Work with relevant government and private sector partners to draft revisions and/or new green buildings regulations;
• Undertake roundtables to gather public and private sector input to policy reform proposals;
• Lead the preparation and implementation of public relations/consultations events as required;
• Design outreach, capacity building programs and training materials to implement and achieve regulatory reforms and incorporate private sector feedback into development of and advocacy for green buildings reforms;
• Performing other functions as required and directed by IC RBLL.

II. Resource Management Accountabilities

• Help recruit and technically supervise the IC EAP team working in IFC’s GB client engagements;
• Help ensure proper technical on-boarding of staff working on GB projects, including thorough provision of technical materials and support to appropriate training;
• Technically mentors EAP staff working on GB projects, promote development of networks and skills, quality assurance and professional development;
• As required, provide feedback on performance of specific regional staff;
• Recommend allocation and deployment of relevant technical specialists effectively and efficiently to client relationship teams in EAP to support IFC’s advisory services (including participation in all procurements for EAP GB projects).

III. Relationship Management Accountabilities

• Support the EAP IC RBLL to develop new initiatives/projects, leading innovation and keeping abreast/influencing industry developments;
• Support IFC’s Global GB Specialist in the above-mentioned areas, as appropriate;
• Develop and maintain relationships with key EAP players in the GB area, in coordination with other areas of IFC;
• Maintain strong relationships with relevant IFC Managers in the region so that the product strategy is well aligned and projects can be deployed and executed efficiently;
• Represent IFC and EAP GB projects at any committees, high-level meetings or working groups;
• Foster strong relationships with counterparts in the World Bank Group, as well as in other private and public financial institutions to identify collaboration opportunities and to enhance client and business delivery;
• Work collaboratively within the matrix to deliver impact for clients and IFC.

Selection Criteria

• Advance Degree/Masters in architecture, energy efficiency (building) or equivalent;

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience consulting for green buildings development projects or conducting analysis and implementation of green buildings regulations, preferably in the context of emerging economies;

• Sound knowledge of green buildings regulatory and market issues;

• Excellent presentation as well as oral and written communications skills; experience working with high level public and private sector counterparts;

• Track record in project design and implementation;

• Proven project management and leadership skills. Ability to manage consultants and IFC staff to deliver high quality results;

• Ability to review and evaluate projects and business operations on technical, commercial, managerial, and financial grounds;

• Excellent analytical skills, as demonstrated through a track record of qualitative and quantitative research;

• Strong interpersonal skills, and demonstrated capacity to network and work with a wide range of stakeholders within and outside IFC/the World Bank Group, including financial institutions, businesses, international organizations, support institutions (such as associations) and government authorities;

• Excellent communication skills in English and a second language, preferably an East Asian language;

• Willingness to travel regularly within the EAP region.

IFC offers a challenging and rewarding work environment, attractive compensation and excellent career opportunities. All applications will be treated in strict confidence. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

To apply, please go to http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/careers.nsf/Content/CurrentOpportunities - Job# 110870

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