Senior Energy Specialist (Solar Energy)

~ Established in 1944, the World Bank Group is headquartered in Washington, D.C. We have more than 10,000 employees in more than 120 offices worldwide. ~

The World Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030:

• End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3%
• Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every country

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We are not a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and support development. The World Bank Group comprises five institutions managed by their member countries.

Background / General Description: 

One out of four people in the planet live in South Asia. However only 1/20 of the world’s electric power capacity is installed in the region. The World Bank’s Energy and Extractives GP contributes to addressing this challenge through its strong lending and knowledge management program in the region.

The South Asia region (SAR) energy unit manages a large and diverse portfolio of active projects in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The South Asia Energy Program has grown rapidly in the last few years with a portfolio of more than US$8 billion and expected annual lending of more than US$1 billion going forward.

The Energy Practice commitments in the region cover reforms (sector and corporate governance, energy security and the environment, regional energy trade, public-private partnerships, energy efficiency), and investment support in power generation, power and gas transmission and distribution, rural energy electrification, renewable energy development, and low-carbon and climate friendly initiatives. A particular area of growth has been solar energy, with sizeable activities in India, and a strong pipeline of projects in several other countries.

The Bank’s Energy Program uses a variety of instruments, including investment lending, guarantees for public private partnerships, and development policy lending. In addition, the team manages a strong knowledge agenda to inform the policy dialogue in the sector.

Position Overview

The SAR energy unit seeks a Sr Energy Specialist, with significant experience in solar energy technology, to work on investment projects, analytical work, and policy guidance across a range of countries in South Asia.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Practice Manager, the Sr. Energy Specialist will:

• Actively participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations, aiming to enhance quality and accelerate implementation.
• Lead the preparation of new operations (particularly in solar energy) and the supervision of existing projects.
• Support client countries to frame their strategic vision for solar power development.
• Design and execute technical assistance interventions to support governments in improving the deployment of solar technology in the context of enhancing energy access and reducing Green House Gas emissions.
• Play a significant role in the unit's research agenda on solar power development, including authoring research products, including reports, working papers, discussion notes, feature articles.
• Contribute to knowledge management activities that will enhance the unit’s understanding, knowledge, and experience, on solar energy projects.

Qualifications

Selection Criteria:

• Minimum master’s degree in business, engineering, economics.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience.
• Direct experience with energy sector technologies, including deep experience in solar energy power systems, project development and financing, including technical understanding of technologies.
• A track record of team work and ability to produce high-quality policy and project related written outputs with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated local and/or regional operational experience, including experience in preparing and implementing energy projects and analytical work in renewable energy; preparation of investment projects in power generation; energy sector reforms; and tariff calculation and reforms.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to build strong partnerships with clients and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with virtual teams located in different countries.
• Ability to lead/coach teams to achieve results, build strong teams across the matrix and develop/nurture new talent.
• Outstanding communications skills, including the ability to influence and persuade.
• Demonstrated track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.

Required Competencies:

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
• Energy Sector Technologies - Deep experience applying knowledge (hydrocarbon, power generation, transmission and distribution, renewables, energy efficiency, low carbon strategies, etc.) to policy-related decisions and advice.
• Energy Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of energy policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Renewable Energy - Direct experience with depth in at least one area: solar, (geothermal; wind; small hydropower; biomass; low carbon strategies, etc).
• Power System Technologies - Deep experience applying knowledge (power generation, transmission, distribution; utility management, operations, maintenance, and services, etc.) to policy-related decisions and advice.
• Lead and Innovate - Develops innovative solutions with others.
• Deliver Results for Clients - Achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.
• Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across WBG, and brings differing ideas into the forefront.
• Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Creates, applies and shares knowledge from across and outside WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
• Make Smart Decisions - Recommends and takes decisive action.

Additional Information

If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

~ The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. ~