E T Consultant - Sustainable Finance Expert

E T Consultant - Sustainable Finance Expert

Job #: req36997 Organization: IFC Sector: Strategy Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Paris,France Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 6/10/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The WBG Infrastructure VPU provides knowledge, investment and advisory services support to private and public sector clients across the energy, transport, minerals and metals, municipal, and tourism sectors, and mobilizes private sector capital from institutional investors and other financial institutions. It acts as a strategic partner to the private sector, leveraging its financial resources, deep-seated global knowledge and expertise, and ability to mitigate risk and mobilize capital to foster infrastructure development that opens markets, drives economic growth, creates jobs, and improves living standards in emerging markets across a wide array of infrastructure sectors.

The Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Unit (WKIIS) within the WBG Knowledge Bank Infrastructure VPU seeks to hire an experienced and motivated sustainable finance professional to support the continued expansion and development of the World Bank Group’s sustainable finance offering, among other responsibilities. The selected candidate will work closely with infrastructure private sector client relationship managers, IFC regional investment teams, WBG Treasury, and other Knowledge Bank verticals to design and execute sustainable finance products globally, with a specific focus on clients and transactions in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and Central Asia regions, while also supporting clients and transactions across all WBG countries of operation.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The selected candidate will focus on: (i) developing innovative sustainable finance and impact finance product offerings in emerging markets, in support of the WBG strategy and its role as a knowledge leader; (ii) contributing to the pitching, structuring, and execution of sustainable finance transactions for infrastructure sector clients across WBG geographies, in collaboration with relationship managers, investment officers, team leaders, WBG climate, water, nature, gender, safety, and other relevant experts, impact specialists, and regional sustainable finance anchors; (iii) contributing to the development and delivery of a strategic knowledge program relevant to sustainable and outcome-based finance across the WBG Infrastructure VPU; and (iv) supporting blended finance structuring and fundraising efforts, with a focus on sustainable finance as well as climate and sustainability cross-cutting themes.

The main roles and responsibilities of the selected candidate will include the following:

• Proactively build and deepen expertise in climate, nature, and sustainable finance, and stay current on key trends and innovations across infrastructure sub-sectors (energy, mining, transport, waste and water, cities, digital) and regions (with a particular focus on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and Central Asia) by participating in internal and external knowledge sessions, familiarizing yourself with relevant WBG analytics and flagship reports, and supporting business development activities.
• Engage with market participants, such as commercial banks, other DFIs, second-party opinion providers, and sustainability experts, to stay abreast of market opportunities and share WBG experience and knowledge.
• Together with regional sustainable finance anchors, support client relationship managers, team leaders, and investment officers in establishing strategic dialogue with clients and investors on beyond-compliance sustainability and jobs agendas, including through tailored presentations that clearly articulate WBG additionality and expertise in sustainable finance, and help mobilize private sector capital to finance energy transition and climate adaptation activities, resource efficiency, women’s inclusion, job creation, and market innovations (e.g., transition and nature finance, adaptation KPIs).
• Contribute to the structuring of innovative sustainable finance products, including by developing sustainable finance frameworks, supporting the second-party opinion (SPO) review process, and incorporating relevant provisions into legal documentation.
• Support or lead, as relevant, knowledge management and capacity-building events on energy transition, sustainable finance, and nature finance, in coordination with colleagues within the Infrastructure VPU’s Strategic Initiatives and Innovations and Sustainable Infrastructure units, as well as other Knowledge Bank units.
• Support the administration of the sustainable finance platform and blended finance fundraising efforts, including pipeline coordination and donor engagement on climate and sustainability themes.
• Produce monthly pipeline updates and reports on climate finance and sustainable finance transactions, as well as other reports, presentation materials, briefings, and deliverables as required, in coordination with colleagues within the Infrastructure VPU’s Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure units.
• Contribute to regular updates of the Strategic Initiatives and Innovations intranet page, newsletters, and generic pitch materials.

Selection Criteria

Location:

The selected candidate is expected to be based in Paris, France, and to work with Knowledge Bank team members based in Washington, DC, Paris, and globally. Some travel may be required.

Selection Criteria & Competencies

• Master’s degree in finance, business, economics, environmental sciences, international development, engineering, or related field.
• At least 5 years of experience with an investment bank, consulting firm, international financial institution, or climate think tank, with responsibilities related to sustainability (including climate and planetary boundaries), sustainable finance, and/or infrastructure financing.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable finance products and market participants, as well as energy transition, climate, biodiversity, and broader sustainability issues.
• Hands-on experience in infrastructure financing transactions (ideally including capital markets transactions and green equity).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively engage with clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues across the WBG in a team environment, and to manage multiple client projects across tight timelines and geographies.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships and influence decision-making, tailoring approach depending on the seniority level of business contacts.
• High level of energy, initiative, autonomy and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work project requirements.
• Fluency in English; French is a plus.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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