Climate change specialist

Job Ref. No. EXT-IS11-002

1. Job purpose:

Lead, formulate and articulate policy and program. Lead, identify, develop, implement and administer technical assistance (TA) projects and other services related to climate change mitigation and adaptation activities in the infrastructure sectors (i.e., transport and energy) incorporating Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) opportunities. Lead and support operations teams to enhance the quality of loans, TA projects, and non-lending products and services covering all transport modes, transport efficiency, alternative fuels, clean energy, and other climate change mitigation activities in relation to the carbon market. Advise operations teams on key risks to investments from future climate change impacts. Work within general policies, principles and goals, working directly with clients.

2. Expected outcomes:

Policies, strategy, and frameworks

- Lead and analyze transport infrastructure, energy, urban, and land use development plans in developing member countries (DMCs) with respect to the role of the carbon market to mobilize additional financing.
- Provide substantial advice to governments and ADB operations teams on policies and strategies that can achieve co-benefits, including greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, better air quality, improved energy efficiency and enhanced energy security, and mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation in development planning.
- Provide substantial advice to governments and ADB operations teams on strategies and measures to anticipate and minimize future impacts from adverse climate change conditions on infrastructure and other investments.
- Lead and develop proposals on financial mechanism for the transport sector that address climate change and assist with the post-Kyoto agenda on climate change as it relates to the transport sector.
- Ensure proper coordination among regional departments and country offices for the exchange of information and experiences, and continuous improvement of climate change policy, planning and implementation practices.
- Contribute substantially to the expansion of ADB’s operations in sustainable transport programs and other climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in the Asia Pacific region by mobilizing additional resources from the carbon market and special climate change funds.

Operational advice and support:

- Lead and participate in country teams and provide sector inputs for Country Partnership Strategies (CPSs).
- Lead and review loans and TA portfolio of transport and other potential GHG reduction projects in selected DMCs to identify potential CDM projects and “climate proofing” needs/opportunities.
- Recommend specific strategies for mainstreaming carbon benefits through CDM into the project design and development processes of DMCs and operational departments of ADB.
- Provide technical backstop to ADB missions on CDM projects in general and GHG mitigation projects in sectors including transport.
- Advise on eligibility criteria established by the Kyoto Protocol and other relevant regulations (e.g., baseline and additionality, new methodology, project design document, validation and registration, monitoring and verification, certification and issuance of certified emissions credits).
- Lead and review investments on infrastructure and other sectors that may be at risk from adverse impacts of climate change, for example hydropower projects that may be affected by increased glacier melt, or reduced hydrology, and roads and ports in areas affected by sea level rise, storms and greater precipitation.

Project management :

- Lead and support regional technical assistance (RETA) projects in the transport sector on climate change issues in the carbon market, and support RETAs on climate change adaptation.
- Ensure key technical, economic, financial and crosscutting issues are incorporated into TAs.

Promotion of regional cooperation:

- Lead and develop regional strategies and initiate regional projects in consultation with national and regional organizations and international financial agencies including an intra-regional exchange of experiences, best practices and lessons.
- Generate support and mobilize additional funding from non-DMCs for development of sustainable transport and other low-carbon practices in DMCs as well as investments that improve the resilience of DMCs to adverse impacts.

3. Education requirements:

A university degree in energy/environment/civil engineering, environmental economics, energy/environmental/climate policy, or other related fields; preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent.

4. Relevant experience and other requirements:

- Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in energy, transport, and other major GHG emitting sectors, including 5 years of professional experience in applying market schemes such as CDM for GHG mitigation projects including transport projects.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
- Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills to articulate and represent ADB’s activities and directions in conferences and workshops, dynamically participate in networks, and interact effectively with ADB management, staff, and counterparts in other institutions.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- International experience working in development in several countries.

5. Core competencies:

Application of Technical Knowledge and Skills:

- Deals with routine queries and correspondence in accordance with procedures.
- Proactively seeks relevant development opportunities and submits for approval.
- Produces summaries and frameworks by collecting and analyzing diverse information.

Client Orientation:

- Adjusts style and approach to respect and serve different clients.
- Conveys messages by asking questions and using different approaches.
- Identifies when a client issue requires escalation.
- Responds to clients without prompts or reminders from senior colleagues.

Achieving Results and Problem Solving:

- Proposes solutions to minimize delays and setbacks in completing work.
- Reviews all task objectives and achieves core deliverables.
- Uses time management and organizational skills to promptly complete work to the required standard.
- Delivers beyond the stated task objectives.

Working Together:

- Consistently works effectively with individuals of different views, culture, nationality, gender, and age.
- Consistently seeks assistance when requirements are unclear.
- Provides timely updates on relevant information.
- Freely shares and seeks useful knowledge and to complete work.

Communication and Knowledge Sharing:

- Uses effective written and oral communication in preparing documents, presentations and interactions.
- Asks questions to understand how to follow up on feedback.
- Locates relevant information to expedite workflow.

Innovation and Change:

- Adopts new policies, systems and processes in a timely fashion.
- Shares ideas for how work can be completed more effectively.