Climate Investment Specialist (East Asia and South Asia sub-region)

Grade: IS-4
Deadline: 26 November 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 129,400 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 336 projects across 134 countries, with a total commitment of USD 19.3 billion to date.

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. 

You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people.

Position Objective

The Climate Impact Specialist will be part of a dynamic team within the Department of Asia and Pacific (DAPAC). The role is responsible for undertaking a range of analytical and operational responsibilities necessary for:  

• Country Engagement activities to strengthen partnerships with NDAs, AEs, and regional organizations while ensuring alignment with GCF’s investment criteria, programming priorities, and country-driven approaches.
• Project origination and development activities including screening of Concept Notes and review of Funding Proposals against GCF investment criteria, to support the co-development and origination of quality climate mitigation and adaptation proposals.
• Readiness and Preparatory Support Facility by contributing to appraising the design of grant proposals and their implementation from first disbursement until completion based on portfolio-level quantitative analyses
• Funded Activity Project and Portfolio Management activities which include leading the analytical and procedural stages of processing concept notes and funding proposals across the GCF project cycle and monitoring projects under implementation and
• Other responsibilities related to the core business of the department as assigned the supervisor.
• The initial emphasis for this position is on managing a diverse and complex portfolio of public and/or private sector projects and programmes primarily across the East Asia and South Asia sub-region.

Purpose

• Enhance country engagement and ownership as well as development of project pipeline of transformational projects.
• Support coordination with relevant teams and Accredited Entities (AEs) to ensure that legal and operational arrangements are completed effectively for smooth project implementation following approval
• Lead the monitoring and adaptive management of approved projects /programmes under implementation, ensuring timely compliance with M&E reporting requirements as per the relevant Fund’s frameworks such as GCF’s Monitoring and Accountability Framework and the Integrated Result Measurement Framework (IRMF), legal and financial terms and conditions and Fund policies and procedures
• Lead, coordinate and contribute to updating and improving the portfolio management functions, strategies, and approaches for managing the projects’ portfolio in particular related to strengthening and standardizing, portfolio monitoring procedures and processes in response to evolving and varied institutional and client needs and contexts.

Engagement

• Support or lead country engagement, development and implementation of GCF readiness and PPF grants, and origination of new projects/programmes.
• Build and drive engagement with NDA’s, AEs and internal stakeholders to proactively drive strategies to address emerging challenges to assure efficient portfolio performance and results.
• Lead the portfolio monitoring and resolution of implementation challenges amongst assigned portfolio of projects/programmes as required.
• Manage and coordinate interdivisional teams and reviews and inputs to ensure timely processing of concept note and funding proposal reviews, disbursements, adaptive management requests from delivery partners and AEs for assigned projects/programmes.
• Contribute to Secretariat-wide/inter-divisional initiatives and represent DAPAC in internal committees/working groups and external engagements including conferences and meetings as appropriate.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior members of the team and contribute to/ lead hiring processes of consultants and interns.

Delivery

• Supports the origination of quality readiness programme activities and funded activities
• Provide technical inputs to refine monitoring and reporting guidelines for GCF operations, in compliance with the Board-approved policies and frameworks as may be required.
• Lead, coordinate and contribute to the preparation and presentation of reports such as portfolio performance reports, project/programme disbursement projections and reports, and project/programme implementation updates for consideration by the GCF management, and internal committees/working groups, as well as the Board as may be required.
• Lead, coordinate and contribute to review of information on projects/programmes implementation and results to update portfolio dashboards and inform corrective portfolio and policy actions needed to improve the performance of the GCF portfolio.

Required skills, experience and qualifications

• At least 9 years of experience in designing, appraising and implementing public and/or private sector projects/programmes.
• Advanced university degree in economics, environmental studies, business administration, finance, engineering or other relevant fields, or bachelor’s degree plus 2 additional years of experience.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills; ability to interpret legal documents, risks, and performance data.
• Good understanding of and/or experience in applying the Fund’s instruments (e.g. grants, debt, guarantees and equity) in GCF’s areas of focus.
• Ability to articulate and present ideas well both in writing and orally to a diverse audience of stakeholders at technical and strategic levels. 
• Knowledge of the operational framework and fiduciary standards of international public sector institutions.
• Strong Interpersonal/relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with diverse stakeholders at different technical and strategic levels– staff, Board and external stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

• Providing strategic and technical support to projects in a range of sectors including in forestry, water, agriculture, early warning systems, infrastructure, transport and energy. 
• Experience in international organizations, multilateral development banks, working with private equity funds and other investment vehicles using a similar approach are all advantages. 
• Exposure to/knowledge of climate change project/programme issues and/or GCF working modalities is an added advantage.

The closing date for application is 26 November 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references.

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.