Senior Energy Specialist

Senior Energy Specialist

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. Our mission is to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. We work to drive impactful development that is: i) inclusive of everyone, including women and young people; ii) resilient to shocks, including against climate and biodiversity crises, pandemics and fragility; and iii) sustainable, through growth and job creation, human development, fiscal and debt management, food security and access to clean air, water and affordable energy. 
The EAP Infrastructure Department is responsible for project lending and policy advisory work in the energy; transport; urban, land, and resilience, and related climate action and private capital mobilization space for the EAP Region. The department presently comprises an energy and extractives unit, a transport unit, and two urban units. 

The energy unit [IEAE1] manages a diverse program of projects, analytic and advisory work. The principal themes underlying the lending and advisory engagements include access to modern energy services; transitioning to a clean energy mix away from coal; climate resilient energy infrastructure; regional energy connectivity, integration and trade; governance reforms and financial strengthening of state-owned enterprises/utilities; and reforming sector regulations to improve the environment for efficient private finance solutions 

Duties and accountabilities: 

The Senior Energy Specialist will bring a strong track record of leading high-level policy dialogue, advancing regional power integration, and mobilizing private capital for power-sector projects. The successful candidate will combine deep knowledge of policy, regulation, and institutional reform with hands-on experience in project finance, transaction structuring, risk allocation, and private-sector participation. The candidate will also have strong operational experience in project design, implementation, and supervision, including regional and cross-border initiatives. Key responsibilities include:

• Conceptualize and lead investment operations that leverage private capital for energy projects, including ASEAN Power Grid (APG) interconnections and related transmission infrastructure, and/or energy sector operations. Responsibilities include early-stage concept development, project structuring, financial and economic analysis, institutional arrangements, and risk assessment.

• Lead high-level policy dialogue with governments, ASEAN institutions, regulators, utilities, and private-sector stakeholders on cross-border electricity trade, power-market development, investment frameworks, and an enabling environment for private capital mobilization in Southeast Asia.

• Supervise an active portfolio of national and regional lending operations, including Investment Project Financing (IPF) and Program-for-Results (PforR), and apply a strong understanding of guarantees and other risk-mitigation instruments relevant to electricity projects.

• Engage bilateral and multilateral partners, regional organizations, and financing institutions to coordinate support and mobilize resources for APG priorities and other regional energy activities.

• Lead sector analysis and advisory activities on regional power trade, transmission planning, market design, regulatory and institutional frameworks, and the financial and technical performance of power-sector entities.

• Prepare regional, country, and sector briefings, background reports, case studies, and portfolio reviews, energy connectivity, and private financing, ensuring outputs are timely, technically sound, and aligned with program messaging.

• Identify knowledge gaps and develop innovative financing, guarantee, and risk-allocation approaches for energy projects, including cross-border interconnections and associated infrastructure.

• Organize knowledge exchanges and contribute to publications and communications that share operational lessons on cross-border power trade, and private capital mobilization.

• Participate actively in EAP Energy Practice-wide knowledge sharing and contribute to regional and global communities of practice on energy finance and power-system integration.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree or higher required, in economics, finance, engineering, or a closely related discipline. A combination of financial training with economics and/or engineering is an advantage.

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in the energy sector, with a strong track record in project preparation, implementation, and supervision. Experience in project finance, regional power integration or cross-border electricity trade, and multilateral development bank operations is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated experience with a range of IBRD, IFC, or MIGA financing instruments, including guarantees and other risk-mitigation approaches, is a significant advantage.

• Experience in Southeast Asia and familiarity with ASEAN energy cooperation, the ASEAN Power Grid, and the region's electricity-sector context is an advantage.

Technical Skills and Professional Competencies

• Strong financial and economic analysis skills, including experience with sector, utility, transmission, and project-level modeling.

• Deep knowledge of energy-sector topics, including power-sector engineering, financing, regional power markets, transmission planning, and related regulatory, commercial, and institutional frameworks.

• Familiarity with World Bank or other multilateral development bank operational policies, including fiduciary and environmental and social standards, is an advantage.

• Collaborative and team-oriented, with demonstrated ability to work across countries, institutions, and disciplines; share information proactively; and align country and regional workstreams.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-engagement skills, with proven writing and editing ability and the capacity to convey complex technical and financial issues clearly to diverse audiences.

• Self-driven and proactive, with the ability to work with a sense of urgency and manage competing demands under tight deadlines.

• Positive, solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving and client engagement.

• Intellectual curiosity and openness to innovation in development approaches.

• International mobility without restrictions and willingness to undertake frequent travel within Southeast Asia and the wider East Asia and Pacific region.

• Professional proficiency in English required.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.