Portfolio Management Specialist - Funded Activities

Grade: IS - 4

Deadline: 29 October 2019 (11:59 PM KST)

The mission of the Green Climate Fund is to assist developing countries to respond to climate change while bringing prosperity to their peoples.

Established in 2010, the GCF invests in transformational climate projects in the developing world. The Fund makes an ambitious contribution to global climate action and channels significant financial resources into developing countries to help build low-emission and climate-resilient societies.  It is country-driven and undertakes actions which reflect the circumstances of each country concerned and its national aspirations. The GCF is a key enabler of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Since its establishment, the GCF has approved 111 projects in 99 countries and has committed USD 5.0 billion in climate finance. In addition, it has built up an extensive program to support developing countries identify their needs, in particular those who are most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The GCF’s diverse workforce is advancing its mission from its headquarters in South Korea. Our talented staff make unique contributions to the Fund, enriching the institution through their combined expertise and professional commitment.

Position description

The Office of Portfolio Management (OPM) of the Green Climate Fund Secretariat is organized into three workstreams: Review and quality assurance (RQA), Portfolio implementation monitoring and management (PIMM) and Data and results management (DRM).    

The PIMM workstream plays an important role in ensuring that the portfolio of approved GCF projects/programmes is implemented efficiently and effectively in accordance with the Fund’s policies as well as approved terms and conditions. It is also responsible for ensuring adequate and timely reporting and assessment of implementation progress and results from the Fund’s investments as well as for proactively working with Accredited Entities (AEs) to resolve implementation issues and challenges.  

OPM is seeking an experienced Portfolio Management Specialist to join the PIMM team and strengthen the monitoring of Funded Activities as may be required. The Specialist will play an active role in portfolio management activities and interact closely with various stakeholders, AEs as well as colleagues within OPM and other divisions of the GCF Secretariat. 

The Portfolio Management Specialist will be responsible for the Management of complex portfolio of public and private sectors projects under implementation (supported through debt, equity, grants, etc). S/he will be responsible for ensuring compliance with legal agreements and Fund policies and procedures. S/he will also make a crucial contribution to the efficient and effective management of GCF’s Portfolio as well as provide strategic and technical contributions for the establishment, review and refinement of portfolio management frameworks, policies, and guidelines as well as on-going supervision and management of the Fund’s Projects/Programmes after first disbursement until completion and final evaluation.  

Duties and responsibilities

Purpose

• Lead and coordinate monitoring of an assigned portfolio of projects through reviewing project reports from AEs, and ad-hoc site visits to assess implementation performance, as well as identify and proactively manage implementation and performance risks and challenges  

• Advise the senior management on appropriate corrective measures to management and mitigate portfolio implementation risks as appropriate;  

• Proactively lead and coordinate guidance to AEs to ensure timely compliance with M&E reporting requirements as per relevant Fund’s frameworks such as GCF’s Monitoring and Accountability Framework, Performance Measurement Frameworks (PMFs), and Result Measurement Framework (RMF); 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

• Lead the portfolio monitoring and resolution of implementation challenges amongst assigned portfolio of projects/programmes as required;  

• Manage and coordinate interdivisional reviews and inputs to ensure timely processing of disbursements, waivers, extensions and amendments requests from delivery partners and AEs for assigned portfolio of projects/programmes;  

• Build, develop and execute effective relationship management strategies with AEs during implementation phase to facilitate timely information exchange, feedback and corrective actions to manage risks of projects/programmes under implementation as may be required 

• Build and drive engagement with AEs and internal stakeholders to drive appropriate portfolio management actions and strategies to address emerging challenges to assure healthy portfolio performance and results   

• Contribute to Secretariat-wide/inter-divisional initiatives and represent OPM 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

• Provide technical inputs to refine monitoring and reporting guidelines for GCF operations, in compliance with the Board-approved frameworks as may be required; 

• Contribute to optimization, standardization and improvement of the portfolio management processes and procedures and including identification of early warning systems and provision of inputs into the portfolio risk dashboard    

• Lead, coordinate and contribute to the preparation and presentation of OPM reports such as portfolio performance reports, project disbursement projections and reports and Project implementation update reports for consideration by Secretariat Management and Internal Committees/working groups, as well as the Board as may be required 

• Lead and coordinate the review of reports, preparation, compilation and presentation of lessons learned, case studies and best practices, in collaboration with other workstreams and divisions, to inform and improve portfolio selection, implementation and evaluation of GCF projects/programmes as may be required  

• Lead, coordinate and contribute to review of information on projects/programmes implementation and results in order to update portfolio dashboards and inform corrective portfolio and policy actions needed to improve the performance of the GCF portfolio 

Required experience and qualifications*

• Advanced university degree in economics, environmental studies, business administration, finance, or other relevant field;  

• At least 9 years of solid experience in designing and implementing public and private sector projects including complex projects 

• Demonstrated track record in implementation and monitoring of projects/programmes. Experience managing both private and public sector projects and or complex projects and programs is a plus  

• Exposure to both the public and private sector and portfolio management. Experience in international organizations and/or multilateral development banks is an advantage;  

• Exposure to/knowledge of climate change project issues and/or GCF working modalities is an added advantage 

• General understanding of the Fund’s instruments (grants, debt, guarantees and equity) and sector investment areas;  

• 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 

• Excellent analytical skills and problem-solving skills; 

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with diverse stakeholders at different technical and strategic levels– staff, Board and external stakeholders;  

• Unquestionable integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards; 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position; knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage; 

*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.