Grade: IS - 8

Deadline: 15 March 2020 (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 that 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 to 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 makes unique contributions to the Fund, enriching the institution through their combined expertise and professional commitment.

Position description 

The Director, Division of Private Sector Facility (PSF), reporting to the Deputy Executive Director, is responsible for leading engagement of the private sector in support of high priority projects and programs for low emission, climate resilient investment in the context of specific country needs. GCF is the world’s largest multilateral climate fund and has confirmed $9.7 billion in pledges for its first replenishment.  Encompassing strategy development and the provision of technical guidance and advice, the Director provides conceptual leadership and management direction in strengthening capacities for private sector investments in climate change activities, mobilizing private sector resources at scale for climate change investments in developing countries, supporting decisions to make the best use of GCF’s unique instruments to maximize the benefits of GCF’s private sector work;   and enhancing the role of the private sector in supporting climate change adaptation. The Director’s collaboration with a range of government, private sector and civil society experts from across the range of country, accredited entity and Secretariat instrumentalities is critical to fulfil the Fund’s country driven approach and its ability to leverage the GCF’s high risk appetite to finance transformational, innovative and replicable projects and programmes.

Duties and responsibilities

Purpose

• Leads the design and execution of the Fund’s strategies for promoting private sector investment in climate related activities/projects/programs;
• Supports countries in tailoring their programming priorities to promote effective integration of private sector investment modalities with mitigation/adaptation strategies in the context of national climate and development plans;
• Advances the development of a collaborative culture and enabling environment for knowledge generation, sharing and capture, particularly among PSF financial specialists, sector specialists in the GCF’s Division of Mitigation and Adaptation (DMA) and country relations specialists in the GCF’s Division of Country Programming (DCP).

Engagement

• Advises the Fund on approaches/modalities to integrate private sector finance engagement strategies, with particular emphasis on the financial sector and MSMEs, across the Fund’s programmes;
• Proactively works with GCF’s accredited entities to identify the flexible instruments and innovative structures that would best address project and country needs and attract larger institutional sources of capital;  such instruments would include the use of de-risking vehicles that use blended finance to catalyse new private investment and products;  
• Engages the private sector in adaptation action by supporting robust enabling environments, deploying blended finance to test innovative business models for climate-resilient products and services, and promoting the use of climate data to inform private-sector decision-making;
• Directs policy development and projects to support incubators and accelerators focused on early-stage climate innovations that have the potential to be transformational;
• Works with DCP to guide the deployment of support from the GCF’s Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme to potential intermediaries and to National Designated Authorities or focal points to enhance outreach to potential private sector entities and, where appropriate, to further integrate private sector work in national plans and project pipelines.

Delivery

• As a member of the Secretariat’s Senior Management Team, participates in management working groups and decision-making and provides technical inputs to the GCF Board and its committees, panels and teams as needed;
• Manages the review of PSF programme and project proposals and directs improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and predictability of allocation processes and speed of delivery;
• Collaborates with DMA and DCP management to integrate experts from each division into project teams to support selection of the most effective financial instruments and sector solutions to meet country needs;
• Enhances the image and relevance of GCF in the private sector through targeted engagement, business missions, communications and the GCF Private Investment for Climate Conference.

Required experience and qualifications*

• Master’s or higher-level degree;
• 15 years or more experience at a senior management level, the majority of which included working in and with the private sector in developing countries and in a multi-lateral programming environment;
• Broad knowledge of climate change and climate finance;
• Expert knowledge of, and experience with, equity investments, debt/loan structures, limited recourse project finance, blended finance, guarantees and political risk insurance, including for low-emission and climate-resilient projects;
• Experience working with international financial institutions and governments;  
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work across a wide range of strategic, operational, and administrative responsibilities with outstanding team and project management skills; 
• Proven leadership, coaching, and stakeholder engagement experience;
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to develop and execute a strategic vision;
• Superior verbal and written communication and presentation skills;
• Demonstrated ability to constructively adapt and contribute in various settings with a high degree of self-awareness and empathy;
• Fluency in English with knowledge of Spanish and/or French 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.