Principal Specialist, Urban Transport
Role Overview
EBRD is a market leader in financing innovative environmental projects across its Countries of Operations, which currently include Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Turkey, and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. The Bank has financed over 50 urban transport projects, of diverse scope, across its Countries of Operations in the region, including not only the full range of public transport investments (metro, LRT/tram, trolleybus, urban bus, passenger ferries) as well as automated fare collection systems, traffic management/ITS, parking, public lighting, and urban roads. Project structures are equally diverse, including public and private sector clients, private sponsors from PPP/concessions arrangements, but with a focus on projects structured as direct sub-sovereign and municipal public utility projects. The Bank has a strong project pipeline, including PPPs, and is addressing energy efficiency and climate change issues through its Sustainable Energy Initiative.
The Bank's strategy in the urban transport (UT) sector is to modernise and improve UT infrastructure and services through structures that consolidate environmental benefits, and create lasting and robust financial, institutional and regulatory outcomes. The objective of the role is to build on the activities already implemented to increase the Bank's impact (in terms of volume of financing, number of operations, coverage of sectors, energy savings and emissions reductions and, innovative financing instruments) and assist the region in improving the sustainability of the UT sector more generally.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
The successful candidate will support MEI Operation Leaders to structure, close and monitor UT transactions. You will scope and oversee significant consultancy assignments related to project preparation, due diligence, project implementation, corporate development and institutional strengthening. The UT Specialist will analyse regulatory, institutional, business planning, technical, economic, procurement and environmental aspects of projects. Specific tasks will include:
Business Development, Project Preparation Structuring
- Assist in the identification of lending opportunities in the UT sector.
- Visit prospective clients to assess UT projects' potential, discuss investment strategy with respective management of operators, suppliers, construction firms, other utilities, regulators and local governments.
- Identify best available and appropriate technological measures to be pursued based on the needs of those countries in which the Bank is active and identify business opportunities for technology suppliers.
- Participate in conferences on UT financing.
- Prepare Terms of References and budgets for the consultancy assignments, in cooperation with clients and donors as required. Provide assistance in any pre-qualification activities required.
- Prepare precise criteria to enable the objective evaluation and selection of the consultants' proposals.
- Support and advise the MEI team in the evaluation and the selection of consultants.
- Advise and propose follow-up actions based on monitoring of the consultants' works.
- Contribute to the internal appraisal documents.
- Review projects being considered by the Bank for financing with a view to identifying at an early stage E2C2 potential, and how bank funding can be used for sustainable sector development.
- Cooperate with internal relevant units which are involved in the Climate Change activities, such as Green Investment Schemes, Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanism, and Voluntary Emissions Market when the projects are considered to have potential for additional financing from these sources.
- Advise clients on best international management practices in the UT sector, focusing on streamlining the internal organisation of the sector, improving the institutional and regulatory practices, facilitating the effective operation of client companies, infrastructure networks and high quality service provision based on client oriented systems, long term planning, and utilisation of IT technologies.
Project Implementation
- In close co-operation with the clients and the MEI procurement specialists, review and advise on issues related to implementation of signed UT sector projects (including the development of proposed remedial actions).
- Evaluate the opportunity to arrange capacity building activities with the purpose of providing the client's management with the necessary tools to fully factor sustainability considerations into their overall business strategy and to facilitate the implementation of the planned investments.
- Contribute to preparation of internal reports regarding the project implementation status and progress of the institutional reforms.
Policy Dialogue
- Carry out discussions with government bodies and officials on development of policies impacting the UT sector.
- Keep abreast of climate change and energy efficiency policy issues in the region and in the European Union.
- Advise on implications of policy developments on signed projects and projects under the preparation phase.
Donor Relationship
- Maintain dialogue with the donors active in the UT sector with a view to maximising the impact of their involvement.
- Inform the donors on policy developments and their impact on projects
Essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications
- Master's degree from a leading university in the country of education (e.g. preferably in engineering, economics or finance). A combination of technical and commercial skills developed in industry, government and/or private consultancy will be an advantage.
- Thorough experience (minimum 7 years for Principal Specialist) of the technical and institutional / structural aspects of the construction, rehabilitation and modernisation of UT systems and projects, but also relevant banking, commercial/operational, government or consulting experience, gained from a reputable bank, industrial enterprise or advisory/consultancy firm, with a demonstrable track record of successful UT projects.
- An aptitude for combining technical expertise with the ability to manage business relationships and sound commercial judgement.
- Knowledge and experience of the countries of Eastern/Central Europe, Russia/CIS, Turkey and/or the SEMED region with regard to the UT sector including, technologies, policies, sector reforms, customer service standards and regulatory aspects.
- Familiarity with the EBRD banking appraisal process of the project loans and financing of external consulting services will be an advantage.
- Knowledge of EBRD and international donor organisations, their institutional priorities, policies and procedures.
- Ability to formulate policy documents and analysis.
- Very good command of written and spoken English. Working knowledge of the Russian or French language will be an advantage.
- Computer literate, in particular with understanding of financial modelling and use of Excel.
- Ability to operate in multi-cultural environments and to build effective working relations with clients, colleagues and partners from the international community.
- The applicant should be result-oriented, self-motivated and with an enthusiastic ability for sustained high work level.
- Willingness to travel extensively across the region.
Competencies and Personal Attributes
- Ability to operate sensitively in multicultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues
- Ability to communicate effectively with senior government and business contacts
- Ability to plan and organise work unsupervised
- Ability to work to and meet tight deadlines
- Willingness to travel to and work in EBRD countries of operation
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