The Principal, Green Specialist, is responsible to drive and support the delivery of SME green agenda, including but not limited to: ESG and ESG Reporting, Green Financing, Circular Economy, Green and Technological Innovation, Supply Chain and Logistics, Green and ESG Related Products. The Principal is responsible to support the teams design and implement green advisory programmes/solutions that offer bespoke business and sustainability advisory services as a part EBRD SME business delivery.
The Principal interacts with relevant teams within SME F&D, as well as other teams across the EBRD, particularly with Corporate Sector and Financial Institutions teams. In particular, Green Specialist will work closely with Supply Chain Solution (SCS) team, Non-financial Services (NFS) teams on the green and sustainability aspect of SCS and NFS programs.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities:
Support the development and implementation of SME green and sustainability programs and solutions that offer bespoke business and sustainability advisory services including tailored made advisory projects, trainings, and awareness raising activities in EBRD Countries of Operations (COO).
Identify new opportunities for advancing SME green agenda, including but not limited to Climate Change and Environmental Issues such as Circular Economy, Clean and Technological Innovation, Green and ESG Related Products.
Leverage on the EBRD network of partnerships with stakeholders, including financial institutions, corporates, government agencies, and business networks to advance scalable green initiatives that enhance SME access to finance and build skills and capacity, particularly (but not only) in the area of ESG reporting.
Where relevant, provide technical guidance and training to PFIs and / or corporates on best practices, improving internal capacity at the PFI / Corporate level to deliver high-quality green solutions to SMEs that are aligned with the PFI / Corporates overall commercial strategies.
Prepare and deliver assessments and/or impact reports on the outcomes of green interventions to internal and external stakeholders (including donors), highlighting successes and lessons learned to guide decision-making
Participate as a team member of banking projects to drive impactful outcomes for the EBRD clients.
Develop knowledge-sharing resources and products to disseminate both internally and externally best practices on Green.
Track key performance indicators for programmes, frameworks, and transactions involving Green solutions, ensuring implementation teams meet targets and providing support to address any obstacles.
Coordinate with relevant teams within EBRD to leverage additional resources, expertise, and insights that support green delivery, creating inter-team partnerships that improve programme reach and effectiveness.
Working horizontally across all relevant SME products (Non-Financial Services for PFI, Supply Chain Solutions, Star Venture, Blue Ribbon etc.), the principle is responsible for supporting the SME F&D Group deliver SME green and sustainability programs and projects
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications:
Academic/Professional Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Finance, or an equivalent experience or certification in the areas of expertise such ESG/Sustainability. A Master's degree in the field of expertise is preferred.
Experience:
Relevant experience, preferably gained from a consultancy organization or IFIF, focused on ESG, green finance, environmental management, or green transformation initiative or similar fields of expertise.
Proven track record of building and maintaining partnerships with stakeholders, particularly financial institutions and Corporates to advance scalable green initiatives.
Experience in providing technical guidance and training to financial institutions and / or corporates on the implementation of green solutions and strategies that improve SMEs’ green credentials.
Knowledge& skills:
Deep knowledge of SME and corporate sector, with a track record of implementing sustainability solutions and their impact at the enterprise or ecosystem level.
Knowledge of trends and drivers influencing environmental change in terms of potential impact on enterprises and their environmental practices.
Knowledge of sustainability and environmental regulation, green certifications, sustainability standards and reporting requirements.
Knowledge in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and carbon footprint methodologies.
Excellent knowledge of product development in areas of expertise and excellent project management skills with a track record of design and implementation of impactful development programmes for SMEs.
Capability to design and manage SME development programmes, analyse, monitor, and assess the impact of advisory activities and report on their effectiveness.
Ability to provide guidance to country teams on the implementation of green/sustainability advisory programmes, ensuring alignment with best practices and consistency in delivery.
Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders
Strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills and ability to innovate and think creatively.
Excellent presentation and negotiations skills.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Fluency in other languages of countries of operations would be an advantage.
