Principal Water Sector Specialist

The Principal Water Sector Specialist is responsible for the technical aspects of projects within the water sector contributing to all phases of the investment cycle primarily involved in project preparation and to a much lesser extent project implementation and monitoring. The role includes providing technical authority, supporting project preparation, appraisal, monitoring, and promoting sustainable solutions in cities and regions where the Bank operates.

Responsibilities

• Carry out, lead and/or supervise technical due diligence in order to appraise technical and commercial viability of projects in preparation.
• Screen initial project proposals to help inform the OL as to whether Bank resources should be committed to develop specific projects providing sound reasoning in that guidance.
• Participate in pre-feasibility site visits.
• Meet with key stakeholders including public and private sector clients to help facilitate the OL during the project life cycle.
• Prepare project-related documentation (such as Technical Due Diligence ToRs) including internal Bank documents (CRMs and FRMs etc), where necessary review Loan Agreements and provide technical input in the covenants in accordance with OL agreed priorities.
• Assist in selection and appointment of external technical consultants.
• Oversee consultant–led technical due diligence, applying expert technical knowledge and experience to technical documentation including review of financial models (to ensure adequacy of technical/engineering assumptions).
• Assist with Green Economy Transition assessments.
• Provide technical inputs as required to facilitate securing of donor financing for transactional and non-transactional Technical Cooperation and investment grants.
• Technically support the development of individual Green City Action Plans.
• Draft technical sections of internal memos and attend clarification meetings with Bank departments.
• Provide robust technical opinions/well defended technical arguments at Bank Committees and Board.
• Assist project monitoring in order to support the loan disbursement process where requested.
• Actively assist with the pragmatic resolution of project delivery issues (as appropriate).
• Participate in site investigations working with Project Implementation Support Consultants and/or Lenders’ Technical Advisors.
• Offer-up practical and imaginative solutions that facilitate project signing and project delivery whilst maintaining the Bank’s integrity.
• Maintain awareness and interest in water sector market trends and technical solutions.
• Seek opportunities across sectors and across teams where a more integrated or novel approach could realise better projects.
• Where necessary assist project monitoring in order to support the loan disbursement / project implementation process.
• Contribute to development of related policies, country and Bank strategies and to the EBRD’s Green Cities initiative as led by others.
• Work with other internal departments to facilitate project development.
• Frequent travel to Bank’s countries of operations in Central Asia and the Caucasus Region as well as other regions depending on business need.

Requirements

• Degree qualified in a relevant engineering/technical discipline; additional higher degree in a relevant finance, economics or business degree would be beneficial.
• Track record and experience in the wider water sector with a relevant infrastructure utility company or corporate/project finance group or an IFI and/or a technical consultancy firm with experience of advising IFIs in relation to water sector projects, or organisation of similar expertise.
• Know-how in conventional and non-conventional water solutions built on understanding of theoretical concepts and principles and their organisational context with this knowledge gained through qualification and/or extensive practical experience.
• Experience of carrying out technical due diligence and monitoring of projects in water resources management, drinking water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, bio-resources, blue-green systems, irrigation infrastructure, climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Understand options for supporting low-carbon pathways in the water sector including solutions for improving maturity of operators including digitalisation.
• International experience in the water sector would be considered particularly beneficial.
• Broader knowledge of public and private sector markets, the regulated business and regulatory environments that influence EBRD’s work in the water sectors.
• Experience of delivering projects to time, cost and quality.
• Experience in working in cross-cultural teams.
• An understanding of banking/business principles.
• Strong analytical and technical skills with the ability to interpret technical and financial information and able to analyse and assess project viability.
• Ability to communicate effectively and confidence in handling internal and external senior stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Good report writing skills.
• Language skills from one of the Bank’s countries of operation is desirable, preferably fluency in Russian.

Skills

• Water Sector Knowledge
• Infrastructure Finance
• Project Financing
• Technical Due Diligence
• Water Resources Management
• Drinking Water Production
• Wastewater Treatment Engineering
• Irrigation Infrastructure
• Climate Mitigation
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Low-Carbon Water Solutions
• Digitalisation in Water Sector
• Public and Private Sector Markets
• Regulatory Knowledge
• Project Delivery
• Cross-cultural Team Management
• Banking Principles
• Technical Analysis
• Financial Analysis
• Report Writing

Languages

English