AD, Head of SBI, Green Buildings (London, GB)

Opportunity Review: Associate Director, Head of SBI, Green Buildings - London

This role presents a significant opportunity for a seasoned professional to lead and shape the future of sustainable built environments across the EBRD's operational regions. As the Associate Director, Head of SBI, Green Buildings, you will be at the forefront of driving decarbonisation and enhancing sustainability within the building sector, influencing both policy and finance channels.

Advantages for Candidates:

• Strategic Impact: This position offers the chance to make a tangible difference by developing and implementing programs that accelerate the transition to green buildings and urban regeneration. Your work will directly contribute to reducing carbon emissions and improving the environmental performance of built assets.
• Leadership and Influence: You will lead a critical department within the Climate Strategy and Delivery (CSD) unit, acting as the key representative for sustainable buildings and green urban regeneration. This involves engaging with senior stakeholders, government authorities, and private sector clients, providing a platform for significant influence.
• Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: The role operates at the intersection of multiple EBRD business functions, including Financial Institutions, Sustainable Infrastructure, Corporate Sector, and Equity. This provides invaluable exposure to diverse areas of the bank's operations and fosters a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development.
• Innovation and Digitalisation: A strong emphasis is placed on promoting digital solutions like building energy modelling and digital twins. Candidates with an interest and experience in leveraging technology for enhanced building performance and scalable investment programs will find this particularly appealing.
• Partnership Development: You will be instrumental in forging and nurturing partnerships with a wide array of market actors, including industry associations, technology providers, and research institutions. This collaborative approach is key to achieving systemic impact and integrating innovative solutions.
• Global Reach: The scope of this role extends across all EBRD countries of operation, offering the opportunity to work on diverse projects and challenges in emerging markets and developing countries.
• Career Growth and Development: Working within a dynamic international organisation like the EBRD, with its commitment to inclusion, innovation, and sustainability, offers a rich learning environment and ample opportunities for professional development.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Extensive Experience Required: This is a senior leadership role demanding a substantial track record in structuring climate/green investments, particularly within the sustainable buildings and infrastructure sectors. Experience in climate finance, climate risk assessment, and whole-life carbon approaches is essential.
• Policy and Financial Acumen: A deep understanding of policy analysis, policy formulation, and business and finance principles is crucial. The ability to integrate policy instruments with financial solutions to enable programmatic finance models is a core requirement.
• Market Contextualisation: A key aspect of the role is adapting decarbonisation and sustainability solutions to specific market contexts. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills to assess market needs and tailor strategies accordingly.
• Communication and Stakeholder Management: Excellent written and oral communication skills, coupled with strong influencing, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities, are vital for effective engagement with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Leadership and Team Management: The role may involve people management responsibilities. Demonstrating proven leadership and team management skills, including the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team, is important.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Working in multicultural environments requires sensitivity and the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Adaptability to Emerging Markets: Experience working in emerging markets and developing countries is highly valued, as the role involves addressing unique challenges and opportunities in these regions.

This Associate Director position represents a challenging yet incredibly rewarding opportunity for individuals passionate about driving sustainable development in the built environment. It requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and strong leadership to navigate complex challenges and unlock significant potential for positive change across the EBRD's regions.