Climate Investment Specialist

Grade: IS-4
Deadline: 16 May 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 129,400 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 297 projects across 133 countries, with a total commitment of USD 16.6 billion to date.

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 
 

Background
The Department of Latin America and Caribbean (DLAC) is responsible and accountable for all aspects of GCF’s public sector programming operations, including programming strategy, country engagement, origination, implementation, and portfolio management.    

Position Objective
The Climate Investment Specialist in the Regional Department will be responsible for 1) technical assistance (readiness) proposal and implementation, 2) relationship engagement with assigned countries, including at NDA and Ministerial level and with stakeholders 3) origination (technical review and structuring), implementation and portfolio management across the department. 

Purpose 

• Design and manage readiness activities that contribute to the three core objectives of the GCF 2024–2027 Readiness Strategy, and support its implementation, ensuring readiness support is country-driven, strategically targeted, and delivers measurable results aligned with national climate priorities.
• Apply the Fund’s investment criteria and other policies and guidance in the review of funding proposals and concept notes, ensuring proposals demonstrate strategic alignment with country priorities, environmental and social safeguards, gender responsiveness, while contributing to high-impact climate, transformative outcomes;
• Apply relevant operational policies to the Funded Activity Agreement review/negotiation and post-approval process
• Adapt improvement as well as integration of ICT tools related to pipeline and portfolio management.
• Develop frameworks and processes that synthesize lessons learned and best practice to optimize the pipeline review and post approval process.

Engagement

• Coordinate closely with National Designated Authorities to ensure alignment of GCF programming with national climate priorities, facilitate project and readiness pipeline development, and support capacity strengthening and stakeholder engagement efforts.
• Interacts with internal stakeholders (relevant divisions) and external stakeholders (Accredited Entities) to facilitate the review of proposals and post-approval process -and to provide timely and effective action;
• Contributes to development of efficient process/procedures and dissemination towards internal/external stakeholders.

Delivery

• Deliver technical review of projects/ programmes/proposals related to technical assistance and concept notes and funding proposals. 
• Oversee the full cycle of Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, including guiding grant development, proposal review, implementation oversight, performance monitoring, and reporting.
• Actively seek out and lead the end-to-end management of the funding proposal project cycle, including engaging in strategic dialogues with country counterparts to identify priority interventions, oversee the development of concept notes and PPF applications, and coordinate the internal review and quality assurance process for funding proposals, ensuring alignment with GCF investment criteria. 
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams throughout the cycle and provide oversight of approved project implementation, recommending corrective actions as necessary to ensure effective delivery and impact. 
• Lead on the analytical (technical review and structuring) and procedural stages of processing concept notes and funding proposals, including maintenance of the project database, across relevant stages of the GCF project cycle;
• Closely coordinate with the relevant teams and the Accredited Entities to make legal arrangements and all necessary arrangements properly done for effective project implementation after approval.
• Lead corporate, divisional and team initiatives and activities, as assigned.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Master’s degree in business, economics, development, finance, or engineering and/or CFA, or bachelor’s degree with additional 2 years of experience.  
• At least 9 years of relevant work experience, of which 3 with a regional or multilateral development banks and/or development financing institution
• Proven experience in public sector relationship management, with a demonstrated ability to engage, coordinate, and maintain productive partnerships with government entities at various levels.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, particularly those funded by multiple donors and implemented through diverse agency structures, ensuring coherence, accountability, and impact across all levels.
• Track record in capacity building for governments, public institutions, and non-profit organizations across Latin America, particularly in facilitating access to bilateral and multilateral climate finance, and supporting the design and implementation of technical assistance grants.
• Expertise in climate finance readiness planning, tailored to a wide range of contexts including large and small economies, SIDS, and both international and local implementing partners. This includes aligning national priorities with donor requirements and building institutional capacity for sustainable resource mobilization.
• Technical expertise in the design and implementation of projects focused on early warning systems and disaster risk reduction, ensuring the integration of innovative approaches and technologies to enhance community resilience and preparedness. 
• Broad knowledge of climate finance, climate finance tools, enablers and implementation models, across various sectors
• Relevant experience in international setting;
• Unquestionable integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards. 
• Excellent business writing and presentation skills; and
• Fluency in English and Spanish, basic understanding of Portuguese would be an advantage. 
   

The closing date for application is 16 May 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*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 to apply.