Role Overview
EBRD aims to strengthen the economic governance framework needed for private sector development through its unique business model including investment operations, policy dialogue and technical assistance. As part of its policy engagement, the EBRD supports its countries of operations to enhance their legal and regulatory frameworks and provides technical assistance to corporate clients to improve their climate governance, climate strategies and disclosures.
The advertised position is for the Sustainable Finance Governance and Regulation (SFGR) Unit, which was recently established to respond to increased country and client demand for better climate governance and strategic alignment of businesses with low carbon and resilient economies. The SFGR Unit sits within the Legal Transition Programme (LTP) and is operationally aligned with the Bank’s policy and operational teams delivering on the Bank’s Green Economy Transition and Paris Alignment commitments.
The Counsel will support the delivery of the workplan of the SFDR Unit, which will be informed by the Bank’s strategic direction and especially the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition (GET) 2021-2025 Approach. The specific topics that the Counsel would work on might change overtime, as decided by the Bank in its entire discretion.
The Counsel is primarily responsible for developing and implementing high impact policy and legal transition activities to enable sustainable and climate finance investments and regional development.
The role of the Counsel is to engage with stakeholders, including Bank staff, government officials, Bank’s clients and other market participants, to identify legal obstacles and shortcomings and to develop creative, well-planned and result-oriented legal reform, policy and corporate actions to address such obstacles in line with investment priorities and green targets and in close co-operation with a broader group of stakeholders.
In developing a project pipeline and throughout the course of a project, the Counsel will report to the Head of the SFGR Unit and is expected to consult widely within the Bank including with EBRD Directors, Heads of Departments and Regional Offices, Senior and Principal Bankers to ensure that the project effectively supports the Bank’s operations, policy and investment strategy.
The Legal Transition Programme (LTP) is the EBRD’s initiative to contribute to the improvement of the investment climate in the Bank’s countries of operations by helping to create an investor-friendly, transparent and predictable legal environment. The Legal Transition Team administers the LTP within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).
Accountabilities & Responsibilities
The Counsel typically will be responsible for:
- Supporting the delivery of the SFDR Unit’s objectives and workplan, which include advising clients (i.e., financial institutions, real sector and cities/municipalities) on enhancing their climate and nature risk governance and developing transition plans to facilitate climate finance.
- Advising on the application of sustainability and climate change-related disclosure standards and regulations and corporate climate action plans, and supporting the work of the SFGR Unit responsible for providing thought leadership on ESG and sustainability governance and reporting;
- Assisting SFGR Unit, VP3, bankers and others within the Bank with structuring and implementing credible climate governance action plans, transition plans, and sustainability commitments of clients (i.e., corporates, financial institutions and cities) in line with emerging best practices and as delivered through the Bank’s Corporate Climate Governance Facility (https://www.ebrd.com/ccg-facility);
- Supporting clients with disclosure strategies and reporting on sustainability-related risks and opportunities (e.g. ISSB, CSRD/SFDR, ESRS);
- Developing policy, legal, and regulatory solutions that would help clients transition to low carbon and resilient businesses
- Drafting policy, legal reform and institution building project proposals in the areas of climate change, sustainable finance and governance, transition planning and presenting projects for approval to SFGR Unit and EBRD management;
- Supporting and advising national authorities and regulators on developing legislation on climate change, nature / biodiversity and broader sustainability in line with national policy commitments;
- Implementing legal reform and institution building projects, which includes supervising the selection and activities of external consultants in conjunction with local counterparts, and reporting on the progress of projects to EBRD management;
- Liaising with other International Financial Institutions, international and bilateral agencies providing policy and legal reform assistance and contributing to international standard setting in the sustainable finance, governance and reporting specialist area with a view to promoting effective best practice;
- Promoting EBRD work and international standards throughout transition countries by speaking at international meetings and conferences, contributing to the EBRD’s legal journal Law in Transition and other external publications.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications
The Counsel is expected to:
- Have relevant professional experience (normally, not less than 5 years) gained at a top-rated law firm, or in a similar in-house position within a respected international institution working on sustainable finance, climate / sustainability governance, regulation and reporting, and / or related legal and policy matters.
- Have knowledge and professional experience in ESG-related policy and legal work advising financial institutions and real sector organisations, government officials and / or national regulators. Specific experience in drafting and advising on a) EU or international sustainable finance regulations and frameworks, and / or b) climate change and environmental legislation would be an advantage.
- Have (i) a university law degree in a relevant field of law from a leading university and (ii) a post-graduate law degree or relevant professional legal experience. Professional experience or academic studies in finance and/or economics would be advantageous.
- Be admitted/qualified to practise law in at least one jurisdiction and have academic qualifications or professional experience in civil law, common law or both.
- Have an excellent command of the English language, including excellent skills to draft and negotiate legal documents in English. A command of French/Russian/Arabic or another working language of the EBRD's countries of operations would be an advantage.
- Excellent legal drafting, negotiation and project management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, communications (written, verbal and presentation) skills.
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
- Good team player with strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
- Ability to multitask and work under pressure to challenging deadlines.
- Please note that CCTs, Interns and applicants working directly for a Board office can only apply for jobs advertised via the external careers website.
What is it like to work at the EBRD?
Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.
The EBRD environment provides you with:
- Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
- A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
- An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do.
Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does. A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.
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