Senior Energy Specialist

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The World Bank Group is seeking a Senior Energy Specialist to contribute to sector strategy, market development, investment support, and knowledge generation, with a focus on enabling sustainable and resilient energy systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This role is part of the KIESC unit, under the Global Energy team, and will support the SIDS–Resilient Islands for Sustainable Energy (SIDS–RISE) Program. The position is financed by a Trust Fund, and renewal is contingent upon funding availability, business needs, staff performance, and skills fit. The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity, working with public and private sector partners on groundbreaking projects to address urgent global challenges.

Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, energy policy, engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in the energy sector, with strong exposure to emerging markets.
Deep knowledge of: Renewable energy systems and integration of variable renewable energy (VRE).
Deep knowledge of: Electricity markets, tariffs, and regulatory frameworks.
Deep knowledge of: Grid infrastructure, energy storage, and system planning.
Proven experience in financial and economic analysis of energy projects, including tariff modeling and risk assessment.
Experience with private sector participation models, including IPPs, PPPs, and blended finance structures.
Experience with challenges, risks and bottlenecks faced by the private sector in SIDS.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and business judgment skills.
Active listening skills, excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence the audience and build positive relationships with clients, different partners and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with disperse teams located in different countries.
Experience working with large global teams, producing high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision.
Ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Nice To Haves

Experience in SIDS is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the development and implementation of energy sector strategies aligned with SIDS’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and climate goals.
Lead or support global and regional initiatives related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and decarbonization.
Develop and present sector strategies, analytical outputs, and knowledge products to internal and external stakeholders.
Coordinate with government agencies, utilities, contractors, donors, and development partners.
Provide expertise on electricity market structures, regulatory frameworks, and tariff design tailored to small and isolated energy systems.
Analyze market barriers, including affordability constraints, regulatory risks, and limited private sector participation.
Support the design of competitive procurement processes and standardized frameworks to reduce transaction costs.
Support project preparation activities including technical feasibility assessments, system sizing, and technology selection adapted to SIDS constraints.
Review engineering solutions for renewable energy systems, power networks, mini grids, storage systems and associated infrastructure suitable for island contexts.
Support investment teams in project origination, preparation, and appraisal of renewable energy and grid modernization projects.
Assess market and regulatory risks, including off-taker risk, currency exposure, and merchant risk.
Provide inputs into financial modeling, including demand forecasts, tariff scenarios, and price projections.
Contribute to structuring blended finance solutions and risk mitigation instruments to enhance project bankability.
Support grid modernization and resilience efforts, including integration of variable renewable energy (VRE), smart grids, and energy storage systems.
Contribute to capacity building initiatives, including training programs for utilities, regulators, and financial institutions.
Support private sector mobilization, including the development of pipelines of bankable renewable energy projects and risk mitigation mechanisms.
Identify and mitigate technical risks related to climate resilience, operations and maintenance and system reliability which are critical challenges in SIDS.
Provide ongoing support to portfolio teams in assessing market conditions and addressing operational challenges in energy projects.
Assist in troubleshooting regulatory, financial, and technical issues affecting project performance.
Develop and disseminate knowledge products on energy transition in SIDS, including best practices and lessons learned.
Mentor junior staff and contribute to internal capacity building.
Support regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing platforms across SIDS.
Contribute to strengthening the operational and institutional environment for sustainable infrastructure development.
Track key sector trends, including renewable energy technologies, storage solutions, and digital energy systems.
Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of program outcomes, including renewable energy capacity, private investment mobilization, and emissions reductions.