City Finance Specialist

Job Title: City Finance Specialist, NetZeroCities
Team: Cities

Level: Advanced

Please refer to our Capability Framework
Location:Poland

Contract Type: Fixed term contract with option to extend/convert to perm

Apply By:Interviews will happen on a rolling basistill we find the right candidate. It is advisable to apply as early as possible.

ABOUT US

At EIT Climate-KIC, we are wholeheartedly committed to building a diverse and representative team and an inclusive workplace that values different life experiences and perspectives, and we encourage personal development, learning and growth.

When recruiting, we look to achieve diversity in the candidate pool. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and are happy to consider reasonable adjustments that will foster success in potential employees from diverse backgrounds and life situations. And because our team has differing needs and personal circumstances, we offer a high degree of flexibility to accommodate all working patterns. We're happy to discuss your situation during the interview and see how best we can support you.

Don't let Imposter Syndrome stop you from applying

EIT Climate-KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community) is Europe's foremost climate innovation initiative, entrusted by the European Commission to catalyse transformation through innovation. Headquartered in Amsterdam, with circa 160 people distributed all over the EU, EIT Climate-KIC leads and orchestrates innovation with a community of more than 400. Together we conduct activities in 39 countries. We partner with cities, regions, governments and communities with the highest climate action ambition; providing the framework and expert support to holistically manage the complexity of climate change and deliver accelerated climate action.

EIT Climate-KIC operates as a not-for-profit platform working through public-private partnership, wielding both public and private funding. We consist of 3 Legal entities: a Dutch BV Holding company (for profit) with 14 branches in European jurisdictions, providing grant management, innovation orchestration services, and impact investment advisory owned by a Dutch-based foundation with charity status – Climate-KIC International Foundation – with subsidiaries in the UK.

ABOUT THE ROLE

EIT-Climate KIC is seeking a City Finance Specialist to support cities and theNetZeroCities consortium. NetZeroCities is an initiative launched as part of the European Green Deal and directly linked to the European Mission for 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. EIT Climate-KIC is the lead organization of a 34-member consortium comprising NetZeroCities and will drive the process and coordinate across all Work Packages for the project. To deliver excellence in this project, EIT Climate-KIC have a focused team with high capabilities to oversee a complex, multi-sectoral, multi-partner project.

The City Finance Specialist will be responsible for guiding European cities in the implementation of their net-zero Investment Plans and connecting city stakeholders to public and private capital. Climate-KIC is one of the hiring partners. Split into geographies, Climate-KIC is responsible for Poland. Knowledge of Polish local and national financial ecosystems, frameworksand sustainability funding initiatives is thus required.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide Tailored Financial Expertise: Offer direct, tailor-made financial expertise, training, and advice to cities as they develop and implement investment projects aimed at achieving climate neutrality. This includes assessing financial needs, identifying funding sources, and developing financial strategies aligned with city objectives.
• Deepen Local Knowledge and Networks: Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders within cities, including public and private sector entities. Develop a deep understanding of local contexts, priorities, and challenges to effectively tailor financial solutions and facilitate investment opportunities.
• Mobilise Public and Private Sector Financing: Engage extensively with investors to mobilise public and private sector financing for city investment projects. This involves leveraging their existing private sector financing relationships to conduct investor outreach, facilitate investment discussions, and structure financial transactions to meet investor requirements.
• Overcome Investment Barriers: Identify and address barriers to investment by tailoring financial solutions and assisting cities in developing portfolios of commercial projects. Work closely with cities to optimise project structures and enhance investor interest across multiple urban contexts.
• Advise on Financial Strategies: Collaborate with city stakeholders to develop and implement financial strategies that support the achievement of climate neutrality goals. Provide guidance on financing mechanisms, investment frameworks, and risk management strategies to maximise the impact of city investment projects.

Key Working Relationships

• City Finance and Climate Departments, and other city stakeholders
• NetZeroCities Investment and Finance Consortium Partners
• NetZeroCities City Finance Specialists and City Advisors
• European Commission

ABOUT YOU

Experience andQualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in a financial role - Preferably financial analysis, project finance, financial transactions and execution, or similar, with a primary focus on sustainable finance highly preferable.
• Comprehensive understanding of financial markets, financial structuring, and investment instruments as they apply to sustainability projects.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, solve complex problems, and drive results in a fast-paced, transactional environment.
• Prior experience working with cities and/or public sector institutions engaging and delivering on sustainable project development.
• Proven experience of engagement with private sector financing institutions.
• Specific sectoral project experience in urban sustainable infrastructure e.g. renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, district heating and cooling, etc.

Skills

• Fluent in English and Polish
• Experience or willingness to work with collaborative IT applications (we use Office365 and Microsoft Teams, as well as Miro, Zoom, Mentimeter etc.)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Financial transactional and execution skills.
• Knowledge of local and national financial ecosystems, frameworksand sustainability funding initiatives.

Additional Information

Whilst exhibiting these necessary attributes, candidates are also being considered based on key sectoral and geographical expertise with particular attention to the local context, languages, and ecosystems, including citizen engagement and inclusion.

Location

Candidates must have the right to work in the location they're applying for (I.e. not require visa sponsorship) prior to applying for the position. Ideally, the successful candidate will be based close to one ofthe EIT Climate KIC offices, but we support fully remote or hybrid forms of working and offer a high degree of flexibility.

To ensure that we can respond to every single applicant, we will close the role once we receive a reasonable pool of candidates to assess, which can be before the apply-by date.