View Vacancy – Sustainable Investment Officer, Senior Secondee to CDMX

Main purpose of job:

Secondment to Mexico City’s Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA, per its acronym in Spanish) to further climate change and sustainable development coordination and ambition under the Public Environmental Fund (FAP, per its acronym in Spanish).

The scope of the role will involve analysis, development and the strengthening of Mexico City’s Environmental Public Trust Fund at sub-national level for ministries and agencies in charge of the delivery of sustainable development projects. Strategic analysis and project development work will encompass all aspects of green finance and investment for development, both public and private, including international sources of finance, and private sources including hedge funds, private investment firms, impact investment portfolios and multi-sectoral investment instruments. It is also expected to develop scope for policies to deliver a green response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The role will be managed by Norma Amezcua Diaz, the Coordinator of Funds and Public Trust Funds in SEDEMA, and will work under their her guidance.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

Mexico and the UK work closely together under the Partnership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, which provides a basis for collaboration on emissions reduction and economic and social inclusion. To support SEDEMA’s implementation of CDMX’s climate ambition, the British Embassy in Mexico City is looking for a locally engaged Sustainable Investment Officer, to strengthen the FAP with the necessary financial tools to attract more private and international funding to further the development of environmental projects via this mechanism. The role will be based in the Directorate-General Direction of Policy Coordination and Environmental Culture Team within SEDEMA, with frequent liaison with the British Embassy and other stakeholders.

The position will be tasked with providing financial counselling for all FAP related matters including the structuring and evaluation of ongoing and potential projects. He/She will be responsible for all matters regarding financial specialization and will provide practical support to other Public Environment Fund (FAP) areas as needed.

This will allow the FAP to develop the required financial capabilities and expertise that it currently lacks, allowing it to have the intended reach of a specialized office for green investments in Mexico City.

1. Prepare a work / collaboration plan with the Directorate-General Direction of Policy Coordination and Environmental Culture. To include:

• Developing, under the guidance of other staff within SEDEMA, a Sustainable Investment Strategy:

                      i.  Structuring of a green and environmental project portfolio to be financed with private and international funds in the medium term.

                     ii.  Performing market research and competitive analysis by conducting due diligence on potential investment opportunities.

                    iii.  Including a strategy for working with green finance mechanisms at the local level.

                    iv.  Drafting investment cases and business plans to support the process for investing in new areas.

• Managing processes around deal creation, documentation, legal review, financial administration, and production of quarterly internal reports within SEDEMA and to the UK Embassy.
• Contribute to the development of a communications strategy as required.

2. Develop a pipeline to align international and national funds, and private investments, with sustainable development projects. To include:

• Provide guidance on accessing existing green finance to FAP. Develop a specific guidance product if required.
• Develop a new or refined financial mechanism/s for increasing investment at sub-national level for climate and sustainable development projects, drawing on the experiences of others in Mexico and other countries where relevant.
• Develop a package of specific measures to pilot in key sectors following on from work delivered by other international organisations.
• Working with seniors and their contacts, help identify needs and support deployment of climate change experts/skills shares missions to work with financial leads in private sector entities, and the UK’s green finance eco-system, to support above objectives.
• Identify and begin implementation of 1-2 pilot schemes, with stakeholders, to build evidence and learning base for pipeline.

3. Create a plan to institutionalize the existing successful initiatives at the end of the secondment. To include:

• Ensure successful initiatives have a sustainability plan in place and the necessary support and resource.
• Ensure learning from projects, both successful and unsuccessful, and are captured effectively and distributed appropriately to support and benefit the work of others.

4. Support development of policies that deliver carbon mitigation and environmental benefits while helping respond to the Covid-19 crisis.

The scale and focus of this objective will be flexible, in light of the evolving situation. It is expected that a part of the role will involve supporting the development of a policy response that delivers environmental benefits, according to the priorities of the Government of Mexico City and with agreement from the line manager. Specific objectives will be agreed in the inception phase.

Key dependencies

• There is a need to regularly evaluate programme and strategy performance. This includes the secondee supporting their Line Manager to report on risks and progress in compliance with defined national and/or international entities to the required standards, and regular reporting to SEDEMA and the British Embassy.
• Coordination and clear channels of communication with other green finance project funded through UK PACT and other HMG initiatives.

Inception Phase

• During a three-month inception phase, the post holder will develop an internal stakeholder network and clarify working structures and reporting lines with colleagues in SEDEMA and the British Embassy.
• Inception phase deliverables will include the production of stakeholder analysis, the creation of a workplan and sub-deliverables, together with a timeline for completion, in collaboration with SEDEMA and with approval from the British Embassy.

Essential education/experience

• A minimum of an undergraduate degree in business, economics or finance – or a related field such as sustainable development or public policy, with supporting financial experience.
• A minimum of three years’ experience in a relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable or green finance, sustainable development and climate change.
• Experience in public policy for financial services.
• Experience of investment for international development.
• Knowledge of the Mexican system of government, or ability to develop this rapidly.

Essential skills

• Good overall strategic sense to develop plans rapidly, identify new opportunities for sustainable investment, and ensure they are managed to deadlines.
• Strong relationship management and communication skills. The post-holder must be customer-focused, with a desire and ability to communicate frequently with multiple and senior stakeholders.
• Fluent English and Spanish language skills.
• Good management skills to ensure timely delivery by partners and team members.