Ad, Sustainable Project Procurement

The European Bank For Reconstruction And Development; England; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development seeks an Associate Director for Sustainable Project Procurement to lead the strategic and policy development of sustainable procurement across public sector operations. You will shape procurement standards, drive low-carbon and circular economy initiatives, and oversee integration of sustainability in complex, high-value projects.

You will collaborate with senior management and external stakeholders to ensure adherence to PPR, risk governance,

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to deliver clear, concise messages to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• High accountability and decision-making capability.
• English fluency; additional languages advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy development and guidance on sustainable procurement and VfM.
• Oversee Project Procurement Planning and Delivery in public sector operations.
• Integrate sustainability into procurement strategies, documents, and contracts.
• Drive market engagement and MDB best practice in procurement across operations.
• Ensure environmental, circular economy, and VfM commitments are met across projects.

Skills

English proficiency

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Multicultural adaptability

Education

Degree in Business/Finance/Law/Engineering

CIPS certification advantageous

Job description

Purpose

The Associate Director, Sustainable Project Procurement (AD-SPP) leads the Bank’s thematic approach to sustainable and strategic project procurement across public sector operations. The role provides authoritative advice on procurement policy, standards, governance and risk; shapes the development and consistent implementation of the Bank’s Procurement Policies and Rules (PPR), associated guidance and operational standards; and leads significant initiatives relating to sustainable procurement, circular economy, low‑carbon procurement and value for money.

Working across the project lifecycle, the Associate Director oversees the application of sustainability and strategic procurement requirements in complex Bank-financed operations, provides expert judgement on significant compliance, assurance and implementation matters, and engages with senior Bank management, governance bodies, clients, implementing agencies, MDB peers and other external stakeholders. The role promotes integrity, consistency, efficiency and effectiveness in procurement and supports improved project outcomes and the Bank’s broader transition objectives, while procurement responsibility remains with the borrower or implementing entity.

Background

Since its inception in 1991, the Bank has invested more than EUR 215 billion in over 7,600 projects across its countries of operation, in both the public and private sectors. PPD’s key role is to ensure that all Bank‑financed procurement is conducted efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with the Bank’s PPR, while also supporting the integration of sustainability and climate objectives into project design and delivery, including concepts such as the circular economy, low‑carbon emissions, and best value‑for‑money (VfM), as well as the piloting of new sustainable approaches based on Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) best practice, thereby keeping procurement aligned with the Bank’s principles and vision and supporting better development outcomes.

PPD provides fiduciary oversight, strategic support, and policy advice across the project lifecycle. Through its oversight and advisory role, PPD ensures that procurement risks are properly assessed and managed within the credit process, while also promoting sustainable procurement practices, including environmental performance requirements, circular economy approaches, and low‑carbon solutions. In doing so, the AD‑SPP will work with the relevant Bank departments to ensure that all relevant issues relating to compliance with the Bank’s PPR and sustainability commitments are identified early and addressed through adequate procurement planning and structuring.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Policy Leadership & Strategic Advice
• Lead the development and enhancement of Bank procurement policy, guidance and standards relating to sustainable procurement, strategic procurement and value for money. Provide advice to senior management, banking teams and operational staff on complex procurement and sustainability matters. Lead significant policy initiatives and represent the Bank in MDB and external forums relating to sustainable and strategic procurement. Establish standards and promote consistency in the application of procurement policy across public sector operations.
• Project Procurement Planning & Delivery in public sector operations
• Lead the preparation, update, and review of Project Procurement Strategies, ensuring full alignment with PPR and related requirements (e.g. rated criteria, Early Market Engagement, sustainability considerations).
• Manage procurement activities with operation leaders, technical teams, engineers, environmental specialists, consultants, and implementing agencies.
• Sustainable Procurement Integration in public sector operations
• Lead the integration of sustainability requirements into procurement strategies, documentation, and project implementation arrangements, drawing on hands‑on experience and practical application of sustainable procurement approaches.
• Ensure sustainability objectives are effectively translated into standard procurement documents, including technical specifications, employer’s requirements, evaluation methodologies, contract clauses, supplier obligations, and performance indicators.
• Lead the development and implementation of sustainable procurement approaches, including circular economy principles and resource efficiency, supporting their practical application across the project lifecycle.
• Best Value for Money (VfM) & Strategic Procurement in public sector operations
• Establish and drive the Bank’s approach to strategic procurement and value for methodologies in public sector operations, including rated criteria methodologies, lifecycle costing and total cost of ownership (TCO) and sustainability‑weighted and quality‑based evaluations
• Steer the integration of environmental performance, resilience, innovation, circularity, and long‑term value considerations into standards and guidance for procurement evaluations, leveraging hands‑on experience with these methodologies where possible.
• Support risk‑based and outcome‑focused procurement strategies.
• Low‑Carbon Procurement & Sustainability Metrics
• Lead the integration of climate and low‑carbon procurement considerations into procurement processes, guidance and implementation approaches across public sector operations
• Support the development of monitoring, reporting, and verification systems for sustainability performance.
• Market Engagement & MDB Best Practice in public sector operations
• Shape the Bank's approach to market engagement practices, ensuring procurement strategies leverage market intelligence, innovation and sustainable solutions consistent with MDB best practice. Lead policy initiatives and contribute to the development and enhancement of the PPR, standard procurement documents and associated guidance relating to strategic and sustainable procurement.
• Sustainability Compliance, Monitoring & Assurance in public sector operations
• Ensure project designs comply with sustainability, circular economy, climate, and procurement commitments set out in project documentation, procurement strategies, contracts, and financing agreements.
• Review and verify the integration of sustainability requirements across procurement and implementation activities.
• Monitor delivery of environmental, circular economy, low‑carbon, and VfM commitments during project execution.
• Contract Management & Project Support in public sector operations
• Provide strategic oversight and expert advice on complex contract implementation, supplier performance and sustainability delivery matters.
• Review project performance data, including sustainability‑related reporting outputs.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced MDB Procurement Expertise with Sustainability Focus
  Strong and demonstrable hands‑on experience in the practical application and interpretation of the Bank’s PPR (or comparable MDB frameworks), with practical involvement in integrating sustainability and climate requirements into complex, high‑value project procurement processes.
• Advanced Sustainable Project Procurement Leadership
  Substantial experience in designing and implementing sustainable procurement strategies for large‑scale infrastructure projects.
• End-to-End Project Implementation in MDB Contexts
  Substantial hands‑on experience managing project procurement in MDB‑financed operations within emerging and transitioning economies, with a strong focus on embedding sustainability commitments into implementation, contract management, and performance verification frameworks.
• Expertise in Advanced VfM and Sustainable Evaluation Methodologies
• Demonstrated experience in applying non-price-based procurement methodologies, including:
• Rated criteria and quality‑based selection models
• Lifecycle costing and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Sustainability‑weighted evaluation frameworks incorporating carbon, resource efficiency, and circularity metrics
• Specialised Knowledge of Circular and Low-Carbon Procurement Systems
• Experience in the development of circular economy and low‑carbon principles within procurement, including the development of:
• Circular supply chain strategies
• Carbon measurement and reduction mechanisms within tenders
• Environmental performance specifications and contract KPIs
• Policy Leadership and MDB-Level Thought Contribution
  Experience contributing to (or supporting) policy development, guidance frameworks, or institutional initiatives on sustainable public procurement, including active engagement in MDB working groups, international forums, or cross‑institutional collaborations on sustainability and procurement innovation.
• Sustainability Assurance, Monitoring, and Compliance Expertise
  Experience in establishing monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems for sustainability outcomes, ensuring that procurement‑driven commitments (e.g., climate, circular economy, VfM) are measurable, auditable, and enforced during project execution.
• Leadership in High-Impact, Multi-Stakeholder Environments
  Proven ability to lead specialist teams and influence senior stakeholders, including clients, government entities, and technical experts to drive adoption of advanced and practical sustainable procurement practices in complex and high‑risk project environments.

Skills

• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to delivery clear, concise, and fit for purpose messages, tailored to diverse audiences and presented in a structured and streamlined manner.
• Strong analytical skills and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess data and make informed decisions.
• High level accountability and decision‑making capability.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, fluency in another working language of the Bank would be advantageous.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, fast‑changing, and multicultural environments, including the management of competing priorities to support project delivery.

Education and Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Finance, Law, Engineering, or related field.
• Professional certification (e.g. CIPS or equivalent) would be advantageous.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About 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.

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high‑performing environment.

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. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness.
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do.
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits.