Investment Manager, Sustainable Infrastructure/Cities - Italy

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

The Climate Investment team is responsible for developing and managing sustainable impact funds, as well as other facilities, vehicles and platforms for investments in climate action. Our scope of expertise covers a variety of topics related to sustainable land-use, low-carbon energy, climate-smart cities and/or clean technology, to name just a few. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!

Job summary:

South Pole is one of the partners in a consortium of European institutions who have been
mandated to work with European cities to implement, action and finance their Net Zero Investment Plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. This mandate, known as NetZeroCities (NZC), is an initiative launched as part of the European Green Deal and directly linked to the European Commission’s Mission for 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. South Pole is given the mandate to hire a City Finance Specialist (CFS) for the Italian cities with backgrounds in finance and sustainability. The CFS for the Italian cities will be responsible for guiding cities in the implementation of their Net Zero Investment Plans and connecting city stakeholders to public and private capital.

Main tasks & 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.
● Aptitude and flexibility to Travel: The role will require both extensive inter and intra-regional travel, with this at times being at short notice.
● Develop and improve specialised skills and knowledge linked to topics and services offered by South Pole.
● Support the development of South Pole’s thought leadership, services, products, marketing materials and offerings. 

Requirements:

Essential - 

● University degree in infrastructure development and financing and in a sustainability-related field.
● 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, frameworks and sustainability funding initiatives.
● Ability to advocate for their employer, representing and reflecting the firm’s culture, principles and values.
● Relevant work experience (the expectation is a minimum of 5 years) in infrastructure financing and technical assistance, sustainability consulting, grant/investment management, knowledge management, stakeholder engagement or other related fields;
● Excellent project management skills, from both a technical and administrative standpoint, and proven ability to guide project teams in a multi-stakeholder and multi-geographies context.
● Excellent writing skills, with proven expertise in creating and reviewing high-quality written documents (proposals and deliverables).
● Excellent stakeholder and client management skills.
● Infrastructure-relevant connections, with a dense network of potential clients, collaborators or other relevant stakeholders.
● Understanding of environmental sustainability challenges and specific technical assistance and/or platform management experience in the relevant areas of the practice.
● Excellent oral and written skills in Italian and English, as well as eventually German, French, any other international language.

Desirable - 

● 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.

What we offer:

At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation. 

We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make and South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.