Description
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
IFC has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected Situations (FCS). This strategy calls for generating our own opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. It also requires the capacity to leverage WBG programs and projects to develop our own proactive sector interventions and to imagine and design projects even in the absence of reforms.IFC is seeking an Associate Operations Officer to join the Infrastructure Upstream team to be based in Johannesburg. The selected candidate will focus on supporting the Infrastructure Upstream pipeline supervision under the guidance of a Regional Upstream Lead. S/he will also support the team budgeting exercise, quality control, training, and knowledge-sharing efforts as well as other transversal tasks in relation to the team’s objectives.
Duties And Responsibilities:
Portfolio Reporting
• Undertake effective preparation and timely delivery of pipeline review materials (excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Follow up on updates with project teams in relation to project progress; serve as a source of information on project status, timetables, and milestones.
• Ensure effective maintenance (update) of team dashboards (repository of information related to pipeline and pre-pipeline projects)
• Ensure monitoring and tackling of exception lists, including efforts to proactively avoid projects being on the exceptions list
• Undertake engagement with global and regional teams to ensure pipeline information is updated and aligned across the business
• Engage with system supporting teams to assist teams with project management and system issues
• Provide timely guidance to teams and management monitoring project and funding progress (budget envelope, PSRs, PCRs)
Funding and Report Management
• Support management on fundraising efforts (fund and level), resource allocation, and aligning donor objectives with the department’s work
• Ensure strong strategic alignment of Infrastructure Upstream pipeline and funding
• Support the management of the budget envelope & program (sources and uses, projects and business development)
• Support project teams with donor reporting
• Support project teams in drafting funding proposals for donors
Knowledge Sharing
• Contributes new insights to understand situations and develop a solution
• Identify and pursue innovative approaches to resolve issues relating to portfolio
• Assist in requests from the team for various confirmations and information i.e., portfolio projects classification, project status, standard indicators.
Team Support
• Assist in the preparation and planning of various events (conferences, workshops, negotiations, etc.) – in conjunction with sector experts and team assistants.
• Assist in the preparation of client presentations and pitch books for business development.
• Train the team assistants to support portfolio reporting.
• Assist team in various tasks as required to support the Upstream activity
• Participate in project conceptualization and execution as needed
• Support select projects team as required for project execution
• Participate in other supporting tasks as required
Selection Criteria
• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Economics, International Relations, Science, Engineering, or another relevant field.
• Four (4) to six (6) years of relevant experience in project and/or program development, hands-on advisory, and/or consulting functions in emerging markets, ideally in the infrastructure space.
• Familiarity with the Africa region, including hands-on work across different countries in the region.
• Genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC’s mission, strategy, and values.
• Understanding of IFC’s strategic priorities and changing business model against the backdrop of IFC 3.0.
• Experience in project/program management, including executing against implementation plans with defined business development milestones.
• Experience in monitoring and reporting on a portfolio of projects/programs/initiatives.
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English required; French or Portuguese desirable.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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