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.

The IFC Southern Cone Region is seeking an experienced professional as Country Officer to join the team to help build IFC’s activities across all industries in Chile, and Paraguay, in particular, but working as part of the Southern Cone regional team that covers Argentina and Uruguay also. The position will be based in Buenos Aires, and will report to the IFC Senior Country Manager for the Southern Cone region.

Duties and Accountabilities:
Strategy
• Work with the Senior Country Manager and the Senior Country Officer to oversee the formulation, development, and implementation of IFC’s strategy in Chile and Paraguay (and as needed Uruguay) including preparation of business plan updates and progress review meetings. Coordinate the development of IFC’s strategy.
• Support the preparation of WBG strategy documents including IFC strategies, Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSD), Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), etc.
• Work with IFC investment, advisory, upstream, and relevant WBG teams to roll out IFC’s strategy and help develop project pipeline. Establish and maintain working level relationships across IFC, with WBG counterparts, and with private sector clients, and governments and other relevant stakeholders to develop business opportunities
Operations
• Oversee integration and delivery of IFC’s investment and advisory activities in Chile and Paraguay (and other relevant countries, as required] to ensure needs of clients and objectives of IFC strategies are met.
• Identify, evaluate and support complex investments and sector projects, by providing critical insights on the country context and the political economy.
• Participate in client selection and help ensure that IFC is working with appropriate sponsors. Share accountability for the quality and performance of IFC’s portfolio in Chile and Paraguay.
• Oversee or supervise assigned staff and consultants.
• Oversee and support members of the broader team through mentoring, coaching, and providing on-the-job learning opportunities.
• Establish and maintain working level relationships across IFC, with WBG counterparts, and with private sector clients, academia, governments, and other relevant stakeholders to develop business opportunities and strengthen portfolio management.
• Ensure quality control of work products.
• Ensure efficient and effective use of resources.
• Provide input and guidance to the development of IFC’s country strategy and provide substantive input to country diagnostics and WBG strategy documents.
Corporate Support
• Participate in the design of approaches and interventions to create upstream markets and the identification of needed market and regulatory reforms.
• Prepare/coordinate preparation of high-quality briefs for IFC senior management.
• Develop a variety of communication and briefing materials for internal and external audiences.
• Provide support for high profile events and high-level visiting missions.
Representation
• Support IFC’s brand and overall communication strategy.
• Represent IFC externally and provide visibility for IFC through organizing and participating in high profile events (high-level visits, seminars, and conferences). Ensure internal and external requests are addressed.
• Act on behalf of the Senior Country Officer, as needed.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree, preferably in economics, finance, business administration, public policy, or a similar field and at least 6-10 years of relevant experience. Relevant experience could include a proven track record in the financial sector, business consulting or investment banking, or experience with a multilateral organization.
• In-depth understanding of how IFC works, and its strategies and priorities.
• Ability to initiate collaborative efforts with WBG organizations to leverage its products and instruments.
• Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration on high value projects and recognize potential COIs based on a good understanding of WBG, IFC (investment and advisory), and WBG products and project requirements.
• Ability to initiate and guide collaborative efforts with WBG organizations to leverage its products and instruments.
• Capacity to understand, enable, and participate in market creation opportunities and interventions to strengthen investment climate by demonstrating long-term perspective, open mindedness, persistence, and good understanding of IFC/WBG roles and value-add in new markets.
• Ability to participate and constructively contribute in meetings with government officials on constraints to private sector investment in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
• Capacity to identify and promote specific interventions to remove or mitigate market creation barriers in sectors and geographies using approaches that go beyond IFC, business line, or industry to enable private sector investment.
• Ability to understand the political context and mindset of government officials.
• Good analytical, financial, credit, integrity assessment, and business skills as well as strategic perspective to intuitively recognize project viability, bankability, and expected sustainable development impact early on, identify portfolio management vulnerabilities, and determine best approaches for managing complex transaction and portfolio risks.
• Industry/Sector Knowledge: Broad knowledge of Chile and Paraguay (and Uruguay) key sectors and industries, including their viability for market growth, and market challenges as well as implications of environmental and social sustainability issues, and how sector dynamics may evolve.
• Ability to tap into and leverage resources with expertise in sectors and industries, including risks, market dynamics, and regulatory structures. Able to read and anticipate shifts in market trends and the implications for IFC’s current and future business.
• Country Knowledge: Demonstrated extensive knowledge of Chile and Paraguay (and Uruguay) including its politics, history, social dynamics, culture, economics, local markets, and regulatory framework.
• Developing and Selling Solutions: Demonstrated success as a key influencer in bringing integrated solutions to concept review stage where there are significant challenges and competing interests.
• Ability to develop a coherent and compelling storyline or rationale as to why specific deals are proposed and how they fit into IFC’s long-term strategies.
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical and presentation skills, and ability to work with or supervise the use of data utilizing standard office software Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, both verbal and written skills.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.