Description

The World Bank Group’s mission is to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.  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 2023, IFC committed a record US $43.7 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’s Infrastructure Department provides investment and advisory services for private sector and municipal clients across energy, mining, transport, utilities, and telecom/media/technology sectors, and further mobilizes private sector capital from institutional investors and other financial institutions.  In the last decade, IFC invested over $64 billion in infrastructure and energy across emerging markets.

The Sustainable Finance team within IFC Global Infrastructure supports the continued expansion, growth, and development of IFC’s Sustainable Finance offering, among other responsibilities.  The team works closely with IFC’s client relationship managers, regional and global investment teams, climate business department, advisory services, development impact experts and communications to design and help execute products and services that address our clients’ needs and help IFC deliver on its mission.  Since 2020, IFC has been involved in major sustainable finance transactions, including in sustainability-linked loans and bonds for its infrastructure clients in emerging markets.  Sustainable Finance is a key tool for IFC to meet its ambitious Climate Finance and development targets.

The Strategic Initiatives and Innovation unit within IFC’s Global Infrastructure department seeks a talented and motivated sustainable finance professional to support IFC client relationship managers and investment officers in engaging with clients on their sustainability strategies and priorities and in originating, structuring, and executing sustainable and transition finance transactions globally in energy, mining, transport, TMT, water, waste, and municipal finance sectors.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will focus on (i) developing sustainable finance product offerings in emerging markets with a goal to contribute to growing IFC Infrastructure’s Sustainable Finance business, in particular Sustainability-Linked Finance; (ii) contributing to pitching, structuring and execution of sustainable and transition finance transactions for infrastructure sectors clients across IFC geographies, in collaboration with investment officers, IFC sustainability and climate experts and impact specialists; (iii) the development and delivery of strategic knowledge relevant for sustainable finance in IFC infrastructure and energy sectors; iv) supporting the activities of the Paris Climate Hub in Western Europe region.

The main roles and responsibilities of the selected candidate will, as part of the team, include the following:

1)  Developing sustainable and transition finance product offerings:

•  Engaging with market participants, such as commercial banks, other DFIs, Second Party Opinion providers and sustainability experts to stay abreast of the sustainable and transition finance market.
•  Proactively learning about innovations and climate-related initiatives across Infra sub-sectors (energy, mining, transport, waste & water, cities, TMT) and actively participating in internal knowledge and business development sessions.
•  Contributing to structuring of innovative sustainable finance products, such as transition finance, biodiversity finance, with the focus on infrastructure and energy sectors clients’ sustainability priorities.
•  In close collaboration with Climate Business Department and Infrastructure department’s Climate Lead, support counterparty-based Paris Alignment efforts, by incorporating relevant requirements into sustainable finance products structuring process.

2)  Contributing to pitching, structuring and execution of sustainable finance transactions, including Green, Blue, Social, Biodiversity, Sustainability and Sustainability-Linked loans and bonds:

•  Leveraging IFC’s Climate Business, Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory, Corporate Climate Advisory and other advisory teams to offer clients with compelling solution packages to help enhance their sustainability strategies and implement specific programs or projects, with an emphasis on IFC’s strategic priorities (i.e., climate and gender).
•  As a part of the Sustainable Finance team, support client relationship managers and investment officers to engage in strategic dialogue around beyond-compliance sustainability with their clients including via strategic, tailored presentations matching IFC unique expertise and value-add in sustainability and clients’ sustainability strategy and objectives.
•  As a part of Sustainable Finance team, and with support from internal sustainability experts, support IFC teams and clients in structuring and processing climate-related sustainable finance transactions, including with drafting sustainable finance frameworks and advising clients on Second Party Opinion review process.

3)  Developing and delivering knowledge within IFC’s Infrastructure department:

•  Contributing to developing a community of sustainable finance anchors withing IFC Infrastructure department with an objective to disseminate knowledge, share best practices, case studies, and recent market trends.
•  Capturing lessons learned from closed transactions and developing relevant knowledge products, including case studies and organizing knowledge sessions.
•  Contributing to updating intranet page and generic pitch materials
•  Working with IFC Communications team to produce knowledge pieces and disseminate them with clients and the broader public.

4)  Support the activities of Paris Climate Hub in Western European region:

•  Supporting climate and sustainable finance-related business development activities
•  Engage with Western European knowledge and consultative bodies on sustainable finance.

The selected candidate will be in Paris and report to the Senior Investment Officer, Sustainable Finance.  S/he will work with IFC teams globally and some travel may be required.

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in finance, business, economics, environmental sciences, international development, engineering, or related field.
•  At least 5-6 years of experience with an investment bank, consulting firm, an international financial institution, or a climate thinktank with tasks related to sustainability (including climate and planet boundaries), sustainable finance and/or infrastructure financing.
•  Good knowledge of sustainable finance products, market participants, as well as of broader sustainability, energy transition, climate and biodiversity issues
•  Hands-on experience in infrastructure financing transactions (ideally including capital markets transactions) would be a plus.
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular ability to effectively dialogue with and relate to clients and stakeholders.
•  Ability to work effectively with colleagues in a team environment, and to work on multiple client projects across a given time.
•  Efficiency in using MS PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
•  Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships and influence decision-making, tailoring approach depending on the seniority level of business contacts.
•  High level of energy, initiative, autonomy and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work project requirements.
•  Fluency in English essential; ability to work in other languages such as French or Spanish a plus.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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