Operations Officer – Operations
Dakar, Senegal
JOB DETAIL
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 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.
While IFC continues to expand its traditional roles of advisory services and investment operations, IFC embarked on an ambitious growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” (i.e., prior to and/ or in anticipation of a project or investment), to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design, unblock and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to identifying investment opportunities (at project and program level) and supporting development and investment of those opportunities with the private sector, as well as identifying and managing regulatory and policy bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into markets and opportunities, through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level.
To support this approach, IFC is seeking an Operations Officer (OO) to support strategic priorities for the FIG department of the Africa region. The OO will be responsible for the origination, design and delivery of projects that enable investment opportunities, enhance investment outcomes, and improve investment conditions – critical activities for the corporation to deliver on its ambitious strategy. The mix of these varied activities should be calibrated to meet the development needs of the market and contribute to IFC’s growth and impact objectives.
The position will be based in Dakar, Senegal with frequent travel within the region. Fluency in English and French is a requirement. The individual should have at least 5 years experience working in the financial sector and will be responsible for supporting the origination, design and implementation of client engagements, in close collaboration with IFC Investment and Country offices. Primary responsibilities include Business Development and Project Management and are further elaborated below:-
Duties and Accountabilities
• Support the identification and assessment of Upstream and Advisory opportunities in Africa including analysis of sectors, market creation potential, and regulatory reforms.
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including government bodies and potential clients, to enable IFC activities.
• Support and/or lead the design, development, and implementation of high-quality Upstream/Advisory initiatives and interventions.
• Provide quality control research and analysis for market and opportunity creation, including market mapping, comparator analysis, barrier analysis, and sector and company financial projections and models, including analysis of potential clients.
• Contribute to sector-specific data analysis and market scoping to help generate ideas for new Investment and Upstream/Advisory projects, new products, and platform businesses.
• Contribute to development of implementation plans with private clients for Upstream/Advisory projects.
• Coordinate efforts and develop initiatives to disseminate and exchange knowledge with internal and external parties, and review lessons learned to help improve current projects or processes.
• Draft the Terms of reference for consultants, create and facilitate the selection process in the relevant systems and coordinate with procurement teams on issuing and managing consultant contracts.
• Lead components of project management, documentation, planning, and monitoring of deliverables to ensure timely and quality delivery of the work program.
• Liaise with multiple departments to drive processes and projects forward.
• Produce regular reports on the assigned Upstream/Advisory portfolio, including monitoring progress against project milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Assist in the development of pitch books and introductory materials on IFC for prospective clients.
Selection Criteria
• A Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, International Development or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience of at least 8 years in the financial sector, of which at least 6 should be in Commercial Banking or related consulting services or digital financial services.
• Demonstrated experience in the origination, design, preparation, implementation and monitoring of technical assistance projects.
• Strong client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships with senior management and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills; understanding of financial/portfolio indicators, budgeting and financial projections.
• Ability to apply an understanding of Upstream and Advisory engagements to assess Investment opportunities and possible solutions to create markets.
• Ability to identify and contribute to design novel and/or scalable approaches, such as leveraging of a WB instrument or de-risking tools.
• Capacity to build productive and mutually beneficial relationships and networks internally and externally to identify business opportunities, discuss structuring alternatives, and resolve issues.
• Ability to draft documents and reports that are concise, well-organized, and appropriately focused on most critical points that are relevant to the target audience.
• Ability to tailor explanations of IFC’s value proposition to specific clients and share relevant information on industry practices.
• Proven analytical and financial analysis to analyze and form conclusions on company financial information or projects and industry indicators.
• Ability to identify and independently monitor the milestones and deliverables of the work program.
• Ability to identify business process improvement areas and recommend solutions that increase access to finance.
• Demonstrate strong integrative thinking and ability to support project teams in developing an integrated viewpoint that connects projects, programs, and initiatives around a development challenge.
• Strong organizational skills and track record in project management and oversight and monitoring.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English and French are required.
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.
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