Principal Industry Specialist
Nairobi, Kenya
JOB DETAIL
Job 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.
IFC has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in low-income countries and fragile and conflict situations. This strategy calls for generating our own investment 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 (WBG) engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. It also requires capacity to leverage WBG programs and projects to (i) develop our own proactive sector interventions and (ii) to imagine and design self-standing projects even in the absence of reforms.
IFC has created Regional Upstream Units in the Regional Industry Departments (Financial Institutions Group, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services) to identify the relevant market / investment gaps, and how they can be closed by addressing regulatory / sectoral / transaction blockages. These Units are mandated to develop and incubate impactful a multi-year pipeline of market opportunities and bankable projects.
IFC is seeking a Principal Industry Specialist, Infrastructure, to help drive the Upstream work for the sector in the region and in particular to support investment staff, focusing specifically on the hydropower sector, and primarily in Africa (with scope to support other regions where possible). The job holder will be based in Nairobi and report to the Regional Upstream and Advisory Manager for INR Africa.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The roles and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to:
• Support the development of new hydropower projects in Africa, and worldwide, and lead their technical appraisal to identify strengths and weaknesses to support IFC’s decision-making process. Such appraisals include site visits, supervision of consultants, review of major contracts (PPA, EPC, FSA, O&M and concession) and presentation of key operational and capital assumptions for incorporation in financial models undertaken by investment staff.
• Work with country and sector teams to generate ideas about new Hydropower investment opportunities, new products and platform businesses by leveraging sector-specific data analysis, stress-testing various operating models, dialogue with stakeholders, and information sharing across the WBG.
• Work with the World Bank to identify and implement sector and regulatory reforms that are needed to unlock hydropower opportunities for private investment, including leveraging the Bank’s lending program.
• Support portfolio management: review technical aspects of IFC’s portfolio of hydropower investments, including field inspection as necessary, assist in resolving operational weaknesses and provide advice for project enhancements to both internal and external clients.
• Contribute to sector work (e.g., identify market trends, develop and implement sector strategies and new initiatives to respond to business needs and grow the pipeline of projects).
• Maintain and build hydropower sector knowledge and support best practice knowledge-sharing.
• Connect global and regional teams, ensure solutions and knowledge flow across IFC and the wider WBG, and promote adoption of new approaches and best practices.
• Liaise with client’s technical staff, project engineers and lenders’ engineers.
• Hire and supervise specialized engineering consultants as necessary.
Selection Criteria
• Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g., hydraulics, hydrology, civil engineering, etc.).
• At least 15 years in the hydropower industry in positions of increasing responsibility in the private sector and emerging economies.
• Successful track-record in the technical aspects of development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of hydropower projects, ideally with extensive experience of integrating technical, environmental and social aspects of projects to achieve a sustainability and bankability.
• Up-to-date knowledge and expertise on the economics of hydropower generation, including of its capital costs and operating parameters, supply and demand and other market dynamics, and its integration with other sources of renewable energy generation, especially wind, solar, storage and biomass. Knowledge of deregulated market operation and tariff calculation is a plus.
• Significant work experience in the private sector and emerging economies. Operational experience and experience as lenders’ engineer is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French. Portuguese is a plus.
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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