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.

Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (MAS) is one of IFC’s key strategic priorities and the department engages in a wide range of sectors including agribusiness & forestry, chemicals & fertilizers, construction materials, health & education, machinery, manufacturing, tourism, retail, and property. The Department also seeks to maintain IFC, as part of the World Bank Group, at the cutting-edge of helping clients find solutions to new and emerging MAS issues.

IFC is seeking a Regional Industry Manager to lead new business and portfolio management for the Agribusiness & Forestry sectors in West, Central, North Africa and Horn of Africa (the Region). The Manager will be based in Dakar or Abidjan and will be part of the regional and industry leadership team to develop and deliver on the business strategy, lead investment and portfolio operations for the above-mentioned sectors and the Region, as well as supporting talent management in her/his team. She/he will also coordinate on a continuous basis with the Country Managers, other Regional Industry units, Global MAS, as well as other relevant Departments within IFC (such as Risk, ES&G, Treasury and Legal, etc.). She/he will have direct supervisory responsibility over the investment staff, and other staff as determined. The Manager will report to the Regional Industry Director for MAS Africa.

Duties and Accountabilities 

New Business

•  Sharpen the strategy for IFC’s Agribusiness and Forestry in the region including Food Security and Farmer Incomes, in partnership with the regional and industry management and relevant World Bank Group colleagues, including key business goals for the program, with a focus on high impact projects and in line with IFC country strategies.
•  Execute and manage a pipeline of investments in the Agribusiness and Forestry sectors across the Region.
•  Lead business development/origination efforts in the Region, together with the regional/country teams, and global MAS teams.
•  Assume the transaction manager role and provide credit and investment guidance to teams as well as quality control on teams’ output.
•  Build and maintain high level relationships with clients in the region, understand sector trends, lead multidisciplinary teams to turn leads into deals that effectively balance IFC’s additionality, financial risks and rewards, sustainable development impact and opportunity for innovation and scalability.
•  Actively manage profitability for the business in the Region, with strong revenue and net income generation for long-term financial sustainability.
•  Work closely to coordinate, leverage, and support the Upstream and Advisory services in implementation of strategy for MAS.
•  Work with Managers in the Financial Institution and Infrastructure Departments to explore areas of joint ventures to expand IFC’s business.
•  Foster relationships with World Bank Group counterparts to identify collaboration opportunities and to enhance business and development impact delivery at the country and regional levels.
•  Develop IFC’s brand locally, building on IFC’s global brand and the WBG/IFC’s overall communications strategies.

Portfolio Management

•  Ensure portfolio experience and perspective is fed into strategy development and business decision making, through sharing of lessons learned from the portfolio, producing benchmarking analytics, etc.
•  Manage the health, the profitability, and development impact of the portfolio, and actively seek ways to optimize usage of economic capital and profitability performance, through sales, risk sharing or mobilization.
•  Proactive monitor and manage E&S risks.
•  Serve the clients to originate repeat investment transactions.
•  Monitor the overall risk of the debt portfolio, ensure reviews for all active projects are completed on time and to the highest quality standard, and make recommendations on appropriate level of specific loan loss reserves.
•  Actively manage the entire equity portfolio, both core and non-core, ensure equity management plans are developed and adhered to for all assets, including proposing and filling board seats with qualified candidates for strategic assets.
•  Regularly review valuations, write-downs, exit strategies of the equity book, and develop a plan to sell less strategic assets to free up resources.
•  Ensure the timeliness and quality delivery of regular waivers and amendments as well as complex portfolio actions such as rescheduling/restructuring, rights issues, equity sales, loan conversion, etc.
•  Provide early warning for assets at risk and actively communicate with relevant colleagues regarding both debt and equity watch lists, ensuring close coordination on rescheduling and restructuring situations.
•  Supervise compliance with IFC financial, environmental, legal, and other requirements.

Managerial Responsibilities

•  Lead and manage the unit and ensure the team is high-performing, well-motivated and committed to the advancement of IFC’s strategic goals.
•  Mentor and develop staff and promote opportunities for continued learning.
•  Be part of, and actively contribute to, the regional leadership team and the global sector teams.
•  Work with regional leadership to ensure that exposure and contribution to varied operations are included in staff objectives at all levels across the department.
•  Staff projects with the appropriate resources to deploy the most appropriate technical expertise and provide exceptional client service, while keeping in mind career and training development needs of staff and efficiency objectives.
•  Manage, oversee, and optimize IFC’s internal and external funding mix and budget to efficiently deliver operations in the region and industry, including through engagement in budgetary discussions and processes with regional, global and partnership teams.
•  Provide the full range of administrative and HR management oversight.

Selection Criteria

In addition to the WBG managerial selection criteria, the following qualifications are sought:

•  Unquestionable integrity, commitment to development, alignment with the WBG core values, and strong work ethic.
•  MBA or equivalent professional qualification and minimum of 12-15 years of relevant work experience (at least 2 of which must have been in a managerial or leading capacity).
•  Strong sense of service to clients and demonstrated business development aptitude. Proven success in developing client relationships and executing quality investments.
•  Familiarity with several sectors related to agribusiness & forestry, as well as fertilizers.
•  Experience sourcing and structuring complex investment transactions in the MAS sectors with a proven track record and proven success in developing client relationships and processing quality investments.
•  Awareness of environmental and social sustainability issues usually associated with projects in MAS.
•  Demonstrated ability to think strategically, develop innovative solutions, challenge the status quo, and make sound decisions to build IFC business.
•  Sound knowledge of portfolio / asset management, and experience in portfolio supervision of loans, equities and guarantees.
•  Ability to work in the matrix/muti-stakeholder environment.
•  Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, as well as cultivate an active network of relationships inside and outside the organization and to represent IFC publicly as needed.
•  Demonstrated interpersonal skills, proven ability to work effectively as a team leader, build high performing teams and manage and recruit talent.
•  Demonstrated leadership skills and strong teamwork and communications in a highly diverse, virtual environment.
•  Ability to collaborate closely with other parts of the World Bank Group and other DFIs and financing institutions and banks.
•  Delivering high quality work within tight deadlines and meeting team objectives. Ability to manage competing and sometimes unanticipated priorities, and tight deadlines.
•  World Bank Group managerial selection criteria include courage of your convictions, leading the team for impact, influencing across boundaries, fostering openness to new ideas, and building talent for the future.

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.