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. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating unique 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 engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. This strategy also calls for working with Governments and World Bank colleagues to first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges – where such solutions are advisable and can be effective – and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal. This approach is called the “Cascade”.

IFC’s Infrastructure Department is looking to hire a Senior Investment Officer to join IFC’s infrastructure investment team covering primarily the MCT Region (Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan). The selected candidate will be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and will be an integral part of the investment team working across the business cycle (business development, “upstream”, new investments, and portfolio), but with a focus on managing IFC’s investments and strategic client relationships throughout the life of IFC’s investments.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global and regional private businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop the sector and to develop specific investment opportunities.
• Proactively engage with clients with a focus on demonstrating and delivering IFC’s value-add, optimizing risk-return profile and development impact of IFC’s investments as well as exploring future business possibilities.
• Gather market intelligence, analyze strategically important portfolio trends, and emerging risks and opportunities.
• Develop a strong pipeline of good quality investment opportunities by anticipating market trends, employing sector/country knowledge, and identifying game-changing trends, technologies and business models that can bring solutions to emerging markets.
• Lead “upstream” initiatives, including work on key project agreements and project structures. “Upstream” initiatives create, deepen, and expand markets, and require the imagination, design and implementation of investment projects.
• Develop innovative and appropriate financial structures for complex transactions.
• Evaluate, structure, and lead negotiation/documentation teams; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in straightforward and complex new business and portfolio transactions.
• Collect insights and lessons learned from IFC’s portfolio experiences, connect trends from different areas of the business and portfolio, ensure portfolio experience and perspective is fed into strategy development and make recommendations on how these could improve business development and transaction structuring.
• Collaborate in developing sector and/or regional strategies and support related promotion work, including targeting potential investments and policy advisory work.
• Work closely with the country managers and officers – joint work to include developing client, country and sector strategies.
• Coordinate closely with global infrastructure colleagues, social, environmental, and technical assistance colleagues to add value to our clients’ businesses, find pragmatic solutions to the specific sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact.
• Mentor and coach more junior team members and help provide leadership in actively managing the portfolio and client relationships.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, or other relevant field.
• At least 12 years of relevant experience in infrastructure project investment and financing activities. Prior experience in IFC/World Bank operational countries in the MCT Region (Middle-East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan) is a plus.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of potential clients, financial and technical partners as well as senior government officials. Prior experience of working with IBRD and MIGA will be a plus.
• Genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC’s mission, strategy and values.
• Understanding of IFC’s strategic priorities and changing business model against the backdrop of IFC’s 3.0 strategy.
• Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo. Proven track-record of sourcing, structuring and closing investments in infrastructure sectors.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure sectors, such as power, transportation, utilities, natural resources, telecoms, technology.
• Experience in engaging with private sector clients, local and national governments and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development will be a plus.
• Regional knowledge of countries and understanding of infrastructure challenges faced by countries within the region will be a plus.
• Strong business development, asset management and client relationship skills demonstrated by track record and ability to focus on clients’ needs effectively.
• Sound business judgment in identifying potential business partners.
• Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others.
• Strong inter-personal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required; fluency in other languages such as Arabic 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.