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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). This strategy aims to create new opportunities for private investments in riskier markets and sectors by proactively working “upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop potential investment projects. Achieving these growth and impact ambitions at scale requires a different approach to business development, deal sourcing, and client support that relies on 1) a broader product offering to engage earlier in the project cycle and secure opportunities; 2) a greater focus on preparing clients in nascent markets and sectors for investment; 3) a greater focus on value addition and risk management of portfolio investment clients to enhance their performance; and 4) a longer time horizon and a more patient, longer-term perspective.

In this context, IFC is seeking a Senior Operations Officer for its Agribusiness and Forestry Upstream and Advisory program in the Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) Region. The Senior Operations Officer will work under the supervision of Upstream and Advisory Manager in enabling investment opportunities, enhancing investment outcomes, and improving investment conditions in the agribusiness sector in the LAC region– 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 selected candidate will be expected to lead the implementation of Upstream and Advisory existing projects and in the origination of new ones which are essential to build the pipeline of future IFC investments in Agribusiness in the LAC region. S/he would work across IFC business lines and support policy work and other interventions across the World Bank Group to prioritize various initiatives and to maximize the impact of IFC’s efforts in the Agribusiness space.

The Senior Operations Officer will be based in Sao Paulo, Brazil and is expected to frequently visit (travel permitting) other countries where clients are based.  The Senior Operations Officer will have supervisory responsibility over a joint Agribusiness and Forestry Advisory and Upstream team and will closely collaborate with the Agribusiness and Manufacturing Investment teams covering Latin America and the Caribbean to ensure a coordinated provision of services that span the continuum of IFC’s operations – across idea generation, enabling environment, project development and client preparation, investment, and portfolio operations. S/he will also work together with relevant Industry Specialists and experts in the World Bank, leveraging skills and knowledge across the WBG.

ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES:

•  Enable investment opportunities in the Agribusiness and Forestry space by 1) incubating high-impact projects and initiatives that require upstream project development to reach the point of investment and 2) getting potential clients ready for IFC investment through client preparation and development.
•  Enhance investment outcomes in Agribusiness and Forestry through Upstream and Advisory projects that 1) increase the development impact of IFC investments and 2) improve the performance of IFC investment portfolio clients, through the provision of value-additive and risk-mitigation services.
•  Improve investment conditions in the Agribusiness and Forestry sectors by 1) Leading and/or collaborating with other teams across IFC and the WBG efforts to drive sector-wide change in priority areas and 2) Leading and/or collaborating with other teams across IFC and the WBG efforts to open up new markets for private sector participation.
•  Support business development efforts, together with investment, regional/country, and global Industry teams and ensure high level of client satisfaction.
•  Work closely with sector and country leads to foster cross-departmental collaboration and ensure the efficient deployment of staffing, resources, products and solutions to meet client-specific requirements.
•  Work closely with Global units in the designing/piloting of global products, knowledge sharing, and maintenance of pipeline/portfolio quality in Agribusiness.
•  Ensure a high quality of the team’s operations through a focus on project design (development results, PSRs/PCRs, lessons learned) throughout an individual project cycle and across the agribusiness portfolio of operations, with a focus on achieving high Development Effectiveness (DE).
•  Engage with and establish partnerships with thought leaders and decision makers across the World Bank Group and externally to foster innovative thinking about the creation of new markets and to identify and implement sector and regulatory reforms to unlock private investment opportunities, including leveraging the Bank’s lending program.
•  Active collaboration and engagement with the Partnerships department to proactively contribute to donor engagement strategy, relationship management, and reporting.
•  Spot game-changing trends, technologies and business models that can increase development impact and present opportunities for high-value proprietary engagements in the Agribusiness and Forestry sectors.
•  Disseminate and absorb knowledge and experience across the regional industry department and global teams to support adoption of new approaches and best practices that have been developed in the region. 

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Agribusiness, Engineering, or another related field.
•  10 – 15 years of relevant work experience
•  Experience developing solutions for private sector clients in Agribusiness and/or Forestry sectors and subsectors.
•  Familiarity with decarbonization and resource efficiency practices in the agribusiness and forestry sectors, as well as technical knowledge regarding resource efficiency, is preferred.
•  Familiarity with the production and processing of crops relevant to IFC investment including soy, sugar, cocoa, coffee and livestock is a plus.
•  Familiarity with carbon finance and sustainability-linked finance is a plus.
•  Appreciation for how policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization can be linked to deliver solutions at a country or regional level.
•  Ability to support engagements with private sector clients, local and national governments, and other partners to encourage pioneering business and market development.
•  Experience with project and/or program development and executing against implementation plans.
•  Proven track record in partnering successfully with different stakeholders in the agribusiness and forestry sectors, including NGOs, roundtables and industry associations.
•  Experience in monitoring and reporting on a portfolio of projects, programs, and/or initiatives.
•  Strong organizational skills and proven ability to work on several assignments simultaneously is required.
•  Outstanding and demonstrated history of analytical, creative problem solving and critical thinking skills is required.
•  Strong written and verbal communications skills in English are required. Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese strongly preferred.
•  Genuine dedication 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 3.0.

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.