Description
Do you want to build a career that is full of meaning and impact? The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities where they are needed most. Visit www.ifc.org
IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected Situations (FCS). This strategy calls for generating our own 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. It also requires capacity to leverage WBG programs and projects to develop our own proactive sector interventions and to imagine and design projects even in the absence of reforms.
IFC is seeking a Senior Investment Officer for Upstream with deep expertise in the water and wastewater sector. The selected candidate will focus on developing a high-quality Upstream pipeline for the Global Unit under the supervision of the Senior Manager, Global Infrastructure Upstream. He/she will also support policy work and other interventions across the World Bank Group to prioritize various initiatives and to maximize the impact of Upstream efforts. Please visit our website for more information on IFC’s work in the infrastructure sector.
Role & Responsibilities
The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to:
- Identify and assess Upstream opportunities in the water/wastewater sector based on World Bank and IFC country and sector strategies and market creation potential.
- Provide input to the country private sector diagnostic work of the WBG.
- Develop Upstream projects in the water/wastewater sector that will lead to IFC investments – projects could include conducting feasibility studies, legal and regulatory assessments, dialogue and advocacy with governments, preparation of implementation plans and other activities that would lead to increased private investments in the water and wastewater sector.
- Design and implement scalable solutions and investment and advisory platforms that can be replicated across markets.
- Spot game-changing trends, technologies and business models in the water/wastewater sector that can bring solutions to emerging markets.
- Produce regular reports on the assigned Upstream portfolio including monitoring progress against project milestones and KPIs.
- Conduct sector-specific data analysis and stress-testing of various operating models to help generate ideas for new projects, new products and platform businesses.
- Work closely with the World Bank and other DFIs to identify and implement sector and regulatory reforms that are needed to unlock opportunities for private investment in the water/wastewater sector.
- Focus on developing collaborative relationships with stakeholders and form partnerships with staff across IFC and the World Bank Group, sponsors, clients and other external parties to enable identification, design and delivery of water/wastewater sector Upstream projects.
- Facilitate knowledge flow across IFC and the World Bank Group and promote adoption of new approaches and best practices.
- Help build external recognition of IFC’s distinctive capabilities in working Upstream in the water/wastewater sector to catalyze greater flow of investments in the sector.
- Mentor more junior staff working on Upstream activities.
Selection Criteria
Essential
- Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, Science, Engineering, or other relevant field.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in developing infrastructure investment opportunities in emerging markets.
- Good understanding of the commercial aspects of the water and wastewater sectors.
- Genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC’s mission, strategy and values.
- Good understanding of working with governments and ability to link policy reforms and advisory interventions to deliver water/wastewater investments at a country level.
- Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo and a proven track record in new idea generation, business development, and creating projects/programs from scratch.
- Experience engaging with private sector clients and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development.
- Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills; demonstrated ability to synthetize complex information and make clear strategic and tactical recommendations.
- Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills in English required.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of project/program management, including the procurement and management of consultants.
- Experience in monitoring and reporting on a portfolio of projects/programs/initiatives.
- Strong infrastructure financing skills.
- French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic language skills
