Country Officer, Costa Rica and Panama

Overview

Lead investment and advisory initiatives in Costa Rica and Panama.

You have:

• Master's degree in a related field (business, finance, economics) and at least 8 years of relevant experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish.
• Extensive knowledge of Costa Rica and Panama including their politics, history, social dynamics, culture, economics, local markets, and regulatory framework.
• Broad knowledge of sectors and industries within Central America, including growth viability and market challenges.
• Ability to identify investment opportunities based on knowledge of WBG and IFC products.
• Proven track record in screening and assessing investment opportunities.
• Ability to develop integrated solutions and manage complex project negotiations.
• Excellent teamwork skills and openness to feedback and new ideas.

Contract

This is a World Bank Group grade: GF contract. More about World Bank Group grade: GF contracts.

Country Officer, Costa Rica and Panama

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 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 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 the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC is looking to recruit a Country Officer for Costa Rica and Panama. This position is based in Panama and will report to the Central America Region Manager.

The Officer will co-lead business development for investment, upstream and advisory services along with industries and other responsible teams. S/he will support sector teams in executing transactions and handling portfolio projects. S/he will build and maintain strong relationships with business partners and high-level representatives of governments, as well as with governmental and non- governmental organizations, to maximize the impact of IFC's intervention and to contribute to the overall development of the countries and their industries.

Duties and Accountabilities: • Oversee all IFC's investment, advisory and upstream activities in Costa Rica and Panama. • In conjunction with the country manager, and in collaboration with the World Bank, develop and implement a strategy for IFC's Investment, Advisory, and Upstream activities in all streams in Costa Rica and Panama, with a focus on the key areas as per the regional strategy. • Coordinate the development of a client engagement strategy for key clients- existing or targeted. • Establish, develop, and maintain IFC's relationships with the governments of Costa Rica and Panama, both at the working and ministerial levels and represent IFC at key government and multilateral functions. • Work across all sectors (energy, financial, transport and logistics, light manufacturing, ICT, education, health, and agribusiness) to complete sponsor checks and due diligence. • Support IFC's project development activities, provide support during transaction execution and portfolio management. • Develop a strong pipeline of investment opportunities based on market trends and sector/country knowledge and provide innovative and flexible financial structures for complex transactions. • Share accountability for the quality and performance of the countries’ portfolio; work jointly with the Regional Manager to meet scorecard targets. • Facilitate advisory services project identification and design as well as client and partner engagement strategies. • Set standards for thoroughness in quality control and make recommendations to strengthen transactions. • Coordinate closely with social, environmental, and technical assistance colleagues to add value to clients' businesses. • Propose pragmatic solutions to specific industry challenges to achieve sustainable development impact. • Maintain good working knowledge of current investment, advisory, and upstream operations in Costa Rica and Panama, and respond to queries from HQ management and staff. • Facilitate and provide guidance to visiting missions.

Main Objectives of the Role: • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global and regional businesses, banking, and multilateral partners, to further develop specific investment and advisory opportunities with high development impact in Costa Rica and Panama. • Help coordinate with World Bank Group institutions and contribute to the design and implementation of upstream initiatives and other forms of proactive collaboration to enhance business delivery at the country level. • Foster strong relationships to identify opportunities for knowledge transfer among the WBG institutions to the benefit of the clients. • Develop and manage relationships with donor agencies, other International Financial Institutions and IFC's partners in the region. • Work with various stakeholders in Central America and coordinate with other colleagues within the World Bank Group to deepen IFC's presence in the region.

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 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 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 the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC is looking to recruit a Country Officer for Costa Rica and Panama. This position is based in Panama and will report to the Central America Region Manager.

The Officer will co-lead business development for investment, upstream and advisory services along with industries and other responsible teams. S/he will support sector teams in executing transactions and handling portfolio projects. S/he will build and maintain strong relationships with business partners and high-level representatives of governments, as well as with governmental and non- governmental organizations, to maximize the impact of IFC's intervention and to contribute to the overall development of the countries and their industries.

Duties and Accountabilities: • Oversee all IFC's investment, advisory and upstream activities in Costa Rica and Panama. • In conjunction with the country manager, and in collaboration with the World Bank, develop and implement a strategy for IFC's Investment, Advisory, and Upstream activities in all streams in Costa Rica and Panama, with a focus on the key areas as per the regional strategy. • Coordinate the development of a client engagement strategy for key clients- existing or targeted. • Establish, develop, and maintain IFC's relationships with the governments of Costa Rica and Panama, both at the working and ministerial levels and represent IFC at key government and multilateral functions. • Work across all sectors (energy, financial, transport and logistics, light manufacturing, ICT, education, health, and agribusiness) to complete sponsor checks and due diligence. • Support IFC's project development activities, provide support during transaction execution and portfolio management. • Develop a strong pipeline of investment opportunities based on market trends and sector/country knowledge and provide innovative and flexible financial structures for complex transactions. • Share accountability for the quality and performance of the countries’ portfolio; work jointly with the Regional Manager to meet scorecard targets. • Facilitate advisory services project identification and design as well as client and partner engagement strategies. • Set standards for thoroughness in quality control and make recommendations to strengthen transactions. • Coordinate closely with social, environmental, and technical assistance colleagues to add value to clients' businesses. • Propose pragmatic solutions to specific industry challenges to achieve sustainable development impact. • Maintain good working knowledge of current investment, advisory, and upstream operations in Costa Rica and Panama, and respond to queries from HQ management and staff. • Facilitate and provide guidance to visiting missions.

Main Objectives of the Role: • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global and regional businesses, banking, and multilateral partners, to further develop specific investment and advisory opportunities with high development impact in Costa Rica and Panama. • Help coordinate with World Bank Group institutions and contribute to the design and implementation of upstream initiatives and other forms of proactive collaboration to enhance business delivery at the country level. • Foster strong relationships to identify opportunities for knowledge transfer among the WBG institutions to the benefit of the clients. • Develop and manage relationships with donor agencies, other International Financial Institutions and IFC's partners in the region. • Work with various stakeholders in Central America and coordinate with other colleagues within the World Bank Group to deepen IFC's presence in the region.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in a related field and at least 8 years of relevant experience. Related fields of education include business, finance, or economics or an area of expertise specific to a sector, subject matter, or industry specialty. Relevant experience could include a proven track record in business consulting or investment banking, or operational experience in the sector or technical or professional field. • Strong written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish. • Country Knowledge: Demonstrated extensive knowledge of the countries including their politics, history, social dynamics, culture, economics, local markets, and regulatory framework. • Industry/Sector Knowledge: Broad knowledge of sectors and industries within Central America, including their viability for market growth, and market challenges as well as implications of environmental and social sustainability issues, and how sector dynamics may evolve within a country or group of countries. • Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration on high value projects and recognize potential investments based on a good understanding of WBG, IFC (investment and advisory), and WBG products and project requirements. • Ability to initiate and guide collaborative efforts with WBG organizations to leverage their products and instruments. • Proven track record in screening and assessing investment opportunities. • Proven analytical, financial, credit, integrity assessment, and business skills as well as strategic perspective to intuitively recognize project viability and attractiveness early on, identify portfolio management vulnerabilities, and determine best approaches for managing complex transaction and portfolio risks. • Ability to tap into and leverage resources with expertise in sectors and industries, including risks, market dynamics, and regulatory structures. Ability to read and anticipate shifts in market trends and the implications for IFC’s current and future business. • Developing and Selling Solutions: Demonstrated success as a key influencer in bringing integrated solutions to concept review stage where there are significant challenges and competing interests. • Ability to develop a coherent and compelling storyline or rationale as to why specific deals are proposed and how they fit into IFC’s long-term strategies. • Negotiation Skills: Capacity to lead negotiations that find common interests upon which to build and result in viable agreements among clients and different stakeholders who initially had conflicting agendas. Ability to offer alternative solutions to capitalize on opportunities and overcome impasses. • Excellent teamwork skills and openness to feedback and new ideas.

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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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: worldbank.org