(Senior)Operations Officer

Overview

Drive new projects and initiatives for private sector development in South Asia.

You have:

• Master's degree in Law, Finance, Business, Economics, or a closely related field.
• At least 15 years’ experience in private sector development, with a focus on delivering innovative investment transactions.
• Strong skills and demonstrated track record in working in multi-stakeholder engagements in the area of investment transactions.
• Strong technical knowledge and demonstrated track record in understanding, identifying, designing and delivering complex products from a regulatory, legal, financial and multi-stakeholder perspective.
• Understanding of IFC and WBG products/instruments and where there are opportunities for cross-organizational collaboration.
• Understand the implications of different policy and regulatory frameworks governing the thematic areas.

Contract

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

(Senior)Operations Officer

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

The South Asia region delivered about $2.0 billion in new investments during FY22. In order to increase its business and development impact, IFC is expected to engage in new markets, with new products and with new partners pushing the frontiers of development finance through the use of innovative platforms and products that mobilize private capital to address long standing societal problems.

In this role, the selected candidate will work closely with the South Asia Regional Director, upstream, investment and advisory staff in the region and globally to drive specific projects and initiatives that are expected to strengthen and open new areas of engagement for IFC in South Asia. He/she will play a leading role to innovate new projects and build new business in line with the WBG/IFC country strategies. He/she will be an integral member of the regional leadership team, and will work closely with key stakeholders, driving IFC’s engagement in new areas, products, doing advance work that is expected to generate upstream, advisory and investment business.

The selected candidate will coordinate across industries and workstreams, connecting the dots of different trends and IFC offerings and capabilities and designing, managing and tracking interventions, leveraging innovative financial solutions available in other markets, regions or sectors to help IFC fulfill its development mandate in South Asia.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Client and Stakeholder Management:

• Participate in senior level client and partner meetings to identify areas for IFC’s intervention in the region that can be developed by “joining the dots” across what Investment, Advisory, Upstream and the Regional Operations teams do – ensuring legal, economic and regulatory viability and identifying the potential gaps and action plans. • Lead multidisciplinary teams to engage Government officials, private sector and World Bank Group staff to design and implement engagements that advance the private sector development agenda. • Support Regional Director by working closely with the Regional Head of Operations in various functions including country driven budgeting, partnerships with donors/ blended finance teams, investment pipeline and portfolio reviews, reviews of regional cross-cutting advisory engagements, operations budgets, coordination of regional management meetings, coordination with industry and upstream teams, review of Board papers, consistency in critical operations across countries in South Asia and supporting corporate requests for regional information and regional trainings. • Communicate with senior level clients of the Government, civil society and private sector and articulate the case for partnerships to develop new products, platforms and alliances. • Represent and/or lead the regional team engagement in initiatives related to key building blocks of business such as treasury, funding – ensuring consistency of approach across the region. • Support Regional Management in moving forward strategic initiatives in the different countries in the region working closely with the Economics Unit.

Design and Operationalize Solutions:

• Support Regional Director in select cross-cutting interventions e.g in Climate, Gender, Business Development, Creating Markets Advisory, working with World Bank and PPPs. • Support Regional Director in the design and piloting of new financial and local currency products in the region, such as covered bonds; PCGs, RSFs and other structured products, in partnership with industry and country teams; working alongside IFC teams and governments to gather support for such engagements. • Support the Regional Management in the identification and design of sustainability / climate focused products across all sectors, supporting the industry teams and regional teams, and leading such engagements when necessary. • Lead the development and approval of an implementable South-South strategy that results in incremental business with high development impact in South Asia and with South Asian sponsors. • Lead the initial assessment of sectors and markets where IFC is not currently engaged but that is expected to engage soon, with a view to accelerate the conversion into Upstream and investable opportunities. Work closely with the Regional Management in operationalizing business development across these new sectors/ markets/ clients. • Based on the priorities of the region, the Regional Director after consulting the Regional Management team may assign the candidate to work extensively on special projects and assignments in a specific country or strategic theme in South Asia.

Create and Share Knowledge and Build Capacity:

• Support peer to peer knowledge exchange sessions across the region, lead diagnostics with the client and solicit AS engagements in line with IS and country policies. • Identify and participate in conferences to showcase IFC offerings and value proposition, which includes serving as panelist/ moderator for internal and external events related to thematic area. • Help build a bench strength of experts and consultants in the thematic areas of leadership across the region. • Lead the identification of new partners for IFC across the region.

Staff Supervision:

• Develop technical capabilities of the assigned staff and members of the broader practice group team through mentoring, coaching, structured training program and by providing on-the-job learning opportunities. • Ensure quality control of work products and outputs • Determine resources needed to support projects and ensure efficient/ effective use of resources.

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

The South Asia region delivered about $2.0 billion in new investments during FY22. In order to increase its business and development impact, IFC is expected to engage in new markets, with new products and with new partners pushing the frontiers of development finance through the use of innovative platforms and products that mobilize private capital to address long standing societal problems.

In this role, the selected candidate will work closely with the South Asia Regional Director, upstream, investment and advisory staff in the region and globally to drive specific projects and initiatives that are expected to strengthen and open new areas of engagement for IFC in South Asia. He/she will play a leading role to innovate new projects and build new business in line with the WBG/IFC country strategies. He/she will be an integral member of the regional leadership team, and will work closely with key stakeholders, driving IFC’s engagement in new areas, products, doing advance work that is expected to generate upstream, advisory and investment business.

The selected candidate will coordinate across industries and workstreams, connecting the dots of different trends and IFC offerings and capabilities and designing, managing and tracking interventions, leveraging innovative financial solutions available in other markets, regions or sectors to help IFC fulfill its development mandate in South Asia.

Duties and Accountabilities:

Client and Stakeholder Management:

• Participate in senior level client and partner meetings to identify areas for IFC’s intervention in the region that can be developed by “joining the dots” across what Investment, Advisory, Upstream and the Regional Operations teams do – ensuring legal, economic and regulatory viability and identifying the potential gaps and action plans. • Lead multidisciplinary teams to engage Government officials, private sector and World Bank Group staff to design and implement engagements that advance the private sector development agenda. • Support Regional Director by working closely with the Regional Head of Operations in various functions including country driven budgeting, partnerships with donors/ blended finance teams, investment pipeline and portfolio reviews, reviews of regional cross-cutting advisory engagements, operations budgets, coordination of regional management meetings, coordination with industry and upstream teams, review of Board papers, consistency in critical operations across countries in South Asia and supporting corporate requests for regional information and regional trainings. • Communicate with senior level clients of the Government, civil society and private sector and articulate the case for partnerships to develop new products, platforms and alliances. • Represent and/or lead the regional team engagement in initiatives related to key building blocks of business such as treasury, funding – ensuring consistency of approach across the region. • Support Regional Management in moving forward strategic initiatives in the different countries in the region working closely with the Economics Unit.

Design and Operationalize Solutions:

• Support Regional Director in select cross-cutting interventions e.g in Climate, Gender, Business Development, Creating Markets Advisory, working with World Bank and PPPs. • Support Regional Director in the design and piloting of new financial and local currency products in the region, such as covered bonds; PCGs, RSFs and other structured products, in partnership with industry and country teams; working alongside IFC teams and governments to gather support for such engagements. • Support the Regional Management in the identification and design of sustainability / climate focused products across all sectors, supporting the industry teams and regional teams, and leading such engagements when necessary. • Lead the development and approval of an implementable South-South strategy that results in incremental business with high development impact in South Asia and with South Asian sponsors. • Lead the initial assessment of sectors and markets where IFC is not currently engaged but that is expected to engage soon, with a view to accelerate the conversion into Upstream and investable opportunities. Work closely with the Regional Management in operationalizing business development across these new sectors/ markets/ clients. • Based on the priorities of the region, the Regional Director after consulting the Regional Management team may assign the candidate to work extensively on special projects and assignments in a specific country or strategic theme in South Asia.

Create and Share Knowledge and Build Capacity:

• Support peer to peer knowledge exchange sessions across the region, lead diagnostics with the client and solicit AS engagements in line with IS and country policies. • Identify and participate in conferences to showcase IFC offerings and value proposition, which includes serving as panelist/ moderator for internal and external events related to thematic area. • Help build a bench strength of experts and consultants in the thematic areas of leadership across the region. • Lead the identification of new partners for IFC across the region.

Staff Supervision:

• Develop technical capabilities of the assigned staff and members of the broader practice group team through mentoring, coaching, structured training program and by providing on-the-job learning opportunities. • Ensure quality control of work products and outputs • Determine resources needed to support projects and ensure efficient/ effective use of resources.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, Economics, or a closely related field. • At least 15 years’ experience in private sector development, with a focus on delivering innovative investment transactions. • Strong skills and demonstrated track record in working in multi-stakeholder engagements in the area of investment transactions. • Strong technical knowledge and demonstrated track record in understanding, identifying, designing and delivering complex products from a regulatory, legal, financial and multi-stakeholder perspective. • Understanding of IFC and WBG products/instruments and where there are opportunities for cross-organizational collaboration. Demonstrable experience working on IFC and WBG products will be an advantage. • Understand the implications of different policy and regulatory frameworks governing the thematic areas. Demonstrable experience working with regulatory matters and experience in dealing with government counterparties will be an advantage.

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 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: worldbank.org