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 IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, creating 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.

The Europe Infrastructure department is a dynamic team, which conducts advisory and “upstream” activities and makes investments in infrastructure transactions ranging across several sectors including power, transportation, telecom, technology, subnational infrastructure and natural resources. 

We are seeking to expand our team to further grow IFC’s Infrastructure business across emerging Europe and the South Caucasus markets.  The selected candidate(s) will be expected to support the team’s activities across the IFC business cycle, including client relationship management, business development, deal execution, and portfolio investment management with a particular focus on “upstream” activities.  Such activities could include incubating high impact projects and initiatives that require “upstream” project development to reach the point of investment getting potential clients ready for IFC investment through client preparation and development. The location of the selected candidate could be Tbilisi, Belgrade or Warsaw, however the selected candidate would work across all of region alongside the rest oof the IFC Europe Infrastructure team.

Role & Responsibilities:
• Support the identification and assessment of IFC “upstream” and 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.
• Conduct targeted research, data analysis, and stakeholder interviews to enable appropriate project design, including assessment of sector dynamics, identification of market and/or policy gaps/barriers.
• Collaborate in developing sector and/or regional strategies and support related promotion work, including providing strategic input into “upstream” initiatives that create, deepen, and expand markets, and require the imagination, design and potential policy advisory work to facilitate investment projects.
• Contribute to the development of feasibility studies and implementation plans for “upstream” projects that lead to IFC investments.
• Support engagement with the World Bank to identify and contribute to sector and regulatory reforms that support opportunities for private investment.
• Collaborate in developing client strategies and engagement plans and pitchbooks for various sectors and countries and conduct sector analysis to be used as input to sector strategies.
• 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.
• Lead straightforward client engagements incorporating lessons learned from prior IFC advisory, “upstream,” investment and portfolio management mandates. Ensure timely processing, thorough due diligence, and client satisfaction. Hold accountability for the preparation and quality of IFC decision making committee materials.
• 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.
• 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 IFC’s portfolio and client relationships.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification from a renowned university, ideally with a specialization in Finance, Business, Economics, or another relevant field.  
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience in investment/corporate banking, project finance, infrastructure project development, and/or equity investing.
• Broad understanding of infrastructure sectors including industry drivers, latest trends and changes, standard market transaction arrangements, and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and private capital mobilization to deliver solutions at a country level.
• Thorough understanding of economic and commercial trends, investment environment, and key private and public sector players in the region.
• Ability to support engagement with private sector clients, local and national governments and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development.
• Experience in project/program management, including executing against implementation plans with defined business development milestones.
• Experience in monitoring and reporting on a portfolio of projects/programs/initiatives.
• Sound business judgment, strong analytical and critical thinking skills with demonstrated financial structuring skills (including financial modeling experience).
• Appreciation of legal, technical, environmental, social, and other considerations in project and corporate finance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and well-organized.
• Ability to work well under time pressures with minimal instruction or supervision.
• Ability to work in culturally diverse and geographically dispersed teams.
• Fluency in English is required; fluency in other regional Slavic languages is a plus but not a requirement. 

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.

This vacancy is archived.

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