(Senior) Operations Officer, Climate Business Job #: req33057 Organization: IFC Sector: Climate Change Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Spanish, French Closing Date: 5/20/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
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.
Development, climate and resilience are inextricably linked. To drive growth and employment through private sector investment, financing long-term access to reliable low-cost energy, regenerating nature to feed production chains, and sustaining clean water for people and business needs are all required. Under the WBG’s Climate Change Action Plan (2021–2026), IFC has committed to aligning 100% of new operations with the goals of the Paris Agreement starting July 1, 2025. At COP28, the WBG further committed to increasing its climate finance target to 45% of own-account investments. In FY24, IFC delivered $9.1 billion in own-account climate finance and mobilized an additional $10.2 billion.
The Climate Business Department (CBD) plays a central role in implementing IFC’s climate-smart development strategy and delivering on these commitments. Key themes include mitigation, adaptation, nature/biodiversity, built environment/cities, supply chains, circular economy, and sustainable finance for corporates and MSMEs to help them adapt and build resilience for long-term growth and job creation. CBD works across IFC’s investment and advisory services to drive climate business, ensure methodological integrity in climate finance accounting, support the Labeled Bond Program (green, blue, transition, etc.), develop strategic tools, lead climate risk management, and build thought leadership through high-impact partnerships and publications.
CBD’s climate work complements IFC’s Sustainability Framework, which is currently being updated to strengthen IFC’s approach and align it more closely with today’s dynamic and complex global environment. Led by the Environment and Social Sustainability Department (CES), the update provides an opportunity to adopt a fit-for-purpose E&S policy framework that reflects the scale and complexity of the WBG’s private sector financial products and portfolio, and addresses emerging E&S risks and global challenges.
About The Position
The (Senior) Operations Officer will be a key contributor to the Climate Business Department, leading efforts to:
• Contribute to the development of future WBG liveable planet, climate & nature strategies and other climate-related strategic engagements at IFC.
• Deepen constructive dialogue with key stakeholders, including the Board and external partners, on climate-related matters.
• Develop practical solutions to improve external understanding of IFC’s approach to climate finance and Paris Alignment.
• Monitor market developments and best practices to inform recommendations and ensure IFC remains at the forefront of climate finance, Paris Alignment, and related strategic areas amongst MDB and private sector peers.
• Inform CBD’s contributions to the climate-related dimensions of the Sustainability Framework update.
The role requires a strategic, cross-functional approach combining policy and strategy development, high-level stakeholder engagement, deep technical knowledge, clear, compelling communication and ability to chart win-win pathways for collaboration. The position reports to the Director of CBD and will be based in Washington, D.C.
Duties and Accountabilities
The (Senior) Operations Officer will lead the implementation of CBD’s Strategic Gameplan across four interconnected workstreams:
Policy and Strategy
• Coordinate CBD’s contributions to IFC and WBG climate strategies and related high-level engagements.
• Drive internal policy coherence by rationalizing IFC’s climate-related instruments (strategies, action plans, guidelines, etc.).
• Shape IFC’s positioning through benchmarking, stakeholder input, and MDB collaboration.
• Coordinate CBD’s climate-related inputs into the update of IFC’s Sustainability Framework.
Stakeholder Engagement
• Map key internal and external stakeholders and their interests on an ongoing basis, prioritize and tailor CBD’s engagement efforts, and inform and equip CBD leadership for effective stakeholder engagement.
• Support the CBD leadership in prioritizing Board engagement and identifying opportunities to build shareholder awareness and support for IFC’s climate priorities.
• Develop strategies to strengthen relationships and build trust with key stakeholder groups.
• Prepare and contribute to CSO consultations on climate and related themes, including in the context of the Sustainability Framework update.
• Establish effective feedback mechanisms to ensure stakeholder insights inform IFC’s climate business approach and decision-making.
Climate Reporting
• Propose strategies to enhance public transparency of methodologies, data, and impact results.
• Support CBD’s contributions to climate reporting, including outcome- and impact-focused disclosures.
• Support improvements to climate-related systems / IT needs to deliver on the objectives outlined in these Terms of Reference.
Communications and Positioning
• Work closely with the Communications team to craft clear and compelling institutional climate narratives for internal and external audiences, with the goal of increasing understanding and inspiring stakeholder confidence in IFC’s climate-smart development activities.
• Identify effective channels for conveying IFC’s climate-sensitive development strategies to various audiences.
• Develop targeted communication materials that explain how IFC interprets and implements its Paris Alignment commitments and climate finance targets.
Selection Criteria
• Master's degree in climate or environment policy, sustainable finance, development economics, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in climate, sustainable finance, or development in emerging markets.
• In-depth understanding of climate issues, climate risk, and Paris Alignment frameworks, including the Joint MDB Methodological Principles.
• Familiarity with IFC’s Sustainability Framework, particularly Performance Standard 3, is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and leading multi-stakeholder dialogue.
• Strong strategic and conceptual thinking skills, with a proven ability to drive institutional change and implement new approaches.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with a track record of building consensus across divergent interests.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English; fluency in Spanish or French is desirable.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Agility to evolve strategy and communications to meet shareholders and stakeholders and form common ground.
• Multiple languages a plus.
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.
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