IFC SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER – JOHANNESBURG

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 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The development of a vibrant private sector is central to promoting economic growth and expanding opportunities for the poor. Sound and efficient markets can ensure that resources are allocated where they are most productive, assisting job creation and spurring economic growth.

IFC’s Creating Markets Advisory (CMA) Unit delivers on IFC’s capital increase commitments by providing a foundation for Regional, Industry and Upstream teams to increase private sector investment opportunities. CMA addresses “if-then” reform asks in IFC strategies, complementing World Bank efforts, while strengthening IFC’s relationships with client countries in support of IFC 3.0. Specifically, the CMA team works proactively with governments and regulatory agencies to create effective and efficient market conditions, both at economy wide as well as industry/sector level, for increased private investments. Our global experience shows that challenges in the business environment and lack of the right enabling regulatory framework results in countries losing significant amounts of investment annually.  The unit collaborates extensively with the public sector, private sector and other teams across the World Bank Group in the design and delivery of advisory services.

Out of the Johannesburg IFC hub, CMA currently operates across southern Africa, with an active portfolio in S. Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  The team is also developing new initiatives in Angola and Comoros.

Role & Responsibilities

In this role, the selected candidate will serve as one of two regional leads for CMA in Southern Africa, playing a leading role across the various CMA tools and offerings. He/she will work closely with IFC Upstream, Investments and Advisory staff in Southern Africa as well as World Bank staff to design and ensure implementation of programs supporting reforms prioritized in IFC’s country strategies that address bottlenecks faced by investors in IFC’s priority sectors, using a variety of WBG tools and offerings. He/she will play a leading role executing strategic initiatives to enhance the CMA practice in SSA, innovate new projects and build new business in line with the WBG/IFC country strategy, and deliver high quality Advisory engagements to the Government and private sector in Southern Africa. As Sub-Regional Lead, he/she will directly lead the CMA program in several countries of the region, working closely with the IFC Country Managers for those countries.  He/she will also be a member of the CMA Leadership Team for SSA working with the Manager and other Leads for Southern and Eastern Africa to shape the CMA program for the region.

The jobholder will report directly to the Manager, Creating Markets Advisory for Southern and Eastern Africa, with a second line to one of the relevant Country Managers. 

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics or a closely related field, or professional certification (CPA, CFA).
• At least 12-15 years’ experience in private sector development, with a focus on delivering investment climate reforms in at least 2 regions and across a variety of markets.
• Strong skills and demonstrated track record in delivering advisory engagements in the area of investment climate reform. 
• 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.
• Able to design, negotiate and lead efforts to develop client offerings that reflect in-depth knowledge of thematic area and understanding of business case for how thematic focus will help client to improve their business.
• Able to identify how changes in markets, business climate, regulations or emergence of new/ successful innovators/ disruptors may create new opportunities for IFC to accelerate its mandate in a thematic area.
• Thorough understanding of IFC products, what is likely to be approved, and how long it will take. Good understanding of WBG and how to initiate collaborative efforts to leverage its products/ instruments.
• Able to design research and analytical projects or major portion of complex projects to credibly produce new understanding of a thematic issue and/or potential opportunities to unlock new markets or new streams of business.
• Ability to conceptualize and lead research and analytical projects that could ultimately lead to the opening of new markets and/or reframe thinking on thematic approaches to better meet IFC and WBG mandates.
• Able to develop the research storyline that is relevant to and engages targeted stakeholders and mobilizes needed expertise.
• Able to move research proposals and results across functions to ensure relevant aspects becomes anchored and integrated with the work in those functions. 
• Excellent knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and aptitude to learn new systems is a must.  Ability to use project management systems is a plus.
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills plus fluency in English is must. In addition, strong French and/or Portuguese skills preferred.

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

SOURCE: The World Bank