Associate Investment Officer at International Finance Corporation (IFC)

IFC is seeking to hire an Associate Investment Officer to support Upstream work with expertise in one or more of the following sectors: Banking, Microfinance, Housing Finance, Insurance, Transport, Telecommunications, Media, Technology, Water and Wastewater, Urban Development and Municipal Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Health, Education, Tourism, Retail and Property. The selected candidate will focus on supporting the development of high-quality Upstream pipeline in the Africa region under the supervision of the Regional Industry Upstream Lead. S/he will also support policy work and other interventions across the World Bank Group to prioritize various initiatives and to maximize the impact of Upstream efforts.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Support and participate in the identification of Upstream opportunities/business development initiatives based on country and sector strategies 
• Contribute to the development of feasibility studies and implementation plans for Upstream projects that lead to IFC investments
• Establish and maintain effective private sector client relationships with mid-level clients and stakeholders, including local and national governments and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development
• Assist in designing and implementing scalable solutions and platforms that can be replicated across different African markets
• Help identify game-changing trends, technologies and business models that can bring solutions to emerging markets
• Produce regular reports on the assigned Upstream portfolio including monitoring progress against project milestones and regional sector KPIs
• Contribute to sector-specific data analysis and stress-testing of various operating models to help generate ideas for new projects, new products and platform businesses
• Support the team in working with the World Bank to analyze sector and regulatory reforms that are needed to unlock opportunities for private investment

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Science, Engineering, or another relevant field; accreditation as a CFA or CPA is considered a plus
• At least 5+ years of relevant work experience with significant emerging markets presence; relevant sector experience is a plus
• Genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC's mission, strategy, and values
• Understanding of IFC’s strategic priorities and changing business model against the backdrop of IFC 3.0
• Proven analytical, financial analysis, equity valuation, and financial modeling skills
• Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo and experience in new idea generation, business development, and creating projects/programs from scratch
• Develop a thorough understanding of the relevant sector (Health & Education, Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Tourism, Retail and Property) and develop strong relationships with key counterparts in the private sector
• Support the team in identifying investment opportunities based on industry experience, reputation, market potential, financial capability, and strategic fit
• Assess the attractiveness of specific upstream opportunities with a strong focus on fit to strategy and development impact and make recommendations to IFC’s management
• Lead structuring of some Upstream engagements including structuring deals, negotiating terms of agreements, and processing internal approvals
• Work closely with IFC’s specialists to manage technical, legal, insurance, environmental, social, corporate governance, and other risks in projects and champion IFC’s sustainability offerings to clients
• Monitor clients’ compliance with the terms of Upstream agreements to track progress of Upstream engagement against milestones
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to thrive under pressure and function effectively in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines, while working on multiple projects
• Excellent teamwork skills, ability to take initiative and work across organizational boundaries
• Emotionally adept and ability to develop rapport within internal stakeholders and to engage across cultures 
• Strong written and verbal communications skills in English
• French language skills preferred (written and spoken)