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 2023, IFC committed a record US$43.7 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.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets. This strategy aims to create new opportunities for private investments in riskier markets and sectors by proactively working “Upstream” or at the pre-investment stage (early in the project-development cycle) to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop potential investment projects. Implementing this strategy will require a different approach to business development, deal sourcing, and client support that relies on (i) a broader product offering to engage earlier in the project cycle and secure opportunities; (ii) a greater focus on preparing clients in nascent markets and sectors for investment; (iii) a greater focus on value addition and risk management of potential and portfolio investment clients to enhance their performance; and (iv) a longer time horizon and a more patient, longer-term perspective to business origination.

Specific “Upstream” pre-investment and early-stage project development products include (i) collaboration engagements through which IFC supports private companies in the evaluation of new investment opportunities or business models; (ii) co-development engagements whereby IFC shares in the cost and risk of developing investment projects; (iii) advisory engagements to assist existing and prospective clients in unlocking investment opportunities or advancing climate and broader sustainability goals; (iv) joint engagements with the World Bank, taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level.

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Infrastructure department is an open and dynamic team that originates, structures and commits financing to infrastructure projects across several sectors, including energy, transportation, telecom and technology, water and waste, and subnational financing.  The department includes upstream (pre-investment), new business, and portfolio functions. The upstream/pre-investment team intrinsically works with investment and portfolio teams generating and originating leads on potential opportunities for IFC.

As cities in emerging economies continue to grow, access to safe water, sustainable waste management and other municipal infrastructure must expand to meet demand. The cost and complexity of addressing these problems is very high. IFC, through its Municipal and Environmental (M&E) Infrastructure business line, is working with private sector companies as well as municipal and regional governments across LAC to develop and provide innovative market-oriented long-term solutions to these challenges.

IFC is seeking a Senior Investment Officer (SIO) to lead business origination, deploying our upstream/pre-investment toolkit when needed, and transaction/execution with a particular focus on the Subnational, Water and Solid Waste sectors in the LAC region. The SIO will drive the pre-investment unit’s efforts to enable investment opportunities in LAC by (i) incubating high-impact projects that require early-stage development and pre-investment support together with private sector and subnational clients leading to an IFC investment, (ii) getting potential clients ready for IFC investment through client preparation and development, (iii) doing business development to identify opportunities with private companies and subnational entities in the relevant sectors, and (iv) identifying opportunities to work with the World Bank to tackle regulatory and sector bottlenecks in the urban infrastructure sector that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investments.

The position will be under the supervision of the Regional Upstream and Advisory Manager and the Investment Manager. The position will be based in Bogotá, Colombia.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

•  Develop and lead the implementation of IFC’s pre-investment strategy in the subnational, water and waste sector in the LAC region, in coordination with the investment and global municipal infrastructure team.
•  Together with regional leads, coordinate business development efforts and identify and assess upstream/pre-investment opportunities in the municipal infrastructure space, with a focus on generating leads and clear line of sight to investment mandates.
•  Build and manage relationships with strategic and top tier clients and stakeholders in the municipal infrastructure space (subnational government, water and waste companies) sector across the region.
•  Lead the execution of transactions, particularly for subnational clients/opportunities and provide expert advice to investment teams.
•  Engage with stakeholders and form partnerships with staff across IFC, including technical and investment staff in the Global M&E, Regional LAC Upstream (pre-investment) and Investment teams, the World Bank Group, donors, sponsors and other external parties to enable delivery of regional upstream/pre-investment and investment projects.
•  In coordination with the global partnership team, implement and maintain effective donor management strategies, to cultivate relationships, provide stewardship, and engagement with institutional supporters, including fundraising efforts with existing and new donors that contribute to IFC’s municipal infrastructure business.
•  Guide teams and clients at all stages of the upstream/pre-investment project cycle, including support to the design of upstream projects and programs, monitoring and evaluation of upstream M&E activity portfolio and deliverables, and execution.
•  Manage consultants hired to support the implementation of upstream/pre-investment activities, ensuring the timeliness and quality of the work delivered and Perform quality control by providing commercial and sector inputs to ensure that upstream/pre-investment activities lead to impactful and well-performing investments.
•  Lead Upstream/pre-investment knowledge generation activities and internal knowledge sharing in the M&E sector, contributing new ideas for developing knowledge products and events for internal and external audiences.
•  Mentor and coach junior staff and share knowledge, experience, and contacts in the M&E sector. Assist in supervising upstream (pre-investment) activities developed by more junior staff in the regional upstream teams.
•  Work with the World Bank to identify and help implement sector and regulatory reforms needed to unlock opportunities for private investment.

Selection Criteria

•  MBA or equivalent qualification.
•  Technical and business expertise in subnational, water or waste management sectors, with a broad and diverse substantive experience in at least one of these sectors. At least 10 years of relevant experience in the afore mentioned sectors is required.
•  Strong “deal sense” and understanding of bankability criteria. Experience working with an infrastructure project developer and/or investor/financier is preferred.
•  Track record of successfully engaging with subnational governments to develop investment projects is strongly preferred.
•  Proven record developing and managing high-level client relationships. Network of contacts in the subnational, water or waste management sectors in Latin America is considered a plus.
•  Demonstrated capacity for innovating and challenging the status quo to develop business opportunities.
•  Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills; demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and make concrete strategic and tactical recommendations.
•  Good understanding of the subnational, water or waste management sectors and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and private capital mobilization to deliver solutions at a country level.
•  Outstanding written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish. Ability to describe highly complex issues, approaches, and lessons in a manner that is relevant and understandable to clients/stakeholders.
•  Provide quality control for complex or sensitive written work.
•  Genuine commitment to sustainable development.
•  Willingness to travel.
•  Excellent people skills, openness to feedback and new ideas, and ability to guide and motivate more junior staff. 

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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