Associate Operations Officer – GF  

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. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low Income Countries and Fragile and Conflict affected Situations. This strategy calls for generating our own opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” of a transaction to imagine, design, and implement investment projects and transformational transactions. It also requires IFC to create, deepen, and expand markets, including through engagement across the World Bank Group on policy reforms to unlock sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment.

IFC is seeking Associate Operations Officer in the Asia Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (“MAS”) industry group to support Upstream Advisory initiatives in South Asia. The candidate will work in collaboration with Task Team Lead (TTL) for Textile and Agriculture-Food processing decarbonization projects, Industrial decarbonization and GSCF (Global supply Chain Financing facility) as well as support identifying new investment and investment-linked advisory opportunities in the “real sector” of the economy – primarily including manufacturing industries and agriculture food processing businesses in the current context. 

Roles & Responsibilities:

The Associate Operations Officer will support business development activities and the implementation of key IFC MAS Upstream Advisory projects in South Asia, including textile projects, industrial and agriculture-food processing decarbonization projects, and potential Global Supply Chain Finance (GSCF) MAS advisory project. 

Specific Duties and Accountabilities include, but are not limited to, supporting MAS Upstream Advisory in business development as well as program implementation and monitoring activities detailed below:

Business Development and Rapid Assessment: 
•  Support TTL to engage with the market to identify and assess manufacturing/ industrial and agriculture food processing business clients need to develop decarbonization/ circular projects that ultimately support sizeable investment and financing opportunities for IFC, especially climate financing
•  Support developing relationships with private-sector clients and other external stakeholders, and assist team members in managing and maintaining client and stakeholder relationships while growing the business
•  Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including the MAS Investment and Upstream teams working on business and project development, and World Bank teams performing country-level analytics and policy/regulatory research and analysis
•  Assist in designing and implementing scalable solar solutions that can be replicated across markets
•  Contribute to the development of feasibility studies/ advisory concept note and implementation plans for Upstream Advisory projects that lead to IFC investments
•  Help spot game-changing trends, technologies, and business models that can bring solutions to emerging markets
•  Produce regular reports, including monitoring progress against project milestones and KPIs
•  Contribute to sector-specific data analysis to help generate ideas for new projects, new products and platform businesses
•  Actively participate within an active network of industry stakeholders to keep updated on developing market drivers and trends, including technology and policy developments

Support for Project implementation:
•  Support in initiating and accelerating the activities under textile, industrial, and agri-food decarbonization projects, and GSCF i.e., advising client on strategic areas of focus, developing the Implementation Plans (IPs) and ensuring quality of deliverables
•  Support implementation of all firm-level activities, including onboarding new clients, coordinating/following up with the client coordinators, local and international consultants/ consulting firms, and tracking progress and reporting
•  Assist in developing donor funding proposal and other program presentations and reporting as required by IFC and donor partners 
•  Support developing program-specific client engagement and consultant procurement documents (Cooperation Agreements, consultants’ Terms of Reference, etc.) working with IFC legal team and other staff
•  Support coordinating with the MAS Global advisory staff (both manufacturing and agriculture food processing) working on similar projects in other regions to leverage experience/expertise, use of tools, and ensure consistency and quality of delivery
•  Interface with client management and various internal and external actors on training/ capacity building, awareness generation, and knowledge management activities 
•  Work closely with global and regional Results Management teams to track and report program results against development goals/other performance indicators in the approved implementation plan; identify areas that need refocusing of activities to meet program targets
•  Support market outreach and program promotion activities by working with communications team, both regionally and globally

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Renewable Energy Technology, Science, Engineering, or relevant field
•  At least 10 years of relevant experience in supporting manufacturing projects, producing feasibility studies, hands-on advisory and/or consulting functions in emerging markets
•  Understanding of different IFC financing tool such as IFCs Direct and short-term financing 
•  Understanding of the relevant sector and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment to deliver solutions at a country level
•  Ability to engage with private sector clients, local and national governments, and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development
•  Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills
•  Strong written and verbal communications skills in English and Bengali
•  Willing to travel for project level activities

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.

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