Investment 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 (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected Situations (FCS). This strategy calls for generating our own opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” or at the pre-investment stage to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects with clients. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment into our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. It also requires the capacity to leverage WBG’s programs and projects to develop our own proactive sector interventions and to imagine, design and co-develop projects with clients, even in the absence of reforms.

IFC is seeking an Investment Officer to support Upstream (pre-investment) and Advisory work in the Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (MAS) sectors in the Europe region. The overall goal of the job is to identify potential investment opportunities, contribute to project development and maximize the impact of IFC’s interventions. The Investment Officer is expected to contribute to economic development in Ukraine and in the IFC Europe region by identifying and executing innovative and developmental Upstream engagements, with a clear line of sight to sustainable and impactful IFC investments with companies across MAS sectors.

The Investment Officer will work closely with IFC’s senior officers, who are responsible for originating, designing, negotiating, structuring and subsequently implementing IFC’s Upstream engagements. The Investment Officer will be responsible for delivering on the assigned tasks and initiatives within the framework of MAS EUR Upstream engagements and projects and will assist the MAS Europe team on operational and portfolio supervision-related activities.

Duties and Accountabilities :

1) Business development
• Assist the MAS EUR Upstream team with business development and investment origination.
• Assist senior business developers in identifying and assessing impactful and innovative investment opportunities, conduct integrity due diligence, and review the financial statements and projections of companies within relevant sectors.
• Prepare client proposals and the related internal project documents, oversee the internal approval processes at different stages of client engagements, assist in bringing these engagements to financial close.
• Develop a deep understanding of the manufacturing, agribusiness and services sectors in Ukraine and in the region in order to effectively support broader WBG initiatives aimed at creating new opportunities and unlocking growth through private sector investments.

2) Execution of Upstream projects and transactions
• Lead the execution of multiple Upstream transactions, spanning across advisory services, early-stage project development and investments, to ensure the quality of their execution and strong client service.
• Design Terms of Reference (TORs) for external specialized consultants, liaise with the finance and procurement teams during the procurement process and manage consulting engagements.
• Conduct technical, financial and commercial assessments, oversee technical, legal and regulatory assessments, develop complex financial models, manage the drafting and negotiation of legal agreements, and drive Upstream engagements to financial close.

3) Market creation
• Lead or support the development and implementation of joint initiatives across the WBG’s departments to deliver on IFC’s sector and country strategies.
• Assist the MAS Europe Upstream team in developing and operationalizing strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts with external stakeholders, aimed at unlocking opportunities for private investment in IFC’s countries of operation, developing MSMEs and creating new and better jobs.

4) Other duties
• Produce regular internal and external reports on the assigned Upstream projects and their progress against project milestones and key performance indicators.
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including government bodies and potential clients, to enable IFC activities.
• Deliver on the other activities assigned that are aligned with the evolving needs of the WBG and will be help the candidate to realize their growth potential within the organization.

Selection Criteria

• Education & expertise: Master’s degree in business, finance, or economics, with at least 7 years of experience in corporate and project finance, investment banking, industrial economics, or business consulting, particularly in Ukraine.
• Investment experience: Deep understanding of MAS sectors, experience in different sub-sectors, and a strong track record of financial and contractual closings of investment transactions.
• Stakeholder management: Proven experience in engaging and working with private sector companies, investors, and multiple stakeholders in MAS sectors, as well as successfully managing diverse project teams across multiple transactions.
• Financial & analytical skills: Strong financial, analytical, and modeling capabilities, with sound business judgment and the ability to develop creative solutions. Experience in reviewing legal documents and technical studies.
• Early-stage project development & project management: Experience in successfully developing bankable projects and securing financing for them. Expertise in project management, including strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, combined with a strong track record of securing financial close through effective negotiation and financial modeling. PMP or other types of project management certificates would be a plus.
• Communication & leadership: Excellent English language skills (Ukrainian proficiency is a plus), strong written and verbal communication skills, leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities, as well as strong teamwork and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment & mobility: Motivated and enthusiastic about sustainable development, with a willingness to travel extensively as needed.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

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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