Operations Officer, Financial Institutions Group (FIG) – GG

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.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy 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” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in 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 capacity to leverage WBG programs and projects to develop our own proactive sector interventions and to imagine and design projects even in the absence of reforms.

The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of the major industry groups at IFC, responsible for managing roughly 40% of IFC’s overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Climate, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Gender, Capital Markets, Housing, Distressed Assets, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered to IFC’s clients through IFC’s global network.

The MSME business is one of the strategic priorities of the WBG. IFC has set itself a very ambitious action plan and target for the creation of jobs which includes the ability to link MSMEs to markets and provide technology-enabled solutions. To contribute to those targets, FIG is already considering a pipeline of investments over the next years, working with FIs to scale up their financing of MSME friendly projects. The focus is to support IFC’s client banks and non-bank financial institutions to build viable and scalable MSME finance operations, leveraging capital markets as well as their client base, and by fostering partnerships with real market and government players to promote these solutions.

The FIG EAP Upstream (US) and Advisory (AS) Unit seeks to create opportunities for new private sector led investments in the region by developing a pipeline of investment-ready opportunities made possible using distinct tools and interventions, including investment structuring, and advisory. The objective of the unit will be to enhance the next generation of FIG investments across priority sectors, with an emphasis on MSME financing solutions.

IFC is seeking a US and AS Operations Officer – MSME for its Financial Institutions Group in Viet Nam, responsible for supporting the delivery of integrated investment, upstream and advisory solutions in MSME finance. This will be done in close collaboration with the Industry Managers for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, to ensure high-impact upstream and advisory services projects that can catalyze new investment opportunities in MSME finance; with a particular focus on defining new capital markets structures and asset classes. This specifically involves but is not limited to 1) preparing potential clients for IFC MSME related investments through advisory services engagements; and 2) working on the implementation and execution of MSME USAS projects.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The US/AS Operations Officer – MSME will have a range of evolving responsibilities in line with MSME related strategic priorities of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Anticipated scope of duties and responsibilities during the assignment include the following:

• Lead the design and implementation of FIG USAS projects and develop a strong pipeline of quality investment opportunities for IFC by employing knowledge and experience of financial markets, MSME market trends and industry standards including digital finance.

• Assist in the design and implementation of a new FIG USAS high-quality project pipeline, in collaboration with the FIG investment team to ensure strong alignment with FIG investment strategies, WBG and IFC regional and country strategies.

• Identify game-changing regulatory reforms, business models and trends that can present opportunities for new MSME related capital market structures and asset classes; including business models leveraging innovation related to for example agritech solutions.

• Lead the implementation of USAS MSME client engagements to support clients with : i) implementing MSME related standards ii) building their MSME pipelines; iii) training and other activities that ensure the viability of MSME related IFC investments.

• Work closely with investment colleagues to develop and manage client relationships and foster cross departmental collaboration to meet client-specific requirements.

• Engage with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to identify opportunities for collaboration and to contribute to sector and regulatory reforms that support opportunities for FIG related MSME investments.

• Disseminate and absorb knowledge and experience across the regional industry department and global teams to support adoption of new approaches and best practices.

• Engage with officials within the World Bank Group, governments, other development organizations, and the private sector to identify joint IFC USAS interventions and investment opportunities.

• Mentor and support junior staff working on ASUS activities.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline, and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.

• Understanding of the financial industry and ability to link policy reforms, MSME industry standards including technology enabled solutions, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization to deliver MSME related solutions in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos.

• Experience in management consulting for the financial sector, investment banking, capital markets and structured finance is preferred.

• Track record of engaging with private financial sector clients, local and national governments, and other stakeholders such as donors to encourage pioneering business solutions and market development.

• Demonstrated capacity for innovating and challenging the status quo to develop business opportunities, including for MSMEs, digital finance, credit risk and capital markets.

• Demonstrated capacity for collaborating across organizational boundaries to shift organizational behavior and generate buy-in.

• Strong “deal sense” and understanding of bankability criteria to support IFC investments.

• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills; demonstrated ability to synthetize complex information and make concrete strategic and tactical recommendations.

• Excellent people and communication skills, openness to feedback and new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others.

• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English are required.

• Willingness to travel.

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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