Principal Operations Officer (Principal Infrastructure Specialist) – GH

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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity in a sustainable way. 

The IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). Our goal is to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop impactful investment projects. This strategy is, in part, premised on improved country/sector diagnostic, strategic, and public sector engagement capabilities, which seek to: 1) resolve obstacles to private sector growth via diagnostic and strategic work that informs both IFC operations and relevant IBRD/IDA policy operations; and 2) overcome the shortage of investable projects in priority markets by proactively improving the private sector ecosystem at the country and regional level.

The Country Advisory and Economics Unit of the East Asia and Pacific region supports the IFC business through the provision of country economic diagnostics, strategy, and engagement products as well as through direct support to operational teams and country units, leveraging coordination across the World Bank Group. The Unit is composed of economics, strategy, and operational staff responsible for:

•  Producing regional and country-level economic assessments to support IFC’s strategy and operations.

•  Collaborating with regional and industry colleagues to produce analytical products such as Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and IFC Country Strategies.

•  Significantly contributing to WBG products such as Country Partnership Frameworks (CPF), Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDR), and IBRD/IDA lending operations; and

•  Implementing IFC’s country strategy and diagnostic recommendations into practice through Advisory projects that engage with governments, regulators, civil society, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to reform markets and sectors and address key bottlenecks to private sector development.

The advisory role of CEAAE works with client country governments to address key legal and regulatory issues that constrain private sector development. Efforts are focused on improving the enabling environment that can facilitate private investment opportunities, including foreign direct investments. CEAAE addresses “if-then” reform asks in IFC strategies, complementing World Bank efforts, while strengthening IFC’s relationships with client countries in support of IFC 3.0. Specifically, the CEAAE team works proactively with governments and regulatory agencies to create effective and efficient market conditions, both at economy wide as well as industry/sector level, for increased private investments. The Unit collaborates extensively with IFC Industry teams, cross-cutting teams, and other teams across the World Bank Group in the design and delivery of advisory services.

IFC is committed to supporting both governments and private sector to reduce emissions and exploit green growth via investment and advisory services.  EAP countries are set to gain from green growth, which opens opportunities to diversify and upgrade their economies especially by embracing new technologies, attracting green investments, raising their position on global supply chains and ultimately creating more and better jobs. IFC notes this will require embracing a new “green industrial revolution”, improving the environmental, social and economic performance of existing industries, while creating competitive industries delivering sustainable goods. IFC has identified sustainable development of infrastructure, energy transition and climate resilience as key thematic areas of intervention to help countries reach the interlinked goals to decarbonize their economies and increase competitiveness.

CEAAE is seeking to recruit a Principal Infrastructure Specialist to provide thought leadership to the Unit’s advisory work on decarbonization, sustainable development of infrastructure, energy transition and climate resilience. The Principal Specialist will be a motivated and dynamic professional, with excellent technical expertise in the thematic areas mentioned above; strong analytical skills; policy-relevant experience, including through dialogue/interaction with government clients and public and private sector stakeholders; and proven skills as team leader and aggregator. 

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategic support & leadership

•  Lead the design and implementation of the Unit’s agenda in the areas of decarbonization, sustainable development of infrastructure, energy transition and climate resilience

•  Lead country teams in the design and implementation of government-facing advisory projects that support reform implementation and investment facilitation in the areas defined above and in line with IFC’s strategic priorities

•  Lead policy dialogue and interface with key players, including government agencies, industry organizations, private sector stakeholders, and development partners

•  Works with economics staff to identify and develop strategic analysis in the thematic areas above to inform IFC engagements

•  Liaise with IFC upstream and investment teams to identify strategic engagements and collectively devise well-packaged solutions to mobilize private investments in decarbonization, sustainable development of infrastructure, energy transition and climate resilience

•  Coordinate with IBRD/IDA on policy dialogue on decarbonization, competitiveness and climate resilience, and country and sector strategies/engagement products (CPFs and CCDRs) to ensure that the private sector’s perspective and needs are adequately captured

•  Develop 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

•  Share project and country knowledge, project lessons learned, and best practices with wider WBG network and external clients and stakeholders to build IFC’s overall brand within the topic of decarbonization and its positioning as a thought leader

•  Participate in internal and external conferences, workshops and other subject matter fora as an expert speaker

•  Provide substantive support to management and coaching to the Unit’s team

 

Operational Support

•  Manage the implementation of the advisory project portfolio in the areas of decarbonization, sustainable development of infrastructure, energy transition and climate resilience, overseeing CEAAE teams throughout the project cycle (with attention on development results, project reviews, lessons learned) to ensure quality, impact, and coordination across projects.

•  Provide advice to teams on policy issues and risks affecting country and regional contexts.

•  Work closely with IBRD/IDA to coordinate advisory services and respective engagements, synchronizing the public and private sector perspectives and creating markets in line with the Cascade approach (i.e., working with governments and IBRD/IDA to first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal).

•  Engage with regional partnership team and development partners to facilitate resource mobilization.

 

Selection Criteria

•  Advanced degree in economics, finance, engineering or related field

•  At least 15 years of experience in advisory services in the areas of decarbonization, sustainable development of infrastructure, energy transition and climate resilience

•  Commitment to the WBG and IFC’s mission and values

•  In-depth technical competencies in regulation of infrastructure sectors, public-private partnerships and climate policies. Knowledge of related areas – e.g., disruptive technologies, innovation, digital economy, trade and value chains, financial services – is a plus

•  Deep familiarity with the WBG operational products and instruments; direct experience in IFC, IDA/IBRD, MIGA or other financial institutions focused on the private sector will be an advantage

•  Demonstrated ability to lead policy dialogue and hands-on experience of working with government clients and public sector stakeholders, including regulators

•  Strong analytical, strategy formulation, and conceptual abilities

•  Demonstrated leadership abilities, including building high-performing teams and coaching and mentoring junior colleagues

•  Effective and persuasive oral and written communication skills. Ability to cultivate an active network of relationships inside and outside the organization and to represent IFC publicly

•  Demonstrated ability to operate in a collaborative manner in a matrixed, highly complex and global organization

•  Ability to manage competing and sometimes unanticipated priorities, and tight deadlines

 

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.

 

How cinfo Can Support You in the Application Process for This Position

• Application and Interview Preparation: Whether you’re preparing your application documents or getting ready for an interview, you can book a Job Application Support session to receive tailored guidance.
• For Swiss nationals invited to the first round of the selection process (e.g., written test, interview, assessment center): Notify us at recruitment@cinfo.ch, and we will inform our HR partners in the respective organization and the Swiss Government to help increase your visibility.