Senior Industry Specialist

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. 

• IFC’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Forestry department provides investment and advisory services across a range of sectors that include agribusiness, forestry, chemicals, fertilizers, construction materials, manufacturing. Within the department, the Agribusiness and Forestry (A&F) team focuses on supporting investments in (i) the food production chain, “from farm to fork”, including suppliers of inputs (seeds, fertilizers, irrigation), crop plantations, sustainable animal protein and aqua-farms, food and bio-fuel processors, Agri-commodity traders, and food distributors, and (ii) the forestry value chain, including plantations and downstream operations in the processed wood and paper sectors (pulp, paper, packaging, sawn wood, panelboards, biomass, etc.). We help clients to achieve their business goals and find solutions to new and emerging issues, with a focus on sustainability.
• IFC’s Agribusiness unit finances investments in many sub-sectors (crop inputs, primary agricultural, fruits and vegetables, vegetable oils, tree crops, livestock, dairy, animal feed, food processing, commodity trading, milling, and beverages) and provides technical support to the agribusiness sector. To support this work, IFC is seeking to employ a Senior Industry Specialist on Commodity Trading/Milling, location would be in West/North Africa, specializing in all aspects of grains and oilseed investments including soybean, corn/maize, wheat, sorghum, millets and related supply chain activities. She/he will belong to Agribusiness and Forestry Global Unit, but will focus on Africa.   The selected candidates will spend 6-12 months in DC before taking on the assignment in the agreed location.
• The scope includes milling, oilseed crushing/refining, commodity trading, and value chain analysis including grains and oilseeds, coffee, cocao, and plantation crops. When assessing traders, the specialist would be required to assess hedging/risk management practices, including with the support of external specialized consultants if needed. IFC Industry Specialists play a key role within the investment teams and provide broad and in-depth industry knowledge to assess new investment companies and conduct detailed on-site due diligence, as well as performing supervision and value-addition of portfolio investments. IFC’s Advisory/Upstream teams might tap into the specialist’s knowledge/expertise.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Contribute to the development and delivery of IFC’s agribusiness strategies and investment program working closely with the investment teams
• Working closely with the sector lead and regional investment teams, conduct due diligence to assess project strengths and weaknesses, and provide investment teams with an appraisal report and operational parameters to be built into financial models
• Work closely with Climate Business team to make sure all projects are assessed for Paris Alignment, decarbonization strategies, and climate transition risk and physical risk assessments; use and develop GHG monitoring tools to assess projects.
• Participate in the investment committee meetings and respond to the committee’s questions
• Support the review of advisory/upstream services proposals
• Provide industry and best practice advice to internal – IFC and WBG colleagues – and external clients and add value to new business development activities and portfolio monitoring, as well as to advisory services projects
• Assist in the selection, briefing and supervision of technical consultants engaged on due diligence, as needed
• Participate in conferences and seminars and other events representing IFC and as appropriate to maintaining and building sector knowledge

Selection Criteria

• Commitment to IFC and the World Bank Group’s mission, strategy, and values.
• 20 years + years of operational experience in agro-commodity supply chain management and trading at management levels.
• Minimum Masters degree.
• Sound knowledge of current industry and sector operating parameters to permit comparative cost analysis and benchmarking.
• Sound knowledge and experience in delivering sustainability solutions to the agribusiness sector.
• Knowledge on commodity risk management/hedging is a plus.
• Sound business judgment and proven track record of investment screening and assessment.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills and ability to write technical appraisal reports in a timely manner, also with French language a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and build bridges across organizational boundaries.
• Passion for commodity trading, milling, and commodity markets and results driven with energy, initiative, and self-motivation.
• Willingness to undertake extensive international travel in emerging markets.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=29099&site=1