Strategy Officer – IFC Strategy and Operations Management – 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. 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 Corporate Strategy Unit (CSMCS) is one of four units in the Strategy and Operations Management Department (CSM), reporting to the VP of Corporate Support (COSVP).   

CSMCS supports Senior Management and Operations on the formulation, execution and reporting of corporate and operational strategy.  This includes (i) developing IFC’s position on key strategic issues for the institution including the Strategic Business Outlook, (ii) providing institutional thought leadership and evaluating operational implications, and (iii) communicating effectively ‘IFC’s story’ to key external and internal stakeholders.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

CSMCS is looking for a proactive and highly motivated senior professional to join a high-energy strategy team.

The work program of the Operational Strategy Vertical is focused on supporting corporate and operational Management to identify future focus areas and opportunities for IFC to grow its private sector business and scale impact to achieve the WBG’ vision of a world free of poverty on a livable planet. The team works closely with operational teams to formulate and co-shape IFC’s sector engagements and drive operationalization thereof. The Operational Strategy Unit also houses the Secretariat for the six Global Challenge Programs (GCPs). 

The duties and accountabilities for this position include, but are not limited, to the following:

Leading role in IFC Industry Insights: 

•  Develop ‘insight notes’, working closely with the Operational Team lead, and across the team, outlining future opportunities for IFC to grow its private sector business in frontier areas. This requires a penchant for learning about new sectors and conceptualizing and drafting compelling insight products for a time-constrained ‘investment officer’ audience. 

•  Assess key market trends and sector dynamics in emerging markets, including trends and challenges, conducting surveys with IFC staff to identify operational challenges and opportunities for IFC, and ‘bringing the outside in’ through external experts across the public and private sector space, CSOs and academia to collect and synthetize actionable business / market insights.

•  Lead the development of the Strategic Intelligence Lab (SIL), which includes building a comprehensive view of WBG projects and MDB portfolios. This will require strong analytical skills and the ability to guide junior staff in the design of the Lab, as well as a strategic mindset to leverage the SIL as a value-added engagement tool for IFC industry teams (e.g., identify comparative advantage, engagement gaps, business development opportunities, lessons, and synergies within WBG and with external partners).

•  Lead the development of sector roadmaps, strategy updates, and strategy briefs. These efforts require proactive and independent content development (i.e., performing market and data analysis, synthesizing information from individual WBG and external subject matter experts, and facilitating engagements and workshops) and efficient coordination and communication across the WBG and with Senior Management.

•  Provide leading support to corporate-level sectoral engagements that can catalyze a One WBG Approach such as the Global Challenge Program (GCP). This would include developing IFC’s position and investment approach on key sectors and themes, providing advice to industry teams throughout the implementation process, and engaging internal and external stakeholders to build corporate and sector champions that can enable implementation.

•  Support senior management in decision-making on key strategic issues. This will require the Strategy Officer to carefully prepare meeting agendas, talking points, and briefs for senior management to support decision-making, often on short notice.

•  Mentor and coach junior staff, especially on methods and analytical approaches.

 

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in economics, MBA/finance, public policy or other related fields. 
•  Minimum of ten years of experience that is relevant for the mandates and work programs of Multilateral Development Banks. For example, International Organizations, national Development Financial Institutions, public sector practices of major consulting companies, or transferable skills from private sector experience. 
•  Strong understanding of the World Bank Group product offering and how policy engagement can unlock private sector investment opportunities. 
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•  Demonstrated ability to distill, integrate, and translate complex issues and information into clear, crips and strategically relevant insights.
•  Experience in driving data initiatives to success, including data analysis and visualization tools.
•  Proven ability to steer multi-stakeholder initiatives towards concrete and impactful deliverables without formal authority and engaging with Senior Management with tact and diplomacy to drive outcomes. 
•  Ability to connect the dots between corporate initiatives and goals and to translate them into actionable sectoral directions. 
•  Excellent project management skills. 
•  Sector expertise is a plus.
•  Ability to work and integrate into changing project teams and carry out supporting analysis with minimal supervision. 
•  Ability to get up to speed with new topics quickly and deliver in a fast-paced environment. 
•  Proven ability to guide and train junior colleagues in delivering high-quality work deliverables.
•  Excellent team player and designing collaborative approaches for cross-team learning.

 

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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