(Associate) Operations Officer

Contract

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(Associate) Operations Officer

Description

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. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity in frontier markets. 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 regulatory and 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.

At the same time, IFC has pledged to significantly increase its investments in climate-related projects and to promote digitalization across industries and sectors, as a way to further sustainability and inclusiveness in emerging markets. IFC plans to deliver on these commitments by working with clients to help them develop and implement their own climate and digitalization strategies and projects. Key areas of focus include the promotion of low-carbon solutions, including renewable energy, green buildings, circularity, and resource efficiency, and increased use of technology and artificial intelligence.

The Financial Institution 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, capital at risk, profitability, and development reach. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Housing, Distressed Assets, Global Trade Finance, and other areas. FIG provides investment and advisory solutions to hundreds of financial intermediaries in emerging markets to enable them to play a positive role in economic growth. FIG’s advisory services are closely coordinated with investment operations and help banks and Financial Institutions (FIs) to build or improve their operations in several areas, including Sustainability and Climate Finance.

Climate Business is one of the strategic priorities of the WBG, and IFC has set itself a very ambitious climate action plan and reach a climate target of 35% of total investments from 2021 to 2025 (including energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner production and resource efficiency, waste and wastewater management, and green buildings). To contribute to those targets, FIG has already quadrupled its climate finance investments over the last three years, working with FIs to scale up their financing of climate friendly projects. The team comprises of technical specialists, investment and operations officers and project managers who provide advisory services (AS) and investment services (IS) to financial institutions. The focus is to support IFC’s client banks and non-bank financial institutions build viable and scalable climate finance operations, leveraging capital markets as well as their client base and partnerships with various market players to promote mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

The AS Climate Finance Team is looking for a highly motivated (Associate) Operations Officer to support the team’s portfolio of advisory projects for financial institutions in Latin-America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Scope of the Assignment:

The (Associate) Operations Officer will be part of a regional/global team of the FIG advisory team and will work closely with the Regional Climate Finance Specialist, with the primary responsibility to provide technical and strategic support to FI clients under the LAC Climate Finance program. The primary objective of the LAC Climate Finance program is to provide a platform for IFC to engage with Financial Institutions (FIs), regulators and policy makers in LAC to help drive FIGs climate business in the region through the following activities:

• Plan, coordinate, supervise and provide technical and administrative support for the required activities and achievement of the LAC Climate Finance program work plan and expected results during the project; • Actively participate in and support the process of scoping, and designing new regional level activities; • Represent the projects in terms of relations with governmental and private institutions involved in the projects; • Plan, organize and carry out the project-related activities in conjunction with stakeholders and clients; • Develop and review project proposals, donor reports and project supervision reports; • Develop high impact/added value pitch presentation and proposals to prospective clients; • Coordinate and implement project activities for specific client’s advisory engagements; • Responsible for project financial management (e.g. projections, expenditures, budges updates, etc.); • Ensure adequate staffing to execute advisory projects; • Identify appropriate consultants for advisory assignments, from drafting terms of reference to taking part in the evaluation and selection of proposals; • Work closely with the Results Measurement team to develop indicators and tools that collect the necessary data for evaluating the impact of the projects; • Liaise with donors and the private sector to identify and mobilize additional sources of funding for FIG AS activities; • Ensure close and effective collaboration with other IFC departments and across the WBG • Actively contribute to the knowledge management agenda of FIG AS • Prepare presentations and communication materials to disseminate results and accomplishments.

It is anticipated that the (Associate) Operations Officer will need to frequently travel within the region to implement project activities.

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. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity in frontier markets. 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 regulatory and 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.

At the same time, IFC has pledged to significantly increase its investments in climate-related projects and to promote digitalization across industries and sectors, as a way to further sustainability and inclusiveness in emerging markets. IFC plans to deliver on these commitments by working with clients to help them develop and implement their own climate and digitalization strategies and projects. Key areas of focus include the promotion of low-carbon solutions, including renewable energy, green buildings, circularity, and resource efficiency, and increased use of technology and artificial intelligence.

The Financial Institution 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, capital at risk, profitability, and development reach. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Housing, Distressed Assets, Global Trade Finance, and other areas. FIG provides investment and advisory solutions to hundreds of financial intermediaries in emerging markets to enable them to play a positive role in economic growth. FIG’s advisory services are closely coordinated with investment operations and help banks and Financial Institutions (FIs) to build or improve their operations in several areas, including Sustainability and Climate Finance.

Climate Business is one of the strategic priorities of the WBG, and IFC has set itself a very ambitious climate action plan and reach a climate target of 35% of total investments from 2021 to 2025 (including energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner production and resource efficiency, waste and wastewater management, and green buildings). To contribute to those targets, FIG has already quadrupled its climate finance investments over the last three years, working with FIs to scale up their financing of climate friendly projects. The team comprises of technical specialists, investment and operations officers and project managers who provide advisory services (AS) and investment services (IS) to financial institutions. The focus is to support IFC’s client banks and non-bank financial institutions build viable and scalable climate finance operations, leveraging capital markets as well as their client base and partnerships with various market players to promote mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

The AS Climate Finance Team is looking for a highly motivated (Associate) Operations Officer to support the team’s portfolio of advisory projects for financial institutions in Latin-America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Scope of the Assignment:

The (Associate) Operations Officer will be part of a regional/global team of the FIG advisory team and will work closely with the Regional Climate Finance Specialist, with the primary responsibility to provide technical and strategic support to FI clients under the LAC Climate Finance program. The primary objective of the LAC Climate Finance program is to provide a platform for IFC to engage with Financial Institutions (FIs), regulators and policy makers in LAC to help drive FIGs climate business in the region through the following activities:

• Plan, coordinate, supervise and provide technical and administrative support for the required activities and achievement of the LAC Climate Finance program work plan and expected results during the project; • Actively participate in and support the process of scoping, and designing new regional level activities; • Represent the projects in terms of relations with governmental and private institutions involved in the projects; • Plan, organize and carry out the project-related activities in conjunction with stakeholders and clients; • Develop and review project proposals, donor reports and project supervision reports; • Develop high impact/added value pitch presentation and proposals to prospective clients; • Coordinate and implement project activities for specific client’s advisory engagements; • Responsible for project financial management (e.g. projections, expenditures, budges updates, etc.); • Ensure adequate staffing to execute advisory projects; • Identify appropriate consultants for advisory assignments, from drafting terms of reference to taking part in the evaluation and selection of proposals; • Work closely with the Results Measurement team to develop indicators and tools that collect the necessary data for evaluating the impact of the projects; • Liaise with donors and the private sector to identify and mobilize additional sources of funding for FIG AS activities; • Ensure close and effective collaboration with other IFC departments and across the WBG • Actively contribute to the knowledge management agenda of FIG AS • Prepare presentations and communication materials to disseminate results and accomplishments.

It is anticipated that the (Associate) Operations Officer will need to frequently travel within the region to implement project activities.

Selection Criteria

As the role requires a knowledge of the Sustainability/Climate business space as well as knowledge of financial institutions and their operations, the successful candidate should have a combination of educational qualifications and work experience that address these two needs:

• Masters’ degree in Engineering, Finance, Business, Environmental Sciences, with a minimum of 8-10 years of experience in climate/sustainable finance and/or professional consulting to FIs and Banks in developed and/or emerging markets. • Strong project design, project management, sales and client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up. • Expertise/familiarity with metrics and tools for tracking climate investments, including GHG accounting tools. • Deep understanding of the sustainable finance landscape, globally and in LAC (Green taxonomies, TCFD, PRB, NZBA, GFANZ, ISSB, SASB, GRI, PRI, etc.). • Certifications on climate / sustainable finance topics are a plus (ESG CFA, SCR GARP, etc.) • Awareness/familiarity with donor and bilateral programs in climate finance, including the capacity building and technical advisory initiatives. • Good knowledge of clean energy and environmental markets in the region or other emerging market regions and knowledge of international best practices and global trends in the industry. • Familiarity with LAC banking regulations, laws desirable. • Highly motivated, energetic, team player with excellent interpersonal skills and client service skills. • Experience in managing transformation projects with banks in emerging markets. • Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior executive level. • Strong organizational skills with an ability to work under time pressure, respond to ad-hoc shifts in client priorities, unstructured situations and unexpected events while maintaining order and delivery. • Ability to identify and implement innovative solutions and challenge the status quo to build the business. • Strong project management skills and experience. • Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo and experience in new idea generation, business development, and crafting projects/programs from scratch. • Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills. • Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and Spanish essential. Portuguese is a plus. • Willingness and ability to travel and work across time zones.

As the role requires a knowledge of the Sustainability/Climate business space as well as knowledge of financial institutions and their operations, the successful candidate should have a combination of educational qualifications and work experience that address these two needs:

• Masters’ degree in Engineering, Finance, Business, Environmental Sciences, with a minimum of 8-10 years of experience in climate/sustainable finance and/or professional consulting to FIs and Banks in developed and/or emerging markets. • Strong project design, project management, sales and client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up. • Expertise/familiarity with metrics and tools for tracking climate investments, including GHG accounting tools. • Deep understanding of the sustainable finance landscape, globally and in LAC (Green taxonomies, TCFD, PRB, NZBA, GFANZ, ISSB, SASB, GRI, PRI, etc.). • Certifications on climate / sustainable finance topics are a plus (ESG CFA, SCR GARP, etc.) • Awareness/familiarity with donor and bilateral programs in climate finance, including the capacity building and technical advisory initiatives. • Good knowledge of clean energy and environmental markets in the region or other emerging market regions and knowledge of international best practices and global trends in the industry. • Familiarity with LAC banking regulations, laws desirable. • Highly motivated, energetic, team player with excellent interpersonal skills and client service skills. • Experience in managing transformation projects with banks in emerging markets. • Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior executive level. • Strong organizational skills with an ability to work under time pressure, respond to ad-hoc shifts in client priorities, unstructured situations and unexpected events while maintaining order and delivery. • Ability to identify and implement innovative solutions and challenge the status quo to build the business. • Strong project management skills and experience. • Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo and experience in new idea generation, business development, and crafting projects/programs from scratch. • Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills. • Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and Spanish essential. Portuguese is a plus. • Willingness and ability to travel and work across time zones.

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.

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