Upstream and Advisory Manager FIG, LAC

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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and promote sustainable shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC’s strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets. It seeks to create new opportunities for private investment in riskier markets and sectors by proactively working “upstream” to build, deepen, and expand markets and to design and develop potential investment projects. Achieving these growth and impact ambitions at scale requires a different approach to business development, deal sourcing, and client support that relies on 1) a broader product offering to engage earlier in the project cycle and secure opportunities; 2) a greater focus on preparing clients in nascent markets and sectors for investment; 3) a greater focus on value addition, private capital mobilization (PCM), and portfolio risk management to enhance client performance and investment outcomes; and 4) a longer time horizon and a more patient, longer-term perspective.

To drive this approach, IFC is seeking an Upstream & Advisory Manager for its Financial Institutions Group (FIG) department of the Latin America & the Caribbean region. The Manager will be responsible for IFC’s efforts to enable investment opportunities, enhance investment outcomes, and improve investment conditions – critical activities to deliver on IFC’s strategy with a strong focus on jobs, financial inclusion, and MSME finance. The role will also be responsible for driving Private Capital Mobilization (PCM) outcomes by embedding mobilization considerations across upstream and advisory engagements and working closely with investment teams and relevant internal partners. The mix of these varied activities should be calibrated to meet the market’s development needs and contribute to IFC’s growth and impact objectives.

The Manager will be based in Panama City, Panama; São Paulo, Brazil; Bogotá, Colombia; or Mexico City, Mexico. The manager will report to the Regional Industry Director for FIG in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean and will be a member of the FIG Latin America and Caribbean Management Team. The manager will work in partnership with relevant Regional Industry Managers and Regional Management to determine appropriate staffing and resources to achieve IFC’s country- and sectoral-strategic and business objectives.  

The manager will have supervisory responsibility over an Advisory and Upstream team and will closely collaborate with the FIG Latin America and the Caribbean Management Team to leverage skills and knowledge across IFC. The Manager will also be responsible for overseeing the development of the Upstream and Advisory business program in close collaboration with investment teams to ensure the coordinated provision of services that span the continuum of IFC’s operations – across idea generation, enabling environment, project development and client preparation, investment, and mobilization – and to further collaboration and synergies across the FIG Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean department. 

The role will also work closely with World Bank operations, including leveraging the World Bank’s lending and policy dialogue, and will contribute to and draw from the World Bank Group’s Knowledge Bank to strengthen analytics, lessons learned, and dissemination of good practices.

Duties and Accountabilities:
The roles and responsibilities of the position will include, but not be limited to:

People and Resource Responsibility 
•   Lead and manage the Upstream & Advisory unit and ensure the team is high-performing, well-motivated, and committed to the advancement of IFC’s strategic goals.
•   Mentor and develop staff and promote opportunities for rotation and continued learning. 
•   Be part of, and actively contribute to, the Regional and Industry Management Team. 
•   Support the integration and cross-support between upstream, advisory, and investment teams and work with regional leadership to ensure that exposure and contribution to varied operations are included in staff objectives at all levels across the department.
•   Staff upstream and advisory projects with the appropriate resources to deploy the most appropriate technical expertise and provide exceptional client service, while keeping in mind the career and training development needs of staff.

Strategic Responsibility
•   Formulate the unit’s strategy for Industry’s sectors across the region in coordination with the Regional Industry Director and with support from the relevant Country/Regional Management, drawing on and contributing to strategy and diagnostic products (e.g., Country Private Sector Diagnostics, Sector Deep Dives, Country Strategies) as relevant.
•   Lead their unit to deliver key strategic priorities as set out in the WBG Strategy and Country Partnership Framework, with a focus on supporting implementation of IFC Country business plans and sector strategies through the design and implementation of upstream and advisory projects, as well as through engagement with the WB. 

Business Responsibility
•   Enable investment opportunities by 1) incubating high-impact projects and initiatives that require upstream project development to reach the point of investment and 2) getting potential clients ready for IFC investment through client preparation and development, with a focus on financial inclusion, MSME finance, and jobs outcomes.
•   Enhance investment outcomes by 1) increasing the development impact of IFC investments and 2) supporting stronger client outcomes where relevant through the provision of value-additive and risk-mitigation services in close coordination with investment teams.
•   Improve investment conditions by 1) leading and/or collaborating with other teams across IFC and the WBG efforts to drive sector-wide change in priority areas, and 2) leading and/or collaborating with other teams across IFC and the WBG efforts to open up new markets for private sector participation, including through reforms related to financial sector regulation, supervision, and broader financial policy where relevant.
•   Support business development efforts, together with investment, regional/country, and global industry teams, and ensure a high level of client satisfaction.
•   Work closely with investment teams and regional industry managers to foster cross-departmental collaboration and ensure the efficient deployment of staffing, resources, products, and solutions to meet client-specific requirements across the upstream–investment–mobilization continuum.
•   Work closely with Knowledge Bank units in designing/piloting of global products, knowledge sharing, and maintenance of pipeline/portfolio quality, including in areas such as digital financial services and capital markets, where relevant to the country and sector context.
•   Ensure a high quality of the unit’s operations through a focus on project design (development results, PSRs/PCRs, lessons learned) throughout an individual project cycle and across the unit’s portfolio of operations, with a focus on achieving high Development Effectiveness (DE). 

Client and Stakeholder Responsibility 
•   Engage with and establish partnerships with thought leaders and decision makers across the World Bank Group and externally to foster innovative thinking about the creation of new markets and to identify and implement sector and regulatory reforms to unlock private investment opportunities, including leveraging the Bank’s lending program.
•   Active collaboration and engagement with the Partnerships department to proactively contribute to donor engagement strategy, relationship management, and reporting.
•   Proactively convene stakeholders, form partnerships, and connect expertise from upstream, advisory, and investment staff, industry specialists, the World Bank Global Practices, sponsors, clients, and other external parties to enable delivery of upstream and advisory operations.

Knowledge Capture and Management 
•   Identify game-changing trends, technologies, and business models that can increase development impact and present opportunities for high-value proprietary engagements, including in digital financial services and capital markets development.
•   Disseminate and absorb knowledge and experience across the regional industry department and global teams to support the adoption of new approaches and best practices that have been developed in the region. 
•   Contribute to and draw from the World Bank Group’s Knowledge Bank to strengthen analytics, lessons learned, and dissemination of good practices across upstream, advisory, investment, and private capital mobilization activities.
•   Within their market of focus, build external brand recognition and recognition of IFC’s distinctive capabilities in working upstream to catalyze investment opportunities.

Selection Criteria

•   Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, International Relations, or related discipline, and a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience. 
•   Commitment to the World Bank Group and IFC's mission, strategy, and values.
•   Deep understanding of the industry sectors and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization to deliver solutions at a country level, including strong familiarity with regulatory and financial policy issues.
•   Demonstrated capital markets knowledge (e.g., capital market development, instruments, and market infrastructure) and ability to apply it to private sector solutions.
•   Demonstrated knowledge of digital financial services and the implications of fintech and digitization for business models, regulation, consumer protection, and inclusion.
•   Experience advancing financial inclusion and MSME finance, with the ability to translate interventions into jobs and broader economic outcomes.
•   Good “deal sense” and understanding of bankability criteria, based on demonstrated strong analytical skills and sound business judgment.
•   Track record of engaging with private sector clients, local and national governments, and other stakeholders to encourage pioneering business and market development.
•   Demonstrated capacity for innovating and challenging the status quo to develop business opportunities.
•   Demonstrated capacity for collaborating across organizational boundaries to shift organizational behavior and generate buy-in, including effective engagement with Division Directors, World Bank operations/Global Practices, and knowledge counterparts.
•   Strong and proven track record of delivery on project implementation for Upstream, Advisory, and/or Investment operations, with demonstrated experience leading and delivering private capital mobilization (PCM) outcomes (e.g., co-investments, syndications, parallel loans, guarantees, or other mobilization structures) were relevant.
•   Excellent people management skills and openness to feedback, new ideas, and the ability to guide and incentivize staff, inspire trust, and achieve results.
•   Strong written and verbal communication skills.
•   Ability to mentor and coach junior staff.
•   Sensitivity for working in a multicultural environment, commitment to diversity, and ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues/clients/partners across regions, sectors, and business lines.
•   Meet World Bank Group-wide managerial competencies - Courage of your Conviction, Leading the Team for Impact, Influencing Across Boundaries, Fostering Openness to New Ideas, Building Talent for the Future.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.

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