Senior Investment Officer - Global Leads, CPV's Fund Platform
World Bank
Full-time Closing soon: 27 May 2026
Senior Investment Officer - Global Leads, CPV's Fund Platform
| Job #: | req36666 |
| Organization: | IFC |
| Sector: | Investment |
| Grade: | GG |
| Term Duration: | 3 years 0 months |
| Recruitment Type: | International Recruitment |
| Location: | Nairobi,Kenya |
| Required Language(s): | English |
| Preferred Language(s): | |
| Closing Date: | 5/27/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC |
Description
IFC is seeking a Senior Investment Officer as the Global Lead for CPV’s funds platforms SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst. The successful candidate will be based at IFC's Nairobi, Kenya Office and report to the Manager of CPV’s Cross-Cutting Solutions team. S/he will work across all geographies where the platforms invest, which include Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Central America, and other regions as required. This is a dynamic role that requires a high level of interest in PE and VC investments, international business, emerging markets, and development impact. Responsibilities of the Senior Investment Officer are divided among new business, portfolio management, program management, and corporate strategy. These include:Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. The International Finance Corporation (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 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit: https://www.ifc.orgIFC Equity, Funds and Venture Capital Department (CPV) group plays an integral role in this mission. IFC is the largest investor in emerging market private equity (PE) funds in the world, with over US$6.5 billion committed across a portfolio of more than 330 funds. IFC's PE funds strategy focuses on supporting: (i) growth equity funds, (ii) venture capital (VC) funds, (iii) small business funds in frontier regions, and selectively (iv) sector funds. In turn, these PE funds combine capital and expertise to enable investee companies to achieve the operational efficiency and governance standards required to realize their high-growth potential. IFC sees PE and VC as making a valuable contribution to development by providing capital and know-how to fast-growing companies that are leading drivers of job creation in emerging markets. CPV’s SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst Platforms are fund investment programs that help to launch and invest in funds usually run by fund managers which invest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and early-stage venture businesses in frontier markets. Both platforms aim to support the PE and VC ecosystems through limited partner (LP) investments, value creation activities to strengthen general partner (GP) and SME and start-up capabilities, and private capital market development. Duties and Accountabilities• Implement the overall strategy for CPV’s funds platforms SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst, including making recommendations on strategy objectives and adjustments as necessary.• Lead business development, due diligence, negotiation, and transaction structuring of new business opportunities and liaising extensively with colleagues across the region and industry verticals.• Develop an understanding of the target countries for the platforms, provide market intelligence, and develop strong business networks.• Conduct market studies and develop a pipeline of potential fund investments for the platforms, perform research to determine the level of activity and attractiveness of fund opportunities, define future trends, identify best-in-class managers to fulfill the mandate, and review the forward calendar of fund managers actively fundraising.• Communicate IFC’s strategy for SME PE funds and early-stage VC funds and its rationale for engaging in specific transactions to both internal and external stakeholders.• Develop and make strategic SME PE fund and early-stage VC fund investments, based on rigorous due diligence of prospective funds.• Review existing fund investments and investee companies, represent IFC on funds’ advisory committees, and identify and propose courses of action for any fund-related issues that need to be addressed.• Manage the portfolio of global SME PE fund and early-stage VC fund investments, helping investees leverage the resources and expertise of IFC and the broader WBG.• Analyze macroeconomic data, corporate financial data and other industry information to identify and monitor issues that may affect IFC’s investments and recommend actions where necessary.• Support the identification of market creation and deepening initiatives to foster private capital markets and SME and early-stage VC fund investing in relevant frontier markets in alignment with country, sector, and IDA and FCS strategies.• Identify, establish, and maintain strong relationships with global stakeholders in the SME PE and early-stage VC funds space to build networks, identify new funds, mobilize capital, manage existing portfolio, and facilitate connections for commercial and strategic partnerships.• Represent IFC’s PE and VC teams in internal and external events, develop relevant corporate initiatives, partnerships and engagement on PE and VC-related business to enhance IFC’s strategic positioning in the PE and VC spaces across all geographies.• Coordinate and host the annual SME Ventures Forum and other relevant program events.• Collaborate with advisory colleagues with identifying and implementing relevant programming within the cross-cutting solutions team to support value creation, GP institutionalization, and LP engagement for the platforms’ funds.• Manage a team of investment professionals working on the platforms.
Selection Criteria
• At least 12-15 years of work experience, of which at least 6-8 years are in investment banking, private equity, and/or venture capital investing with emerging markets transaction experience across multiple geographies required;• MBA or equivalent degree required, from a leading international institution preferred;• In-depth knowledge of the PE and VC markets in multiple emerging and frontier markets;• Demonstrated experience in working with PE and VC fund managers, developing a pipeline of potential fund opportunities, and evaluating fund strategies;• Transaction experience in and analytical knowledge of LP investing;• Strong existing and relevant network amongst PE and VC funds, research institutions, private companies, and financial and strategic investors who are active in multiple emerging market PE and VC ecosystems;• Experience in funds portfolio management, including prior experience as an LP advisory committee member;• Ability to quickly understand the primary drivers of a variety of businesses, diagnose problems, and think through solutions in a PE and VC investing context;• Extensive experience and familiarity working with/in SMEs and early-stage start-ups in frontier markets to guide fund managers in how to drive operational improvements and value creation;• Willingness to focus on more difficult markets and experience with frontier markets and fragile and conflict-affected countries targeted by the platforms;• Experience organizing and hosting events, implementing advisory work, including managing budgets, developing and tracking metrics to assess effectiveness, and overseeing reporting and audit requirements;• High professional integrity and sound business judgment in identifying potential fund investments and fund manager partners;• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English (additional languages a plus), including soft skills needed to influence and garner trust from CEOs and GPs globally and credibly represent IFC with clients and senior-level stakeholders;• A strategic thinker with an ability to see the “big picture” of country, regional, and global private sector development challenges and proactively identify transformative opportunities;• Strong organizational skills with an ability to work under time pressure, deal with conflicting priorities, and respond to ad-hoc shifts in client priorities and unstructured situations;• Ability to work successfully in a matrix organizational structure and lead and motivate a multicultural team across geographies;• Strong analytical, financial, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills and sound business judgment to identify issues and present creative and practical solutions;• Strong client service orientation with an openness to feedback and new ideas;• Genuine interest in and commitment to the WBG and IFC’s mission, strategy, and values;• Ability and willingness to travel extensively and work across time zones.
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.
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