Senior Investment Officer - Chemicals and Fertilizer Sector Lead

Senior Investment Officer - Chemicals and Fertilizer Sector Lead

Description

At the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

The Knowledge Bank is the WBG’s platform for generating, curating, and applying global knowledge to support development impact at scale. It connects operational experience, analytical work, data, and global expertise to inform policy dialogue, country programs, and investments across the World Bank Group.

The WBG’s Prosperity Vice Presidency, which includes the Bank’s Manufacturing and Manufacturing Services expertise, works to connect our operational teams with clients by providing public and private sector solutions to expand Manufacturing opportunities in emerging markets. 

Within this structure, the Manufacturing and Services Solutions and Impact Department (WKPTM) focuses on supporting investments in Manufacturing value chains including but not limited to those in Construction Materials (steel, cement, glass, etc.), Chemicals, Fertilizers, Automotive, Electronics, Batteries, Machinery, Textiles and Apparel, Packaging and other sectors involved in industrial production, value enhancement, and processing.

The WKPTM department is seeking an experienced and respected Senior Investment Officer to fill the role of a Global Sector Lead (GSL) based in Washington, D.C. This GSL will work alongside other WBG staff, Global Sector Leads, Industry Specialists, Investment, Advisory and Upstream staff to help deliver on WBG ambitious program and development objectives in emerging markets in the manufacturing sector.  

This GSL position will share responsibility for the Chemicals and Fertilizer (C&F) sectors to promote the WBG’s (i) business development efforts, (ii) new project and investment generation, (iii) market creation and (iv) thematic approaches therein.

Duties & Accountabilities

The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to the following:

Business Responsibilities
•   Responsible for building and representing the WBG approach, role and support of the C&F sectors in emerging markets with public and private companies, stakeholders, industry conferences, regional presentations, etc.;
•   Contribute to the formulation, development, dissemination, and promotion of the WBG’s broader Manufacturing Strategy in coordination with the Global Sector Manager, to identify, assess, and prioritize new opportunities in the C&F sectors;
•   Identify and proactively support business and project origination in close coordination with regional industry teams based on country and sector strategies and market creation potential (client coverage, presentation, site visits, as appropriate, etc.);
•   Develop client management plans, lead identification of strategic clients globally, take on relationship management for a few strategic clients, proactively support regional industry teams on strategic client work; 
•   Ensure proper input to C&F investment projects at all stages incorporating up-to-date C&F sector trends, portfolio performance and lessons learned, and provide support for sector related issues during project structuring, produce relevant materials for decision making, and to the extent needed, develop, in consultation with Credit, key deal acceptance criteria;
•   Support Investment Officers in structuring, processing, documenting, and managing Upstream engagements. Coordinate and harmonize conditions across C&F projects globally and advise Investment and Operation Officers and regional management on early-stage project development in their region;
•   Prepare and lead regular C&F sector reviews and share findings with relevant decision makers within and outside the department. Work with WBG senior management to ensure consistent sector input and solid feedback for lessons learned and replicable approaches;  
•   Spot game-changing trends, technologies and business models that can bring solutions to emerging markets;
•   Identify operating models to help generate ideas for new projects, new products, and platform businesses;
•   As applicable, work with other World Bank Group colleagues to identify and help implement sector and regulatory reforms that are needed to unlock opportunities for public and private investment;
•   Collaborate with stakeholders and form partnerships with WBG staff across organization and external parties to enable project delivery;
•   Anticipate interests of Board members and senior management to determine how best to stay informed and ready to respond to requests and questions from stakeholders, including country/region’s Manufacturing business programs (commitment, portfolio, and pipeline), as well as barriers to growth; and
•   Conduct in-depth systematic diagnostics / analytics on value chains that improve complexity and sustainability for WBG work with potential and existing clients

Thought Leadership and Knowledge Management
•   Facilitate knowledge flow across the WBG and promote adoption of new approaches and best practices for Manufacturing and C&F, including activities covering mainstream investment, upstream and advisory services;
•   Support development of guidance notes and conceptual framework for the WBG approach to new sectors such as sustainable manufacturing in green fertilizers, biofuels, battery supply chains, polysilicon and other advanced materials, energy transition, global supply chains and others to define strategic objectives; and
•   Oversee fact-based analysis to spot Manufacturing industry shifts and to promote the WBG’s competitive advantage. Lead WBG Manufacturing Speaker series in relevant areas such as advance manufacturing, circularity, sustainability, Industry 4.0, etc. 

People and Resource Responsibility
•   Support management in staff recruitment, mentoring and skills development as needed;
•   Oversee and supervise junior and entry level investment analysts; and
•   Support in managing and ensuring productive use of admin, upstream and advisory budgets.

Selection Criteria

•   Master’s degree in business, Finance, Economics, International, Engineering, or another relevant field;
•   Minimum 8 years of relevant experience (10+ years strongly preferred) with a development finance institution (DFI), a commercial bank, investment bank or a private equity firm with tasks related to private sector financing;
•   Strong understanding of the chemicals and fertilizer sectors and ability to link advisory, upstream and investment to deliver solutions;
•   Strong analytical skills, sound business judgment and demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information, identify issues and present concrete and strategic recommendations;
•   Genuine commitment to development and to the WBG’s mission, strategy, and values;
•   Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo and a proven track record in new idea generation, and business development;
•   Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others;
•   Sensitivity for working in multicultural environment, commitment to diversity, and ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues / clients / partners across regions; and
•   Strong presentation, written and verbal communications skills in English.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

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.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.