Senior Investment Officer - MAS Europe, Upstream & Advisory

Senior Investment Officer - MAS Europe, Upstream & Advisory

Description

With the private sector accounting for approximately 90% of jobs in developing countries, IFC’s work is central to the World Bank Group’s jobs agenda. Through Upstream and Advisory IFC leverages WBG expertise, tools and solutions to address market barriers, support reforms, and develop impactful and investable opportunities in order to mobilize private capital and create jobs across sectors with significant growth and employment potential, such as foundational infrastructure, manufacturing, agribusiness, healthcare and tourism.

MAS EUR Upstream & Advisory is seeking a Senior Investment Officer (SIO), who will also serve as IFC’s Hub Lead for Poland, to drive strategic origination and impactful Upstream & Advisory engagements across the MAS sectors in the Europe region. The Senior Investment Officer will lead proactive business development, support design and delivery One WBG initiatives that contextualize scalable WBG solutions to deliver on Country Partnership Framework objectives and convert early-stage engagements into a strong pipeline of bankable investments.

Based in Warsaw, the Senior Investment Officer will serve as IFC’s Hub Lead for Poland — representing IFC in the local market, coordinating and championing MAS business development and Upstream activities in Poland, and building a strong pipeline of bankable investments in support of the Country Partnership Framework, while contributing to and helping shape the broader Europe regional Upstream and business development program. The role will also support IFC’s engagement in Ukraine, including private-sector origination and Upstream work that helps mobilize capital for the country’s recovery and reconstruction, and will explore the role Poland can play as a platform for reconstruction-linked investment, supply chains, and regional integration.

Duties and Accountabilities:

• Serve as IFC’s Hub Lead for Poland: setting MAS strategic priorities in the country, shaping the WBG country strategy and business plan to drive growth in MAS sectors, representing MAS in the local market, contributing to joint WBG engagements, serving as the primary point of contact for clients, partners and WBG counterparts, and leading and mentoring the local team.
• Deliver at least five (5) bankable mandates annually for high-impact investments with >5x private capital mobilization potential, contributing to the achievement of the WBG Scorecard outcome indicators in MAS sectors in Poland and CEE.
• Build and manage senior-level relationships with clients, private sector partners, financial institutions, multilaterals, and governments to originate and advance investment opportunities.
• Lead MAS business development in Poland, building a strong, high-quality pipeline of bankable investments aligned with the Country Partnership Framework, while supporting and contributing to the broader Europe regional program.
• Support IFC’s engagement across CEE, including investment, Upstream, and Advisory activities that mobilize private capital and support regional growth, recovery and reconstruction.
• Identify and develop opportunities for Poland to play a role in Ukraine’s reconstruction — including cross-border investment, supply chains, and platforms that connect Polish and regional private-sector capacity to reconstruction needs.
• Design and deliver Upstream engagements focused on originating bankable investment opportunities that convert WBG-supported reforms into private sector investments and structuring innovative financing solutions to crowd in private capital.
• Design and lead the delivery Advisory engagements that strengthen private sector competitiveness, build market opportunities, and support the implementation of WBG priorities through scalable, private sector-led solutions.
• Leverage market intelligence and sector insights to shape strategic priorities, identify emerging investment opportunities, and enhance the origination and structuring of high-impact transactions.
• Collaborate across teams and regions to develop sector/country strategies, deliver integrated solutions, and maximize development impact of IFC investments in emerging Europe.
• Mentor, coach, and develop junior team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability and excellence.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree (or equivalent professional qualification) in business, finance, economics, engineering, or a relevant field.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience across investment banking, private equity, corporate finance, and/or project finance in emerging markets, with a proven track record of originating, structuring, negotiating and closing transactions.
• Proven track record of operating with significant autonomy and accountability, originating and executing high-impact investment opportunities through proactive business development, innovative thinking, and market creation. Demonstrated success in converting strategic concepts into transactions and delivering sustained business growth.
• Strong understanding of the MAS sectors and Country Partnership Frameworks in Europe and the ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization via the cascade approach.
• Familiarity with Poland and/or broader Central and Eastern Europe and Ukraine markets, with an established network of senior relationships — or a demonstrated ability to build one quickly — across the private sector, financial institutions, and governments.
• Understanding of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction agenda, and of the private sector’s potential role in it, is an advantage.
• Strong financial, credit, structuring and commercial judgment, with the ability to develop innovative financial solutions for complex transactions to mobilize private capital.
• Proven ability to negotiate and build trusted senior-level relationships across different cultures, markets, and stakeholder groups, including private sector clients, governments, and internal teams, supported by strong judgment in identifying opportunities and partners.
• Demonstrated success in leading and developing teams, business units or country platforms, with a proven track record of representing an institution in-market, serving as a hub or country lead.
• Ability to use commercially available LLMtools like Claude, ChatGPT and Copilot for research, analysis, and drafting in investment, validate outputs against primary sources, and remain accountable for recommendations.
• Excellent people skills, mentoring ability, openness to feedback, and the ability to guide and motivate others; outstanding analytical and critical-thinking skills; and high standards of integrity, decisiveness, and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Proficiency in Polish or Ukrainian is an advantage; an additional regional European language is a plus.

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.