Description
IFCโa member of the World Bank Groupโis 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 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 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 global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
IFC has embarked on an ambitious strategy to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected Situations (FCS). This strategy aims at creating our own opportunities for private investments in riskier markets by proactively working in these countries to create, deepen, and expand the markets themselves. The Creating Markets strategy requires taking a systematic approach that draws on Country Strategies together with diagnostic tools, including Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs) and Sector Deep Dives. This strategy also calls for a closer WBG collaboration to identify and prioritize operations at the country and sector level based on the new WBG approach to Maximize Finance for Development by prioritizing Private Sector financing and solutions (the โCascadeโ).ย
The Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (MAS) department manages a large part of IFCโs overall business in terms of investment volume and capital at risk. MAS engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness, health, education, property, retail and tourism, and other areas, with investment, advisory services and Upstream activities delivered to IFCโs clients through IFCโs global network. Within MAS, the Global Manufacturing unit works across the Chemicals, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, Glass, Automotive, Electronics, Textiles, and other Light Manufacturing value chains.
The Global Manufacturing team is seeking an experienced and respected Extended Consultant (ETC) to be based in Washington, D.C. who will act as a technical expert and advisor for sector projects, support business development and help curate the portfolio across the Metals value chains.ย This includes but is not limited to IFC investments in high volume metals products such as Steel and Aluminum as well as high value metals such as Nickel, Cobalt, Lithium, Platinum, Titanium, etc.
The ETC will work alongside other Industry Specialists, Global Sector Leads, Investment, Advisory and Upstream staff to help deliver on IFCโs ambitious program and development objectives in the manufacturing sector.
Technical Competenciesย ย Technical Expertise and Experienceโขย In-depth technical and/or business expertise in professional field or discipline based on operational experience in senior-level roles that were accountable for business success and outcomes.โขย Astute at judging projects in early stages where there might be technical and/or business, financial, or nonfinancial risks or barriers (e.g., ES&G) that could ultimately derail a project.โขย Understand the interface between technical and/ or business, financial, climate, and social and environmental aspects of projects and the standards that must be met for projects to be viable.โขย In-depth commercial understanding of profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow aspects of businesses within sector.โขย Ability to produce clear and comprehensive appraisal and supervision reports.
Market Knowledgeโขย In-depth understanding of and ability to stay abreast of changes in markets, economics, operations, sectors, and key players within the sector.โขย Ability to anticipate market trends that pose risks and opportunities for both new business opportunities and existing portfolio projects, including those in complex markets.
Consulting and Client Engagement Skillsโขย Good communications, diagnostic, project management, and client engagement skills to provide assistance to investment and advisory services clients within the sector in improving their operations, strategy, risk management, and processes.โขย Has a reputation for listening carefully to clients and stakeholders and asking targeted questions to understand their needs and determine the viability of a business opportunity.โขย Excellent business development, client, and project management skills and ability to identify fee generating client engagements, and/or those with potential for downstream IFC investments.โขย Ability to quickly assess client problems, challenges, and operational weaknesses, and apply an analytical mindset as well as good business judgment and technical expertise to envision viable solutions or areas of focus without in-depth information.โขย Ability to write comprehensive reports and publishable case studies and market thought leadership papers.
Stakeholder Engagementโขย Ability to build and leverage extensive internal and external networks with key players in sector, industry, technical and/or business specialization and key stakeholders across IFC/WBG to maintain expertise and stay informed, accomplish work, deliver on IFC commitments and priorities, exercise influence, and anticipate future business opportunities.
Role & Responsibilitiesย
The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to the following:ย
Organizational Role:โขย Provide sectorial business support and advice to teams and clients on complex sector transactions, sector portfolios, and advisory projects to ensure sound and impactful engagements, and to help address potential problems or risks.โขย Play a leading role in business development and market creation activities for sector.โขย Mentor and coach junior staff and share experiences.
Strategy, Business Development โ Upstream Workย โขย Contribute substantively to market creation activities by using sector business experience and expertise.โขย Participate in business development activities.โขย Contribute to WBG activities and internal knowledge building activities.โขย Help IFC grow its business in a sector by providing sector expertise in pitching opportunities to potential clients.โขย Contribute to developing sector- or country-specific strategies and market assessments and identifying potential for market development and new market creation activities for the sector.
Early Screening โ Due Diligence โ Portfolioย โขย Apply sector expertise, technical and/or business knowledge in evaluating sector projects (i.e. investments or advisory engagements), monitoring sector portfolios, and providing advice to teams as required but usually in moderately complex transactions (including some in challenging markets such as FCS).โขย Provide technical and/or sector business input at all stages of the investment cycle from business development to screening and processing to supervision with the aim of supporting sound, impactful and well performing investments, by identifying potential issues and weaknesses early on, and helping find timely solutions, including the design of advisory support.โขย Produce clear and comprehensive appraisal and supervision assessments.โขย Provide investment teams with technical and/or business and market parameters to be built into financial models and support investment officers and analysts in developing robust scenario-based models.โขย Evaluate proposed moderately complex projects.โขย Serve as a troubleshooter to resolve problems.
Portfolioย โขย Provide advice to investment and portfolio teams on the significance of changes in business operations of client company in assigned sector portfolio to determine how investment is likely to be impacted.โขย Design interventions and work closely with clients to address emerging business problems that jeopardize project success.
Knowledge Managementโขย Contribute to internal knowledge building activities and maintenance of a lessons learned database and relevant industry benchmarks.
Client Engagementโขย Directly or through consultants, design and oversee advisory services to clients, to ensure value-add is given to clients and their needs are met.โขย Contribute to Client Relationship Management.โขย Work proactively with investment teams to identify opportunities for advisory engagements that result in greater development impact and value for the client and for IFC.โขย Provide expert input to new IFC advisory offerings for clients as part of advisory and investment teams that lead to strategic investment opportunities for IFC.
Selection Criteria
โขย Engineer in a relevant field such as Metallurgical, Chemical, Industrial or Production engineering with a post graduate degree.โขย Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in manufacturing and business, with in-depth experience in the metals production and processing value chains.โขย Significant work experience in the private sector.โขย Experience of developing and/or evaluating business plans, project design, project execution, project management, plant operations, marketing and business development, etc.โขย Business management experience is preferred.ย โขย Up-to-date knowledge of metals production technologies, trends, challenges, scale, as well as conversion processes, potential applications and markets across the value chains.โขย Ability to travel to/work in emerging market countries for up to 35% of the time.โขย Genuine commitment to development and to the WBG and IFC's mission, strategy, and values.