Principal Investment Officer

Principal Investment Officer Job #: req33634 Organization: IFC Sector: Investment Grade: GH Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Singapore,Singapore; Mumbai,India; New Delhi,India Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 7/21/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group (WBG) — 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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. 
The Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services (MAS) Industry Group plays an important role in supporting IFC’s strategic priorities, covering investments in the Global Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services sectors. MAS’ sectors play a critical role in providing goods and services to consumers, addressing core needs, creating jobs, contributing to government revenues and stimulating growth. In IFC’s client countries, these sectors can account for as much as 80% of overall economic activity and can account for up to 90% of employment activity, particularly in the poorest countries. IFC’s 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activities across emerging markets, especially in Lower Income States (LICs), and fragile and conflict affected States (FCS). This strategy aims to create new investment opportunities for private investments in riskier markets and sectors by proactively working “upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop potential investment projects. Achieving these growth and impact ambitions at scale requires an approach to business development, deal sourcing, and client support that relies on (i) a broader product offering to engage earlier in project cycle and secure opportunities, (ii)  a greater focus on preparing clients  in nascent markets and sector development, (iii) a greater focus on value addition and risk management of portfolio investment clients to enhance their performance, and (iv) a longer time horizon and a more patient, longer term perspective.
MAS Upstream and Advisory, Asia and Pacific, team is looking for two Principal Investment Officers to lead MAS efforts to enable investment opportunities, enhance investment outcomes, and improve investment conditions in (i) Manufacturing sectors (both industrials and light manufacturing), and (ii) Services sectors (both Tourism, Retail and Properties, and Health and Education), including successfully designing, managing and reporting on projects and programs that deliver strong investment potential and development impact. The mix of these varied activities should be calibrated to meet the development needs of Asia Pacific emerging and developing markets and contribute to IFC growth and impact objectives.
The Manufacturing and Services Sector Leads will be based in India or Singapore and are expected to frequently visit other offices where the team and clients are based. The positions will report to the MAS Upstream Advisory Manager for Asia Pacific currently based in Singapore. The Sector Leads will work in partnership with the relevant regional Investment teams, Country Anchors, Climate Anchor, Gender Anchor and Global MAS team on the key priorities and resource allocation to achieve IFC’s sector strategic and business objectives.
Roles and Responsibilities
Strategy, Knowledge and Thought Leadership•   Remain up to date on global and regional sector market trends, technologies and business models that can increase development impact and present opportunities for high-value proprietary engagements.•   Formulate the sector strategy across the region in coordination with the regional investment teams, global sector teams and regional anchors drawing on and contributing to strategy and diagnostic products (e.g. Country Private Sector Diagnostics, Sector Deep Dives, Country Climate Diagnostic Reports, Country Strategies) as relevant.•   Lead the Sector strategic priorities through the design and implementation of upstream and advisory programs, as well as through engagement with the WB, to achieve KPIs / targets.•   Position IFC as a thought leader in agreed topics via preparation and external dissemination of written documents, participation as moderator and panelist in external fora, hosting webinar or similar event or publication of editorial or similar items referencing IFC’s position. •   Disseminate and absorb knowledge and experience across the regional industry department and global teams to support adoption of new approaches and best practices that have been developed in the relevant sector. 
Origination and Business development •   Leverage sector trends to identify thematic opportunities and lead the team in developing a pipeline of projects and engagements aligned with IFC’s investment / capital mobilization criteria•   Support the team in developing strong relationships with key counterparts in the private and public sector as well as development partners and manage key strategic client relationships.
People and Resource Responsibility •   Oversee or supervise assigned staff and consultants, including staffing, approving travel requests, expense reports and consultant procurement.•   Guide junior staff in IFC career management with the goal of making colleagues bring their best delivery and make the most professional development while at IFC.•   Support dissemination of best practices within the team.•   Be part of, and actively contribute to MAS Upstream Advisory leadership team. •   Serve as a member of individual and firm procurement teams.•   Contribute to regular country driven budgeting (CDB) process.•   Ensure management of project activities and resources according to the current Upstream Advisory ADM.•   Support the integration and cross-support between Upstream Advisory and Investment teams and support the unit Manager.
Business Responsibility•   Lead and support MAS Upstream Advisory activities in the relevant sector, towards department KPIs, including overseeing of pipeline projects and initiatives, mobilizing resources within the team, prioritization, business development and project management.•   Enable investment opportunities by 1) incubating sector related initiatives that require project development to reach the point of investment and 2) guiding potential clients to readiness for IFC investment through client preparation and development. Support business development efforts, in close coordination with investment, regional/country, and global Industry teams to foster cross-departmental collaboration (incl. FIG and INR) and ensure the efficient deployment of products and solutions to meet client-specific requirements.•   Enhance investment outcomes by 1) increasing the development impact of IFC investments, 2) increasing the additionality of IFC’s engagement and 3) improving the performance of IFC investment portfolio clients.•   Improve investment conditions by 1) collaborating with other teams across IFC and the WBG and 2) Leading and/or collaborating with other teams across IFC and the WBG to unlock or create new markets.•   Ensure high quality deliverables of the sector’s operations through a focus on sound project design and implementation (development results, project supervision and closing reports, and lessons learned) throughout an individual project cycle and across the unit’s portfolio of operations, with a focus on achieving positive Development Effectiveness (DE) rating in Project Completion Reports (PCRs).
Stakeholder – One World bank Group•   Proactively collaborate and engage with the Partnerships department to proactively contribute to donor engagement strategy, relationship management, reporting and project/program’s funding.•   Engage and collaborate across the WBG to identify and implement achievable sector and regulatory reforms to unlock private investment opportunities, including leveraging the World Bank’s lending program.•   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 deliver on sectoral operations.•   Selectively lead relationships for key clients or prospects in the sector, define engagement strategies and monitor activities in coordination with the rest of the team.

Selection Criteria

•   Possession of an MBA or a Master's degree in a related field, excellent \"deal sense\" and strong knowledge of IFC bankability criteria, supported by minimum of 12–14 years of pertinent experience in finance or project structuring, showcasing a proven history of sourcing, structuring, and closing investments or Collaboration and Co-Development.•   Demonstrated understanding of the relevant sector and associated industries, with the ability to integrate policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization and evaluate sector-specific risks and challenges, including established relationships and credibility.•   Strong commitment to the mission, strategy, and values of the World Bank Group and IFC.•   Comprehensive understanding of IFC’s strategic priorities and evolving business model, particularly in the context of IFC 3.0 and the recently announced 2030 Strategy.•   Good knowledge of Upstream Advisory procedures and/or Investment procedures (instruments, legal agreements and project cycle).•   Proven leadership experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams, recognized as a go-to person, with the ability to nurture and develop talent.•   Demonstrated ability to innovate and challenge the status quo, developing business opportunities through strategic thinking and project/program ideation that lead to investment opportunities.•   Proven capacity for collaboration across organizational boundaries to influence behavior and secure buy-in.•   Receptiveness to feedback, openness to new ideas, and the ability to mentor staff, foster collaboration and achieve results.•   Track record of delivering results within tight timelines, including leading teams to meet deadlines and budget constraints.•   Business development and client relationship skills, with a proven track record and the ability to effectively address client needs, with capability to interact directly and independently with senior management of clients and prospects.•   Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.