Senior Country Officer – Business Development, BBN

Senior Country Officer – Business Development, BBN Job #: req32953 Organization: IFC Sector: Operations Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Kathmandu,Nepal Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 5/13/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

 Description

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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. 
The IFC’s South Asia Department is looking to recruit a regional Senior Country Officer for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal (BBN), with duty station in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Senior Country Officer will co-lead business development primarily for investment, and for upstream, and advisory services along with industries and other responsible teams. S/he will build and maintain strong relationships with counterparts across the World Bank Group, the private sector and high-level representatives of governments in BBN, as well as with development partners and non-governmental organizations to maximize the impact of IFC's operations.
Roles and Responsibilities
•   Co-lead business development and IFC operations in BBN under the direction of the Country Manager based in Dhaka/Bangladesh, in close collaboration with Regional Industry Departments and colleagues across the World Bank Group. •   Co-lead development and ensure implementation of IFC’s strategy for BBN and represent IFC on all joint WBG products and initiatives (e.g., CPF, CPSD, CCDR, CEM etc.). •   Co-lead CMU's (Country Management Unit) participation in and contributions to macro, fiscal and industry-level applied economic analysis and program/policy design (including WB Global Practice, IFC Country Economics and CAE). •   Develop new investment and upstream/advisory leads and opportunities, in close collaboration with Regional Industry Departments and in-line with IFC’s country strategy and Country Partnership Framework.•   Advise the Country Manager and Regional Director on senior-level business development activities – including independent outreach to C-suite level counterparts in the relevant private sector industries, as well as supporting the  Country Manager in key engagements and meetings. •   Advise the industry teams and managers on business development leads in sectors that are aligned with the CPSD and IFC Country Strategies. •   Coordinate integrated delivery of investment and advisory/upstream services to create new market opportunities, grow IFC’s investment program and increase impact.•   Establish and maintain strong working level relationships across IFC, other WBG organizations, government agencies, development partners and others to support IFC operations in country to maximize outreach and impact. •   Support coordination and collaboration with development partners in BBN —bilateral agencies, regional and other multilateral agencies—to strengthen country-led development processes.•   Support and implement IFC’s communications strategy with support from the regional communications team. Spearhead and provide input on thought leadership and corporate branding. Strategically engage with and manage senior-level relationships with the private sector clients, government and other key stakeholders.•   Build and deepen the process of consultation with the private sector, private sector associations, media, state and local government, academia, NGOs, and other civil society groups.•   Oversee or supervise assigned staff and consultants, helping to develop staff and members of the broader team through mentoring, coaching, and providing on-the-job learning opportunities.•   Ensure quality control of work products, and efficient and effective use of resources.

Selection Criteria

•   Master's degree from a reputable institution in a related field and at least 8–12 years of relevant experience. Related fields of education include economics, business, or finance. Relevant experience could include a proven track record in business or economic consulting, development finance, investment banking, or operational experience in the sector or technical or professional field.•   In-depth understanding of how IFC works, and its strategies and priorities.•   Ability and willingness to engage in business development activities and strategic dialogue with C-suite private sector leaders in BBN. •   Ability to initiate meaningful and impactful collaborative efforts with WBG organizations to leverage its products and instruments.•   Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration on high value projects and recognize potential COIs based on a good understanding of WBG, IFC (investment and advisory), and WBG products and project requirements.•   Ability to initiate and guide collaborative efforts with WBG organizations to leverage its products and instruments.•   Capacity to understand, enable, and participate in market creation opportunities and interventions to strengthen investment climate by demonstrating long-term perspective, open-mindedness, persistence, and good understanding of IFC/WBG roles and value-add in new markets.•   Ability to participate and constructively contribute into meetings with government officials on constraints to private sector investment. •   Capacity to identify and promote specific interventions to remove or mitigate market creation barriers in sectors and geographies using approaches that go beyond IFC, business line, or industry to enable private sector investment.•   Ability to understand what it would take to create a conducive business climate and incentives for private sector investment in the relevant countries. •   In-depth analytical, financial, credit, integrity assessment, and business skills to identify bankable projects with sustainable development impact as well as potential weaknesses in country portfolio. •   Sufficient analytical, financial, credit, integrity assessment, and business skills as well as strategic perspective to intuitively recognize project viability and attractiveness early on. •   Industry/Sector Knowledge: Broad knowledge of sectors and industries within country or group of countries, including their viability for ms arket growth, and market challenges as well as implications of environmental and social sustainability issues, and how sector dynamics may evolve within a country or group of countries.•   Should have a proven track record of publications on industry and sectoral studies, business intelligence and the economy. •   Ability to tap into and leverage resources with expertise in sectors and industries, including risks, market dynamics, and regulatory structures. Able to read and anticipate shifts in market trends and the implications for IFC’s current and future business.•   Country Knowledge: Demonstrated extensive knowledge of country including its politics, social dynamics, culture, economics, local markets, and regulatory framework.•   Developing and Selling Solutions: Demonstrated success as a key influencer in bringing integrated solutions to concept review stage where there are significant challenges and competing interests.•   Ability to develop a coherent and compelling storyline or rationale as to why specific deals are proposed and how they fit into IFC’s long-term strategies.•   Negotiation Skills: Capacity to lead negotiations that find common interests upon which to build and result in viable agreements among clients and different stakeholders. 

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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