(Senior) Investment Officer

Investment Officer Job #: req33381 Organization: IFC Sector: Investment Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Istanbul,Turkiye; Almaty, Kazakhstan Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Russian, Arabic or Turkish Closing Date: 6/26/2025 (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 in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed and mobilized a record $56.7 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 new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to business develop and stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating unique opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to understanding the regulatory and sector bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into productive investment in our member countries and addressing these bottlenecks through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level.
IFC’s Infrastructure Department is looking to hire an Investment Officer to join its investment team covering primarily the MCT Region (Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan). The selected candidate will help lead and develop the MCT INR initiative which consists in promoting networked  District Heating/District Cooling networks energy as a key solution for heating and cooling in the MCT region at scale, using ground source heat pumps (GSHP). The selected candidate will be based in Istanbul (Türkiye) or Almaty (Kazakhstan) and will be an integral part of the investment team working across the business cycle with a focus on the development of District Cooling/ District Heating Networks at utility scale, processing and managing throughout the life of the IFC’s investments.
Roles and Responsibilities: •   Help develop and implement, in consultation with the IFC’s regional and industry teams, an integrated investment and advisory/upstream program that will enhance IFC’s engagement on the priority sectors of infrastructure including the development of District Cooling/ District Heating Networks business within MCT region.•   Knowledge of buildings’ heating and cooling solutions including a proven track record of implementing scalable actual projects involving District Cooling/ District Heating network. •   Expertise in utility/ network businesses where in-house expertise exists and required business model fundamentals are there. This is the basis upon which to deploy networks of heating/cooling.•   Help develop a strong pipeline of investment and advisory opportunities.•   Help develop and execute effective implementation plans for increasing the share of MCT countries’ reliance on geothermal energy networks for their heating and cooling needs.•   Proactively engage with clients with a focus on demonstrating and delivering IFC’s value-add, optimizing risk-return profile and development impact of IFC’s investments as well as exploring future business possibilities.•   Help develop innovative and appropriate financial structures.•   Actively participate in negotiation/documentation teams; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in new business and portfolio transactions.•   Help perform credit risk rating assessments, covenant compliance reviews, and development impact assessment. •   Collect insights and lessons learned, connect trends from different areas of the business and portfolio, ensure portfolio experience and perspective is fed into strategy development and make recommendations on how these could improve business development and transaction structuring.•   Collaborate closely with IBRD colleagues and other IFIs working in relevant sectors and help develop and implement joint sector engagement.•   Provide strategic input into “upstream” initiatives that create, deepen, and expand markets, and require the design and implementation of investment projects.•   Coordinate closely with global colleagues, social, environmental, and technical assistance colleagues to add value to our clients' businesses, find pragmatic solutions to the specific sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact.•   Mentor and coach more junior team members and help provide leadership in actively managing the portfolio and client relationships.

Selection Criteria

•   Master's degree in Business, Finance, or Economics, along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering (preferably in energy).(preferably energy) and Masters in Business, Finance, or Economics.•   At least eight years of relevant experience in infrastructure, particularly utility-scale distribution networks for heating or cooling; water including financial solutions. Strong understanding of infrastructure sectors, such as power, utilities/networks, and natural resources.•   A proven track record of implementing scalable actual projects involving shallow geothermal energy networks.•   Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of potential clients, financial and technical partners as well as senior government officials. •   Genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC's mission, strategy and values.•   Capacity to innovate and challenge the status quo. •   Strong business development, asset management and client relationship skills demonstrated by track record and ability to focus on clients’ needs effectively.•   Sound business judgment in identifying potential business partners.•   Excellent people skills, openness to feedback, new ideas, and ability to guide, and motivate others. Strong inter-personal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds.•   Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required. Fluency in other languages such as Russian, Arabic or Turkish would be a plus.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful 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.