Senior Country Officer

Senior Country Officer
Job #: req27088 Organization: IFC Sector: Operations Grade: GG Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Sydney,Australia; Suva,Fiji Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 4/29/2024 (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 2023, IFC committed a record US$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 is recruiting a Regional Head of the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. This position will be based in either Suva, Fiji or Sydney, Australia. Preferred location is Suva, Fiji.

The Regional Head of the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand ("Regional Head") will play a critical role in operationalizing IFC 3.0/Creating Markets strategy and enabling the Cascade in this challenging sub-region. He/she will be responsible, in close collaboration with the WBG counterparts, for developing operational country strategies and action plans and for driving their implementation. The Regional Head will oversee a growing pipeline of investments and a large Advisory Services program. The prospects for scaling up growth in investment are very good, and require close, active collaboration with IFC Regional Industry, Upstream and Advisory units. The mandate of the Regional Head will be to significantly build the portfolio, develop new opportunities for IFC in the sub-region and enhance our impact, ensuring that IFC is positioned and has the relationships to maximize the impact of its activities across the Pacific Islands client countries (i.e., Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu), and reinforce our strong relations with government, donor and private sector counterparts in Australia and New Zealand.

Fiji and PNG are part of the WBG program for joint representation where the Country Managers for those countries represent all WBG institutions. As the most senior person in the sub-region, the Regional Head is expected to work closely with the WBG Country Managers for Fiji and PNG to support the delivery of the IFC program for those countries. Otherwise, the Regional Head will be responsible for IFC's activities in the Pacific Islands. He/She will oversee a multidisciplinary IFC team of investment, advisory services, and support staff and consultants located in 5 country offices in Australia, Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This will require close interactions with corporate clients, governments, counterparts at the World Bank and other multilateral/bilateral institutions, as well as internal coordination within IFC with Industry Department Directors and Managers, Advisory Services Managers, and constituent Executive Directors. The Regional Head will report to the Regional Country Manager.

Duties and Accountabilities

• In consultation with the Regional Manager, East Asia and the Pacific, develop, design, and implement the country strategy and business plan for integrated investment and advisory operations, including sector priorities and business targets.

• Support the implementation of the Upstream strategy.

• Lead the positioning of IFC in Pacific client countries (except in Fiji and PNG where there are WBG Country Managers) and strengthen relations with the governments of Australia and New Zealand.

• Oversee all IFC's investment and advisory activities in the Pacific sub-region.

• Lead the coordination with World Bank Group institutions in Pacific client countries (except in Fiji and PNG) and oversee with the regional industry managers (and other colleagues in IDA and MIGA) the design and implementation of the Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and other forms of proactive collaboration to enable the Cascade at the country level.

• Fully contribute and drive on behalf of IFC the development of Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCDs), Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs), Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs) and Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs), in collaboration with WBG Country Managers, where applicable.

• Manage and develop relationships with key clients (governments and private companies) at the highest level of seniority and position IFC as the partner of choice to support high development impact projects the Pacific Islands (except in Fiji and PNG). Strengthen relationships with key stakeholders (including relevant regulators, businesses, NGOs, PE Funds, and investors.

• Identify and implement measures to improve country results in terms of efficiency, productivity, profitability, and impact and increase its contribution to the corporate scorecard.

• Lead, manage, develop, and mentor an integrated and diverse team consisting of regional and industry staff, ensuring that the team is high-performing, well-motivated, innovative, well-trained; has clear deliverables; and is committed to the success of IFC in the Pacific sub-region.

• Identify areas where IFC can catalyze market development through innovation based on a thorough understanding of local markets and best practices from IFC's global experience.

• Lead/coordinate the development of a client engagement strategy for existing and new clients.

• Take accountability for early review and clearance of sponsors. For all investments and AS client's programs, review and validate IFC's added-value, development impact and fit with IFC strategy in the cluster's countries.

• Manage investment teams and provide guidance for complex investment structuring and portfolio management cases; make early review and Investment review stage decisions, serve as transaction manager, and chair decision meetings as appropriate.

• Develop IFC's "brand", building on IFC's regional brand and the overall communications strategy; engage with local media.

• Represent and provide visibility for IFC in the target markets including through organizing/participating in high profile events (Senior level visits, interviews, seminars, and conferences).

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Industry Departments to originate, process and manage a pipeline of investments, and support proactive and strategic portfolio management, to meet IFC's objectives.

• Develop market knowledge to ensure that IFC is working with the right sponsors. Take accountability for client selection, ensure the integrity of potential clients, and develop and maintain relationships with these companies to identify business opportunities considering IFC's strategy, priorities, and products.

• Share accountability (with Industry Portfolio Managers) for the quality and performance of the Country Portfolio; work jointly with relevant managers to meet Scorecard targets in the Pacific sub-region (Client Satisfaction, Productivity, Development Impact and People metrics).

• Provide administrative and HR management oversight.

• Act as the Head of Security for the sub-region responsible for WBG's duty of care obligations to staff.

• Represent IFC on the crisis management team supported by the business continuity management program offices.

• Where applicable, Appoint emergency wardens, security focal points and road safety focal points.

• Coordinate security decisions with other affected Heads of Office across the WBG.

Selection Criteria

• MBA or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 12 to 15 years of professional experience in strategy, finance, or advisory, e.g., commercial or investment banking, project finance, private equity, and management consulting.

• As an ambassador representing IFC in the country, Regional Head must be a role model for ethical behavior values of IFC.

• Strong client relationship management skills, with an existing network of relevant top-level contacts in the country's private and public sector and/or demonstrated ability to build such high-level client network.

• Outstanding and proven track record of performance in investment and advisory activities.

• Strong leadership capabilities and experience managing people, especially leading diverse and high performing teams.

• Significant experience with proven success in developing client relationships.

• Ability to represent IFC externally with government, media, clients, donors, and other stakeholders.

• Ability to think strategically and adjust the country strategies as needed so that they remain responsive to the needs of client countries, and in coordination with development partners.

• Experience in transaction processing and portfolio supervision a strong plus.

• Work experience in IDA/FCS markets transferable to the Pacific context.

• Ability to build successful relationships across the matrix.

• Strong written and oral communications skills.

• Recognized as a leader.

• Ability to develop innovative solutions and challenge the status quo to build IFC's business and image in the market.

• Meet Bank Group-wide managerial selection criteria including courage of your convictions, leading the team for impact, influencing across boundaries, fostering openness to new ideas, building talent for the future.

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.

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