Duties and Accountabilities

This is a dynamic role that requires a high level of interest in PE and VC investments, international business, emerging markets, and development impact. Responsibilities of the Senior Investment Officer are divided among new business, portfolio management, program management, and corporate strategy. These include:

• Implement the overall strategy for CPV’s funds platforms SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst, including making recommendations on strategy objectives and adjustments as necessary.
• Lead business development, due diligence, negotiation, and transaction structuring of new business opportunities and liaising extensively with colleagues across the region and industry verticals.
• Develop an understanding of the target countries for the platforms, provide market intelligence, and develop strong business networks.
• Conduct market studies and develop a pipeline of potential fund investments for the platforms, perform research to determine the level of activity and attractiveness of fund opportunities, define future trends, identify best-in-class managers to fulfill the mandate, and review the forward calendar of fund managers actively fundraising.
• Communicate IFC’s strategy for SME PE funds and early-stage VC funds and its rationale for engaging in specific transactions to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and make strategic SME PE fund and early-stage VC fund investments, based on rigorous due diligence of prospective funds.
• Review existing fund investments and investee companies, represent IFC on funds’ advisory committees, and identify and propose courses of action for any fund-related issues that need to be addressed.
• Manage the portfolio of global SME PE fund and early-stage VC fund investments, helping investees leverage the resources and expertise of IFC and the broader WBG.
• Analyze macroeconomic data, corporate financial data and other industry information to identify and monitor issues that may affect IFC’s investments and recommend actions where necessary.
• Support the identification of market creation and deepening initiatives to foster private capital markets and SME and early-stage VC fund investing in relevant frontier markets in alignment with country, sector, and IDA and FCS strategies.
• Identify, establish, and maintain strong relationships with global stakeholders in the SME PE and early-stage VC funds space to build networks, identify new funds, mobilize capital, manage existing portfolio, and facilitate connections for commercial and strategic partnerships.
• Represent IFC’s PE and VC teams in internal and external events, develop relevant corporate initiatives, partnerships and engagement on PE and VC-related business to enhance IFC’s strategic positioning in the PE and VC spaces across all geographies.
• Coordinate and host the annual SME Ventures Forum and other relevant program events.
• Collaborate with advisory colleagues with identifying and implementing relevant programming within the cross-cutting solutions team to support value creation, GP institutionalization, and LP engagement for the platforms’ funds.
• Manage a team of investment professionals working on the platforms.

Selection Criteria

• At least 12-15 years of work experience, of which at least 6-8 years are in investment banking, private equity, and/or venture capital investing with emerging markets transaction experience across multiple geographies required;
• MBA or equivalent degree required, from a leading international institution preferred;
• In-depth knowledge of the PE and VC markets in multiple emerging and frontier markets;
• Demonstrated experience in working with PE and VC fund managers, developing a pipeline of potential fund opportunities, and evaluating fund strategies;
• Transaction experience in and analytical knowledge of LP investing;
• Strong existing and relevant network amongst PE and VC funds, research institutions, private companies, and financial and strategic investors who are active in multiple emerging market PE and VC ecosystems;
• Experience in funds portfolio management, including prior experience as an LP advisory committee member;
• Ability to quickly understand the primary drivers of a variety of businesses, diagnose problems, and think through solutions in a PE and VC investing context;
• Extensive experience and familiarity working with/in SMEs and early-stage start-ups in frontier markets to guide fund managers in how to drive operational improvements and value creation;
• Willingness to focus on more difficult markets and experience with frontier markets and fragile and conflict-affected countries targeted by the platforms;
• Experience organizing and hosting events, implementing advisory work, including managing budgets, developing and tracking metrics to assess effectiveness, and overseeing reporting and audit requirements;
• High professional integrity and sound business judgment in identifying potential fund investments and fund manager partners;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English (additional languages a plus), including soft skills needed to influence and garner trust from CEOs and GPs globally and credibly represent IFC with clients and senior-level stakeholders;
• A strategic thinker with an ability to see the “big picture” of country, regional, and global private sector development challenges and proactively identify transformative opportunities;
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to work under time pressure, deal with conflicting priorities, and respond to ad-hoc shifts in client priorities and unstructured situations;
• Ability to work successfully in a matrix organizational structure and lead and motivate a multicultural team across geographies;
• Strong analytical, financial, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills and sound business judgment to identify issues and present creative and practical solutions;
• Strong client service orientation with an openness to feedback and new ideas;
• Genuine interest in and commitment to the WBG and IFC’s mission, strategy, and values;
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively and work across time zones.