Investment Officer-Special Operations

Investment Officer-Special Operations

Job #:

req35046

Organization:

IFC

Sector:

Operations

Grade:

GG

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:

International Recruitment

Location:

Nairobi,Kenya

Required Language(s):

English

Preferred Language(s):

French

Closing Date:

12/5/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The International Finance Corporation (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 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit

The Department of Special Operations (CSO) is a group of highly experienced finance and restructuring specialists responsible for IFC's distressed investment portfolio. CSO is tasked with maximizing recoveries on IFC investments, protecting IFC's reputation and preserving the development impact of IFC's investments by designing and implementing restructuring and recovery solutions for distressed credits globally.

This is a fast-paced opportunity to work with a small, experienced team of investment professionals at the International Finance Corporation. The position is for professionals who wish to work and travel internationally, covering all the industries and developing markets where IFC invests. The successful candidates will be exposed to a broad overview of the sectors in which IFC invests and its product offerings. The position is based in Africa.

The location of the position will be Johannesburg or Nairobi subject to CSO management decision.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and implement restructuring and recovery efforts for IFC debt and equity investments that have shown signs of distress.

• Work closely with investment colleagues, industry specialists and legal counsels to develop and manage client relationships and to foster cross- departmental collaboration in order to tailor pragmatic solutions that would maximize returns for IFC and meet project and client-specific requirements.

• Develop innovative and appropriate financial structures for complex restructuring transactions, incorporating lessons of prior portfolio management experience.

• In addition, the candidates will be expected to develop an understanding of the dynamics of the regional portfolios in several sectors and to actively engage with the respective portfolio officers to explore areas of potential CSO value addition.

• Collect insights and lessons learned from CSO's portfolio experiences, connect trends from different areas of the business and portfolio, regularly present these in collaboration with CSO and investment colleagues to relevant audiences to ensure portfolio experience and perspective is fed into how these could improve and transaction structuring.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with peer investment colleagues, credit, legal and country teams in the region.

• Keep abreast of macro-economic developments that can impact IFC's activities in Africa region and provide regular inputs to regional and industry teams. Gather market intelligence, analyze strategically important portfolio trends, and identify emerging risks.

• Mentor and coach more junior team members and help provide leadership in actively managing the portfolio and client relationships.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate would be expected to have the following general attributes:

• Academic background in finance, with MBA or equivalent; engineering; or international studies.

• At least 10-12 years total work experience in corporate finance, banking or financial advisory.

• At least 8 years of relevant experience structuring/restructuring and executing complex debt transactions; and managing invested portfolio or special assets, including experience in restructuring projects in multiple sectors (e.g. financial sector, manufacturing, agribusiness or infrastructure).

• Ability to work within, and lead teams, and set strategy for complex deals within tight deadlines.

• Strong negotiation and transaction execution skills.

• Ability to develop innovative and constructive solutions to support IFC in mitigating risk and in achieving its financial and developmental goals.

• Sound business judgment and strong analytical skills.

• Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of portfolio clients, financial and technical partners as well as senior government officials.

• Ability to build effective relationships with IFC's investee clients

• Demonstrated passion for working internationally in low and middle income countries and ability to travel accordingly.

• Capacity to manage and resolve conflicts constructively when stakes are high and multiple stakeholders are involved.

• Ability to play an active role in sharing knowledge and lessons learnt, which is one of CSO's key mandates.

• 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.

• Proven ability to work effectively under a complex matrix organization.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required; French is preferred.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for 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.

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