Responsibilities include managing daily operations, overseeing project execution, ensuring adherence to company policies and industry regulations, and maintaining accurate records. Key duties encompass coordinating team activities, facilitating communication between departments, and resolving operational challenges promptly. Additionally, the role requires monitoring performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions to enhance efficiency and productivity. Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to achieving organizational objectives are essential for success in this position.
This position calls for a driven individual with a strong passion for private equity and venture capital investments, global business operations, emerging markets, and development impact. The Senior Investment Officer will oversee key responsibilities spanning new business development, portfolio oversight, program execution, and corporate strategy formulation.
Develop and execute the strategic direction for CPV’s funds platforms, specifically SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst, with accountability for proposing strategic objectives and necessary adjustments to optimize performance and alignment with organizational goals.
Drive the identification and pursuit of new business prospects, conduct thorough due diligence, lead negotiations, and design optimal transaction structures while collaborating closely with regional teams and industry-specific partners.
Acquire in-depth knowledge of the target countries for each platform, conduct thorough market intelligence, and cultivate robust business networks.
Conduct comprehensive market research to identify and evaluate potential fund investments, building a robust pipeline for the platforms. Analyze market activity levels and assess the attractiveness of investment opportunities, while forecasting emerging trends in the sector. Identify and engage with top-tier fund managers who align with the investment mandate, and monitor the forward calendar of actively fundraising managers to ensure timely opportunities.
Convey IFC’s strategy regarding SME PE funds and early-stage VC funds, along with the reasoning behind pursuing particular transactions, to both internal teams and external partners.
Develop and execute strategic investment initiatives in SME Private Equity funds and early-stage Venture Capital funds, grounded in comprehensive due diligence of potential investment opportunities.
Evaluate current fund investments and underlying portfolio companies, serve as IFC’s representative on fund’s advisory boards, and recommend strategic solutions for resolving any fund-related challenges that arise.
Oversee the global portfolio of SME private equity and early-stage venture capital investments, providing support to portfolio companies in leveraging the resources and expertise available within IFC and the wider World Bank Group.
Examine macroeconomic data, corporate financials, and industry insights to detect and track potential concerns that could impact IFC’s investments, proposing corrective measures as needed.
Identify and advance initiatives to catalyze market creation and expansion, thereby encouraging private capital investments and venture capital funding for small and medium enterprises as well as early-stage funds in targeted frontier markets, in accordance with country-specific, sectoral, and IDA/FCS strategic priorities.
Proactively cultivate and sustain robust connections with international stakeholders across small and medium-sized enterprise private equity firms and early-stage venture capital funds to expand networks, uncover new investment opportunities, oversee current portfolio performance, and foster relationships for commercial and strategic alliances.
Represent IFC’s Private Equity and Venture Capital teams at both internal and external events, spearhead targeted corporate initiatives, forge strategic partnerships, and cultivate stakeholder engagement specific to PE and VC operations, thereby strengthening IFC’s market positioning and influence in the private equity and venture capital sectors across all regions.
Organize and lead the yearly SME Ventures Forum, along with additional pertinent program-related events.
Collaborate with advisory colleagues to identify and implement pertinent programming within the cross-cutting solutions team, thereby facilitating value creation, institutionalization of the General Partner, and engagement with Limited Partners across the platforms’ funds.
Oversee a team of investment experts responsible for operating on the designated platforms.
Selection Criteria
A minimum of 12 to 15 years of professional experience is essential, including at least 6 to 8 years dedicated to investment banking, private equity, or venture capital investing, with demonstrated expertise in emerging markets transactions spanning diverse geographic regions.
An MBA or equivalent degree is required, ideally from a premier international institution.
Proficiency in private equity and venture capital markets across diverse emerging and frontier economies is required.
Proficiency in collaborating with private equity and venture capital fund managers, cultivating a robust pipeline of prospective investment opportunities, and thoroughly assessing fund strategies is required.
Individuals sought should possess hands-on involvement in transactions and a solid grasp of limited partnership investing principles.
A robust and well-established network encompassing private equity and venture capital funds, research institutions, privately held companies, and financial and strategic investors is actively engaged across diverse emerging market PE and VC ecosystems.
Possesses a strong background in funds portfolio management, complemented by prior service on a Limited Partner advisory committee.
Capable of rapidly grasping the fundamental drivers across diverse business models, identifying core issues, and developing strategic solutions within the frameworks of private equity and venture capital investments.
With a strong background in collaborating with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as early-stage startups in emerging markets, you will provide expert guidance to fund managers on implementing operational enhancements and fostering value creation.
Demonstrates the capacity to prioritize and engage with challenging markets, including frontier economies and fragile or conflict-affected nations identified as key focus areas for the initiatives.
With a proven track record in event organization and hosting, this role encompasses advisory responsibilities such as budget management, metric development and tracking to evaluate impact, as well as ensuring compliance with reporting and audit mandates.
High ethical standards and strong business acumen are essential for evaluating prospective fund investments and potential fund manager alliances.
Exceptional proficiency in both verbal and written English is required, with fluency in additional languages considered advantageous. The ability to effectively engage and build trust with CEOs and General Partners (GPs) across international markets is essential. Additionally, strong interpersonal skills are necessary to credibly represent IFC and interact with clients and high-level stakeholders.
A forward-thinking professional who demonstrates the capacity to grasp the overarching landscape of private sector development challenges at the country, regional, and global levels, while proactively uncovering transformative opportunities.
Demonstrates exceptional organizational abilities, thrives in fast-paced environments, manages competing priorities effectively, and adapts seamlessly to sudden changes in client demands and unstructured challenges.
Demonstrates proficiency in thriving within a matrix organizational framework while effectively leading and inspiring a diverse, multicultural team spanning multiple geographic locations.
Analytical expertise, financial acumen, problem-solving capabilities, interpersonal effectiveness, and sound business judgment are essential to effectively identify challenges and deliver innovative yet practical solutions.
Demonstrates a proactive commitment to client satisfaction, embracing constructive feedback and innovative concepts with enthusiasm and adaptability.
Professional rewrite:
A sincere dedication to and alignment with the World Bank Group’s and International Finance Corporation’s mission, strategic objectives, and core values is essential.
Demonstrates flexibility and availability to undertake frequent travel and collaborate effectively across various time zones.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
12 - 15 years
