Investment Officer, Upstream & Advisory, Infrastructure, LAC Region

Job Posting Organization:
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group and is recognized as the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Established to foster economic development by promoting private sector investment, IFC operates in over 100 countries worldwide. The organization aims to leverage its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities that can help end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. IFC has recently initiated an ambitious growth strategy known as IFC 3.0, which is designed to stimulate increased investment activity across emerging markets, particularly in riskier sectors and markets. This strategy emphasizes proactive engagement at the pre-investment stage to create, deepen, and expand markets, as well as to design and develop potential investment projects. The organization is committed to enhancing its impact through innovative approaches to business development, deal sourcing, and client support.

Job Overview:
The Investment Officer position is critical to supporting IFC's upstream/pre-investment work in the infrastructure sector within the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. The selected candidate will be responsible for developing a high-quality pre-investment pipeline across various infrastructure sectors, including energy, water and wastewater, municipal infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, media, and technology. The role requires collaboration with senior investment officers and other stakeholders to advance regional infrastructure business development activities. The Investment Officer will assess business leads, anticipate market trends, and utilize deep sector knowledge to identify and convert emerging opportunities into bankable projects. This position also involves supporting policy work and interventions across the World Bank Group to maximize the impact of upstream efforts, ensuring that the initiatives align with the broader goals of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Investment Officer include:

• Collaborating closely with the Subregional Lead for Peru and Ecuador, as well as other subregional leads, to advance infrastructure business development activities and develop a robust pipeline of investments.
• Leading pre-investment and advisory initiatives to create future investment opportunities for IFC by identifying emerging private investment opportunities and converting them into viable projects through technical assistance and co-development.
• Evaluating the attractiveness of specific investment opportunities with a focus on credit quality, viability, and development impact, and contributing to management recommendations.
• Managing the internal processing of pre-investment and advisory initiatives, supporting investment teams with transaction processing, and assisting in negotiation and documentation for projects.
• Developing client/country pre-investment strategies, engagement plans, and pitch books.
• Contributing to feasibility studies and implementation plans for pre-investment projects that lead to IFC investments.
• Designing and implementing scalable solutions and platforms that can be replicated across markets.
• Producing regular reports on the assigned pre-investment portfolio, monitoring progress against project milestones and KPIs.
• Leading efforts to provide infrastructure-related inputs to reform processes and regulatory changes, coordinating with stakeholders as necessary. 1
• Coordinating with World Bank colleagues to create investment opportunities for the private sector.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Investment Officer position include:

• A Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, International Relations, Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 6-8 years of relevant experience in project and/or program development, project design, and producing feasibility studies, with hands-on advisory or consulting experience in emerging markets.
• Demonstrated experience in Project Finance and/or Corporate Finance is strongly preferred.
• A solid understanding of at least one infrastructure sub-sector, such as power, transportation, utilities, natural resources, telecoms, or technology.
• Experience in project and/or program management and development, including executing implementation plans with defined business development achievements.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Proven experience in developing business models from conceptual stages to investment decisions, integrating market analysis, technical studies, and financial planning.
• Capacity to innovate, challenge the status quo, and generate new ideas for business development.
• Ability to engage with private sector clients, local and national governments, and other stakeholders to foster business and market development. 1
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills, along with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Investment Officer position includes a Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in relevant fields such as Business, Finance, Economics, International Relations, Engineering, or other related disciplines. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of investment and infrastructure development in emerging markets.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the Investment Officer position is substantial, with a requirement of 6-8 years of relevant experience in project and/or program development and project design. Candidates should have hands-on advisory experience in emerging markets, with a strong preference for those who have demonstrated expertise in Project Finance and/or Corporate Finance. Experience in managing projects and programs, including the execution of implementation plans and monitoring of project portfolios, is also essential.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Spanish, as strong written and verbal communication skills in both languages are required. Proficiency in these languages is crucial for effective engagement with stakeholders and for the successful execution of the role's responsibilities.

Additional Notes:
The position is a local recruitment opportunity with a term duration of 3 years. The role is based in Lima, Peru, and involves working closely with various stakeholders within the World Bank Group. The organization offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan, medical, life and disability insurance, and paid leave, including parental leave. IFC is committed to being an equal opportunity and inclusive employer, ensuring a diverse workforce that does not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.