Principal Operations Officer at IFC (South Africa)

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Close Date: 02-May-2010
Background / General description:

The mission of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries. High-impact advisory
services are central to the success of IFC's strategy in Africa. 

The strategy focuses on improving the investment climate, proactively developing viable private sector investments, and increasing the competitiveness of small businesses. IFC s advisory services in Sub-Saharan Africa are implemented by the multi-donor IFC Private Enterprise Partnership for Africa (IFC PEP Africa). IFC PEP Africa is structured into five business lines, each with a Business Line Leader: Business Enabling Environment; Infrastructure, Access to Finance; Corporate Advice, and Environmental and Social Sustainability. Established in July 2005, IFC PEP Africa has experienced significant growth. By the end of FY09, IFC Advisory Services in Africa comprised a portfolio of 170 active projects with an AS value of $ 233.8 million. Growth is expected to continue as PEP Africa expands its reach into more countries and more sectors, especially within frontier markets. Access to Finance (A2F) is the largest of IFC PEP Africa s five business lines. Within the A2F business line, IFC PEP Africa designs and implements advisory programs that promote financial market development and investment in SME Banking, Leasing, Microfinance, Trade Finance, Housing/Mortgage Finance, Corporate Governance and Credit Bureaus. In many cases, the advisory services are combined with IFC investments. To manage the growth of the business line, IFC plans to recruit a Principal Operations Officer responsible for leading the business line. Reporting to the General Manager and the Global Business Line Leader, the A2F business line leader will be responsible for strategy development and execution, and for overseeing the portfolio of current and new A2F advisory services programs throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
Duties and Accountabilities:

# Develop advisory services strategy for the Access to Finance/Financial Markets business line in close collaboration with IFC Africa Country Managers and staff, Financial Markets Africa Manager and investment staff team, Advisory Services business line leaders, IFC Industry Departments, and other relevant IFC/World Bank Group teams;

# Lead the implementation of this strategy, including designing programs, recruiting program managers and implementation teams, supervising program execution (including staff performance evaluations), and assessing results and impact;

# Supervise the access to finance IFC PEP Africa Operations Officers working on the SME Banking, Leasing, Corporate Governance, Microfinance, Trade Finance, Housing, and Credit Bureaux programs, as direct reports responsible for implementation of product line strategies;

# Deliver highest quality advice by applying best practice, rigorous quality control, benchmarking with the best in the sector, and knowledge sharing with other IFC facilities and similar programs;

# Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of advisory programs in collaboration with the IFC PEP Africa monitoring and evaluation team;
[scholarships]
# Build and maintain strong relationships and networks within IFC, the World Bank Group and with external stakeholders and partners.
Selection Criteria:

# Relevant post-graduate qualification in business, finance or economics,

# At least 10 -years relevant experience (direct experience working in the private sector would be a definite advantage);

# Demonstrated leadership skills, acquired in a challenging multicultural environment, combined with the energy of a self-starter, imagination, initiative and drive;

# Demonstrated understanding of development finance and strong network within financial markets;

# Expertise in one or more of the following areas: SME banking, microfinance, leasing and/or housing;

# Proven track record in designing and implementing advisory services;

# Strong track record of people and program management;

# Ability to think strategically combined with rigorous organizational skills, attention to detail, and a highly-developed problem solving acumen;

# Strong record of managing relationships among senior public and private sector clients;

# Fluency in English required. French and/or Portuguese highly desirable. Note: No phone calls, paper mail or faxes please. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only applicants invited for interviews will be contacted.

Apply Online