International Finance Corporation Head, East Africa

Background / General description

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing private sector investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. IFC aims to improve client focus ad increase development impact y building on the Corporation’s global expertise and local presence. 

To implement this strategy, IFC is seeking to recruit the position of Head, East Africa who will manage IFC’s staff and operations. The position will focus primarily on Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan and have oversight over Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda (Sub-Region).

The position’s primary responsibility will be building and maintaining relationships in the region supporting IFC’s current advisory and investment work, and identifying new opportunities for IFC engagement. The person appointed to the position will be responsible for coordinating IFC’s engagement, including liaising with relevant government institutions and officials, donor partners, and current and prospective clients. S/he will take a leading role in strategy discussions and formulation, as well as in high level negotiations with business partners and government representatives to further enhance IFC's development impact. The role also includes supervising and mentoring of staff, managing office logistics, HR and financial oversight, in addition to maintaining a close working relationship with, Regional Business Line Managers, Regional Industry Managers as well as with the World Bank. S/he will report to the Regional Director, East and Southern Africa.

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

Business Accountabilities:
Develop the strategy and resource needs for IFC's investment services (IS) and advisory services (AS) business for the sub region in partnership with the relevant Cluster Managers, Global Industry Managers and regional AS management, with a focus on frontier areas and high development impact projects;

Identify areas where IFC can catalyze market development through innovation based on a thorough understanding of local markets and best practice from IFC's global experience;

Share accountability (with the Cluster Managers and Global Industry
Managers) to deliver investment and advisory targets that support Kenya and the sub-region and are appropriately aligned with the investment program;

Develop, together with the relevant Cluster Manager and with input from Industry Experts as appropriate, a Client Strategy for each priority target and existing client in region

Take accountability for pre-early review clearance of sponsors and pre-early review validation of additionally, development impact and fit with IFC strategy for all investments and AS clients programs in the Sub- Region;

Manage investment teams and provide guidance for complex investment structuring and portfolio management cases; make early review and investment review stage decisions and chair decision meetings as appropriate under an approved delegated authority framework;

Take accountability for coordination of World Bank Group initiatives (including joint Country Partnership Strategy preparation) 

Support Cluster teams with negotiations and client engagements as needed;
Share accountability (with Cluster Portfolio Managers) for quality and compliance of sub-region portfolio; work jointly with relevant managers to meet Scorecard targets in the country (Client Satisfaction, Productivity, Development Impact and People metrics).

People and Resource Management Accountabilities:
Set standards for thoroughness in quality control in the preparation of strategy documents and executive briefs;

Jointly recruit, lead and manage, in partnership with the Regional Industry Managers and Regional AS Managers select staff based in the Kenya office and the sub-region.

Jointly prepare Performance Evaluation and Planning (PEP) reviews for all Sub-Regional staff (IS AS); Mentor staff in Sub-Region for integration within IFC, development of networks and skills, quality assurance and professional development;

Manage the day-to-day operations, which includes budgets for offices, staff, consultants and vendors active in the sub-region; share accountability (with regional controller) for country office resource management scorecards; and

Develop IFC's 'brand' in the Sub-Region, building on IFC's global brand and the overall communications strategy.

Relationship Management:
Lead, develop and maintain relationships with governments, with World Bank colleagues, the representatives of other development institutions, local communities, and other key stakeholders in the Sub-Region;

Manage, gather and disseminate IFC's lessons and experience and contribute to IFC's global knowledge;

Ensure that client needs are met promptly and proactively; act as Client Relationship Manager for some key country clients in
coordination with Cluster Managers;

Collaborate with the Credit Officer to identify and manage risk at the
country level; and

Work closely within the matrix to deliver impact for clients and IFC.

Selection Criteria

• Candidates will be recognized as outstanding leaders and team players;
• Master's degree in finance or business or equivalent professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years relevant professional experience including a proven track-record of sourcing, structuring and closing investments, preferably with a focus on projects in Africa; 
• Outstanding and proven track record of performance in investment and advisory activities, including success in developing client relationships; ability to represent IFC externally, and to develop relationships with governments, media, clients, donors, and other stakeholders;
• Successful track record in leading highly qualified, multicultural teams; strength in building and managing complex relationships across the matrix;
• Strong business development and client relationship skills, ability to focus effectively on clients needs;
• Sound business judgment as well as strong interpersonal and negotiation skills demonstrated in complex business and people management situations; ability to manage and resolve conflict;
• Outstanding financial and credit skills; demonstrated ability to structure a variety of financial instruments (debt and equity)
• Ability to think strategically with robust analytical and problem solving skills; to identify issues and propose proactive and creative solutions that meet the needs of client countries.
• Capacity to deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule;
• Ability to work successfully in multicultural teams and across boundaries;
• Excellent communication skills in English. 
• Genuine commitment to highest ethical standards and to sustainable development.

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