Senior Operations Officer/Program Manager, Washington

• Organization: IFC - International Finance Corporation
• Country: United States
• City: Washington
• Office: IFC Washington
• Follow @UNjobs

International Finance Corporation (IFC) | 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest | Washington, DC 20433-0005 | (202) 473-7711

Closing date: Monday, 3 October 2016

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Senior Operations Officer/Program Manager
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our six decades of experience to create opportunity where it's needed most. In FY16, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $19 billion, leveraging our capital, expertise and influence to help the private sector end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org IFC's Infrastructure & Natural Resources (INR) Department Industries that can harness natural resources are vital for many of the world's poorest countries.
They are a key source of jobs, energy, government revenues, and a wide array of other benefits for local economies. In Africa, in particular, large-scale sustainable investments in these industries can create equally large-scale gains in economic development. IFC's goal in the natural resources sector is to help developing countries realize these benefits, while helping promote sustainable energy sources.
We provide financing and advice for private sector clients, and help governments adopt effective regulations and strengthen their capacity to manage these industries across the value chain. We also provide advisory services to companies to ensure that local communities enjoy concrete benefits from projects, focusing on transparency, supply chains, jobs, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Our group also helps support clean and efficient energy, including renewable power, in emerging markets where these sectors need international investment to be viable. We provide equity and debt financing for projects, including early-stage initiatives, and mobilize additional funding from commercial banks and other partners through our syndication programs.
Working with the World Bank, we help governments design and implement public-private partnerships in areas such as power, transportation, and municipal infrastructure, supporting improved service delivery, sustainability, and capacity building. EXCEED Africa Advisory Program IFC INR recently signed a 5-year partnership with Global Affairs Canada for the Enhancing Extractive Sector Benefit Sharing (EXCEED) Program.
The goal of the Program is to improve social and economic well-being in target communities impacted by oil, gas, and mining projects. The Program will have a phased approach, working first in Guinea and Ghana, building on existing IFC programs and clients, and then quickly rolling out in Kenya and Cote D'Ivoire. The regional Program is intended to codify local economic development practices that are relevant and demonstrate impact across the four different countries.
The Program is designed to work with oil, gas, and mining companies at both the firm and sector level to uplift local communities and ensure that natural resources companies and their suppliers can continue to operate in a smooth and productive environment.
The Program is designed to help host/impacted communities take advantage of the opportunities presented by the natural resources sector despite the presence or perception of other negative socio-economic impacts. During its implementation, program activities will focus on two main areas: local supplier development and a more broad based approach to local social and economic development.
The local supplier development component will entail working with the oil, gas, or mining company to devise a robust plan for goods and services that can be procured locally, and then working with the local private sector to connect them to opportunities and upgrade their capacities.
The social and economic development component will involve working with local partners (government, private sector, civil society) to support local businesses develop and to design and implement innovative strategies for sectoral and broad based economic interventions beyond the natural resources sector.
The Program will have a participatory approach, seeking to build on the existing governmental, private sector, and community initiatives. In addition, it will have a special focus on developing the capacity of women and youth.
The Program's governance structures include an Advisory Committee at the program level, while at the country level a Multi-stakeholder Working Group made up of government, private sector, and community representatives will guide and prioritize activities, share existing knowledge/networks, and ensure buy-in from all stakeholders.
A Local Development Hub will also be established at the country level to serve as an implementing partner. In each country, program staff will coordinate the implementation of activities.
The Program Manager position will be based in West Africa (possibly Accra, Ghana, or a location to be determined). The position will report to the Manager of INR Advisory Services, based in Washington, D.C, plus the Country Manager of Duty Station and work closely with INR staff working on the Program in Africa and Washington, D.C.
Note: 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.
Background / General description
The Program Manager will be accountable for the successful implementation of the Program in all four countries. Specific responsibilities include

• Leading the development of the overall 4+ year work plans for the Program, and ensuring that corresponding country work plans are consistent with the program's strategic goal and objectives;
• Providing thought leadership and vision for the objectives and targets for the country-specific and overall regional Program;
• Supervising and guiding the implementation of the Program and country-specific work plans, ensuring quality delivery and adjustment as needed;
• Liaising with IFC/WBG, Canada and other donor organizations in the four Program countries to ensure buy in and harmony across activities;
• Supervising the Program's country staff as well as Washington-based gender and M&E specialists and other consultants working on the Program;
• Coordinating reporting on program implementation by ensuring timely reporting on country programs and consolidating progress reports, documenting and sharing lessons and identifying critical areas that deserve management attention and issuing recommendations as appropriate;
• Building key relationships and strengthening networks with extractives clients, government officials, civil society groups, and implementing partners in each of the four countries;
• Engaging with IFC investment staff in the four program countries to integrate planning and ensure full leverage of IFC's resources and client networks including Natural Resources investments as well as other infrastructure investments, i.e. power, renewables, transport, water, etc;
• Soliciting input from WBG Environment and Social specialists to incorporate risks and mitigants as appropriate;
• Interacting with the Advisory Committee on Program implementation, providing periodic updates and providing information as necessary to receive inputs on strategic direction;
• Representing the Program and IFC at development fora and industry events to enhance collaboration, multi-disciplinary fertilization and knowledge sharing.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Sustained record of achieving high-quality substantive results over an extended period (minimum 10 years).
• Master's degree in finance, business, economics, international development, public policy, or related field;
• Minimum 10 years of combined experience in international institutions/companies and/or government in economic and social development with demonstrated track record in the management of large multi-sectorial projects;
• A proven track record in designing, implementing, and managing complex operations using innovative approaches, including demonstrated ability to uphold operational procedures;
• Proven ability to manage and develop local and international staff, and competencies in interacting with, and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders; including a range of private and public sector partners;
• Expertise and experience in the field of international/community development, particularly in Small Medium Enterprise, Local Economic Development, Social Performance using the private sector as an entry point;
• Knowledge of the oil, gas, mining industries essential. Experience in other infrastructure sectors ie power/renewables, water, transport, plus agriculture and manufacturing also a significant advantage;
• Tangible experience in capacity building and training a plus;
• High level of energy, initiative and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular ability to effectively dialogue with and relate to clients and stakeholders; and
• Fluency in English and solid technical proficiency in French is a must.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Citizens of African countries, as well as women, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Cover letter should clearly describe the relevant results the candidate has delivered in prior positions, rather than simply listing responsibilities, and should answer the question: 'What do you see as the greatest opportunity to connect large scale and small scale businesses in Africa today?'
Applications should be sent in English and must be submitted through World Bank Group website. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.