Senior Investment Officer - Global Leads, CPV's Fund Platform

Role Overview

The World Bank Group (WBG) is seeking a Senior Investment Officer for CPV's Fund Platform (SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst). This is a dynamic role that requires a high level of interest in Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) investments, international business, emerging markets, and development impact. Responsibilities of the Senior Investment Officer are divided among new business, portfolio management, program management, and corporate strategy.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Strategy Implementation: Implement the overall strategy for CPV’s funds platforms SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst, including making recommendations on strategy objectives and adjustments as necessary.
• Business Development: Lead business development, due diligence, negotiation, and transaction structuring of new business opportunities and liaising extensively with colleagues across the region and industry verticals.
• Market Intelligence: Develop an understanding of the target countries for the platforms, provide market intelligence, and develop strong business networks.
• Pipeline Development: Conduct market studies and develop a pipeline of potential fund investments for the platforms, perform research to determine the level of activity and attractiveness of fund opportunities, define future trends, identify best-in-class managers to fulfill the mandate, and review the forward calendar of fund managers actively fundraising.
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate IFC’s strategy for SME PE funds and early-stage VC funds and its rationale for engaging in specific transactions to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic Investments: Develop and make strategic SME PE fund and early-stage VC fund investments, based on rigorous due diligence of prospective funds.
• Portfolio Management: Review existing fund investments and investee companies, represent IFC on funds’ advisory committees, identify and propose courses of action for any fund-related issues that need to be addressed, and help investees leverage WBG resources.
• Financial & Macro Analysis: Analyze macroeconomic data, corporate financial data, and other industry information to identify and monitor issues that may affect IFC’s investments and recommend actions.
• Market Creation: Support the identification of market creation and deepening initiatives to foster private capital markets and SME and early-stage VC fund investing in frontier markets.
• Global Networks: Identify, establish, and maintain strong relationships with global stakeholders in the SME PE and early-stage VC funds space to build networks, identify new funds, mobilize capital, and facilitate partnerships.
• External Representation: Represent IFC’s PE and VC teams in internal and external events, developing relevant corporate initiatives, partnerships, and engagements.
• Events Coordination: Coordinate and host the annual SME Ventures Forum and other relevant program events.
• Advisory Collaboration: Collaborate with advisory colleagues to support value creation, GP institutionalization, and LP engagement.
• Team Leadership: Manage a team of investment professionals working on the platforms.

Selection Criteria

• At least 12-15 years of work experience, of which at least 6-8 years are in investment banking, private equity, and/or venture capital investing with emerging markets transaction experience across multiple geographies required.
• MBA or equivalent degree required, from a leading international institution preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of the PE and VC markets in multiple emerging and frontier markets.
• Demonstrated experience in working with PE and VC fund managers, developing a pipeline of potential fund opportunities, and evaluating fund strategies.
• Transaction experience in and analytical knowledge of LP investing.
• Strong existing and relevant network amongst PE and VC funds, research institutions, private companies, and financial and strategic investors active in multiple emerging market PE and VC ecosystems.
• Experience in funds portfolio management, including prior experience as an LP advisory committee member.
• Ability to quickly understand primary drivers of businesses, diagnose problems, and think through solutions in a PE/VC investing context.
• Extensive experience and familiarity working with/in SMEs and early-stage start-ups in frontier markets to guide fund managers in operational improvements and value creation.
• Willingness to focus on more difficult markets and fragile/conflict-affected countries.
• Experience organizing and hosting events, implementing advisory work, managing budgets, and assessing effectiveness.
• High professional integrity, sound business judgment, and strong English communication skills (additional languages a plus).
• Ability to travel extensively and work across time zones.