Investment Officer, MAS Africa Upstream and Advisory

The Investment Officer will support IFC's efforts to enable investment opportunities, enhance investment outcomes, and improve investment conditions in MAS sectors across Southern Africa. The role involves identifying and assessing upstream and advisory investment opportunities, developing early-stage projects, and leading client projects to achieve sustainable development impact.

Responsibilities

• Support the identification and assessment of Upstream & Advisory and Investment opportunities based on country and sector strategies and market creation potential.
• Develop early-stage project collaborations and co-developments; feasibility studies; and/or pilot projects that lead to investment opportunities in the MAS sectors.
• Work closely with the IFC Investment Services team to develop a strong pipeline of good quality investment opportunities in the MAS sectors through proactive origination/business development and developing and employing sector/country knowledge.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional clients, businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop the sector and to develop specific investment opportunities.
• Lead client projects end to end by regularly monitoring the project’s financial situation, efficient procurement of consultant services and providing monitoring and reporting information to ensure the delivery of results in accordance with the approved project business and M&E targets.
• Serve as a transaction/ team leader and sector investment specialist, evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new transactions, portfolio restructurings, rescheduling, capital increases, equity sales, as necessary.
• Lead term sheet negotiation/legal documentation process; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in straightforward and complex transactions.
• Coordinate closely with social, environmental, governance, and technical assistance colleagues to add value to our clients' businesses, find pragmatic solutions to the specific sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact.
• Prepare project supervision and donor reports, including M&E reports and the required back-up data which confirms the reported results and achievements.
• Assist in the formulation, monitoring and updating of IFC’s strategy in the MAS sectors in the Africa region, working with IFC’s industry and regional departments and in close coordination with the World Bank.
• Serve as an integral part of the Upstream & Advisory team and support Project Leads as needed in providing advice, implementation support, and assistance with project implementation management.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, or other relevant field.
• 8-12 years of experience in corporate and/or project finance with a proven track record of sourcing, structuring and closing investments.
• Demonstrated experience in investment banking, private equity, fund management or related areas with direct involvement in investment transactions.
• Expertise in the Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services (including tourism, retail, properties, health, education) sectors.
• Experience in Africa will be an added advantage.
• Excellent financial, credit and equity skills; demonstrated ability to creatively structure a variety of complex debt and equity instruments.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of potential clients, financial and technical partners, as well as senior government officials.
• Proven track record in nurturing client relationships, resolving challenging issues and ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments.
• Proactiveness, strong business development and client relationship skills, and ability to focus on client needs effectively.
• A genuine commitment to development and to the World Bank Group and IFC's mission, strategy and values.
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues.
• Strong Computer skills to develop user-friendly analyses/presentations.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.

Skills

• Corporate Finance
• Project Financing
• Investment Structures
• Investment Banking
• Private Equity
• Fund Management
• Manufacturing Sector Knowledge
• Agri-Business Expertise
• Infrastructure Sector Expertise
• Financial Analysis
• Credit Analysis
• Equity Instrument Structuring
• Client Relationship Management
• Business Development
• Investment Transactions
• Financial Modeling
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Analytical Thinking
• Presentation Development
• Written Communication

Languages

English